Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marce Maldonado. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marce, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I am very happy as a business owner. I think it’s the best decision I have ever made. There was a time where I was holding a part time job and working at my studio at the same time. Then, I got offered a full time position on the job. It was not a bad offer but it meant closing my studio. (Back then I held fewer classes and didn’t have as many students). Making a decision to take or not to take the full time job offer was difficult. A full time job comes with “security” and all these benefits (health insurance, 401K, etc) As a business owner you don’t get any of that, it’s all on you.

The idea of closing my studio just didn’t feel right, that was What I really wanted to do! So I decided to turn down the offer and dedicate all my energy to growing my business. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to make a living out of it but I was sure I was going to try my best. Thankfully everything worked out!
Now my studio is known in our community, classes are full and I can not be happier!
Owning a business is not easy, but if you are passionate and love doing it, it doesn’t even feel like a job!

Marce, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have loved Art since I can remember. I was always drawing, painting and being creative. I knew I wanted to do something with it so I went to college and got a Graphic design degree. I worked at several advertising agencies in Mexico (where I’m from). One day I had the opportunity to come to the United States with a program offered by my University. It was a bilingual teaching position. I thought for several years, then got married and started a family (while freelancing (design) and teaching pre k part time.

I was always involved with Art, galleries and painting. One day, some of my friends asked me to teach art to their kids during the summer. I put together a couple of lessons for them and I was very surprised to see how much I enjoyed it! That started that idea in my head…. teaching Art to kids. It will be combining two things that I really enjoyed. Art and teaching.

So, I got a part time job as an Art teacher at a Music and Arts facility in Houston. I was the only Art teacher at the beginning, I had to create the curriculum as there was none. As we grew, I was in charge of the Art department. I stayed there a couple of years.
. I wanted to start my own Art studio but had no idea where to begin. One day the opportunity of renting a small room came up. That’s how I ❤️ Art Studio started!

I ❤️ Art studio offers Art Classes for kids. It is an Art enrichment program that nurtures imagination, creativity and self expression. We teach all mediums. (Oil pastels, paint, chalk pastels, charcoal, watercolor, colored pencils, even paper mâché and clay!)

Every kid’s abilities and talents are unique.. There is nothing more rewarding than to see how kids grow and bloom when coming to our studio! I ❤️ Art studio gives them the opportunity to express themselves through Art. They get more confident, they know how to solve problems, sometimes they even learn how to deal with frustration, Our students say that our studio is their “safe place” and I think it really is. We are like a little family. Some of our students have been together for more than 6 years!

I love what I do and what I ❤️ Art studio represents and offers. A safe place for kids to express themselves through art by giving them the freedom, materials and space to let their creativity blossom to its full potencial!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

At the beginning I went door to door and gave away flyers. I also advertised in magazines. I still do Facebook and I do have Instagram BUT I have found that the most effective (I don’t know if I can call it strategy) is WORD of MOUTH. That is what has grown my business more than any other strategy. I believe that loving what you do, being passionate about what you offer, make your clients (in my case students and parents) happy.
I have students that have been attending since we opened doors (7 years ago).

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Again, I think being passionate and loving what you do. I really enjoy having an Art studio and introducing kids to the world of Art. Not only the history/artists aspect. It’s showing them a new whole world.. It can be as basic as mixing to colors to create a new one. Some kids are just amazed that it can be done. When they are proud of their Art, when they learn that mistakes can happen and they turn them into a good thing.

A couple of months ago We got voted the most loved Art studio in our Area. I think it is because our students love coming to our classes, they feel they can express themselves, they feel comfortable inside our walls and they know they can be themselves here.

It’s all about having your clients happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.iloveartstudio.com
• Instagram: i_love_art_studio
• Facebook: @iloveartstudio
• Youtube: I love art studio