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

Sabrina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I feel like life is all about taking smart and educated risks. It’s how we grow as individuals, and find out what we are truly capable of. Starting my art business was definitely “taking a risk” in my eyes. I had many irrational fears pop into my mind like, “What will others think?”, “What makes ME special enough to try to sell my artwork to others?”, and “What if no one likes my stuff or says something mean?”. I had to put all those worries behind me and just go for it – and I’m so glad that I did. Sharing my art with the world has been one of the best choices I’ve made, and I would do it all over again. Risks don’t necessarily have to be these “huge” and “crazy” actions that others sometimes paint them to be. They can be something as simple as trying a new hairstyle, trying out a new hobby, or applying for that job you’ve always wanted. I think what makes it a “risk” is simply the fact that someone is trying something new and unsure about what the outcome will be. Not everything will turn out the way we expect it to, but we will truly never know until we try.

Sabrina, 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?

My name is Sabrina, I am 31 years old, and I am an artist currently located in Long Beach, CA. Art By Bean is the name of my business, and I run it in addition to working a full time job. What I am most known for is creating personalized/customized items. These items vary greatly, but some examples are: canvas art, Christmas ornaments, painted terracotta pots, and I’ve even painted a mural in Long Beach. The thing that sets me apart from other artists is that I try to build a genuine connection with my customers. Since I create a lot of custom pieces, it gives me a chance to connect with my customers on an intimate level and learn a little about their stories and life. I take pride in being able to create such special items and the fact that it brings happiness to the lives of others. When it comes to my art business, the thing I am most proud of is taking a chance and just starting it. It took a while for me to feel confident enough to put my art out there for others to order, but once I did, it was one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made. I want potential clients and current clients/followers to know that not a day goes by that I am not thankful for any and all support that I receive. Growing up, I was not made to believe that art was a possible or realistic way to make income, so the fact that I am able to do that now and receive so much support means the world to me. Art is my first love and passion and I am glad that I get to share it with others.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The name that I decided on for my business holds a lot of special meaning to me and explains a lot of why I started my artistic journey in the first place. The first part is pretty self explanatory, but the part that holds all the meaning is “Bean” – which is a nickname that I gained from my little sister. When we were younger, my mom used to call me “Brin” (short for Sabrina); my little sister couldn’t say her “R’s” that well so she would say “Bean” instead. The name stuck and it was what she called me into our younger adult years. Unfortunately, my sister passed away in 2014, but the impact that she had on my life, specifically my art life, lives on forever. She was the biggest supporter of my artwork and knew how much I truly loved it and wanted to make it my career when I got older. My mom meant well, but she was not as supportive and did not make me feel like art was a feasible path for my future. My sister always made me feel like my passion for art was more than just some “big dream” – she helped me to see that if I was serious and brave enough, that I could put my work out there for others to enjoy. My sister was the type of person that lived life to the fullest, and encouraged others to do the same. It’s largely because of her that I decided to take a chance and start my art business in 2016. I know that she would be very proud and happy to see that I finally believed in myself enough to go after my dreams. Her love and support in our younger years has been a big driving force in my creative journey, and I will always be thankful to of had such an amazing sibling like her that pushed me when I needed it most.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There have been many major events in my life that have developed me into the person that I am today and forced me to adopt an attitude of resilience. Aside from my younger sisters passing in 2014, another major life altering event was the fact that I was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, for around 7 years. This was done at the hands of a very close family member, and it was something that I kept to myself and dealt with internally for a long time. When I finally attempted to bring it to light, it resulted in some of my family siding with my abuser and the overall family dynamic falling apart. Going through that completely shattered my self confidence as a young child/teen and negatively impacted the way that I viewed relationships in the years that followed. For a long time I would use the abuse as my reasoning for why I felt depressed and why I had no drive to push myself in life. I was always sad/mad, and didn’t see life as I once used to. It’s taken a lot of time and inner work, but I no longer allow myself to have a “victim mentality”. I now view what happened as something that has made me a much stronger, kinder, and resilient individual. Art, music, and the support from my few remaining family members are what got me through those tough times, and for that I am forever thankful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artbybean.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbybean/?hl=en