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

Sylvia Marina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I came to art after 20 years trying to make a career in both public health and the music business work. As a highly motivated ACoA, I was able to be a very good worker in every job I did. But, after a massive stroke I had at age 44; I ended up paralyzed temporarily on my left side and hospitalized for 3 months. The thing that helped me through it emotionally was keeping an art journal where I drew and wrote daily. I would lose myself in the process of making art and it became a lifeline to my spiritual self, which led to me having a better overall attitude and motivation to do the rehabilitation. When I was ready to think about going back to work after my long recovery, I decided to learn photoshop to see if I could transition into a creative career by adding the photoshop skills to my project management skills (I thought I’d apply for jobs in project management within the design world). I fell in love with photoshop and as I had been making collage art by hand, I found Photoshop to expand my creative world as I still don’t have use of my left hand so cutting paper and gluing (i.e. analog techniques) can be very difficult with my post stroke disability, As a lifelong learner, I keep on improving my Adobe CC skills which allows me to expand and grow in the type of digital collage I’ve been making.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

A 2-time cancer survivor (first time at age 4 with neuroblastoma, second time at age 37 with breast cancer), and as I mentioned earlier, a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 44, my journey has been far from traditional by any measure. I also have faced my own battles with anxiety, PTSD, and self-medicating (I’m sober today). My first exposure to arts and crafts were through my family (especially my mom who is extremely artistic) and creative and then as a small child in the inpatient oncology unit at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where they had craft room time daily. It was something I always got excited about. I continued to draw and make art as a hobby throughout my life. I was initially intent on becoming a doctor when I was a kid because I always loved school and learning. (I earned my BA in Cultural Anthropology from UC Berkeley and my Masters of Public Health from Columbia University). Because I struggled emotionally as a teen and young adult, I really didn’t truly find my path vocationally until my 40s. I had this expensive education, huge student loan debt, and I was still trying to “figure out” how to earn a living in a way that felt fulfilling. As a music lover, I thought that was my north star, and after a decade working as a program manager in public health consulting/community organizations, I made the transition to the music industry. I started at Smithsonian Folkways in 2005 as a program manager, then landed a dream job at The Recording Academy (The Grammy Awards) for ten years eventually becoming the project manager of the American Roots music genre. In 2015, still searching after a second bout with cancer in 2011 (the first at 4 years old) and a whole lot of healing, I left the Grammys in 2015 to try new ventures. Following my curiosity, I started making Mexican Talavera tile serving trays and selling them on Etsy. That online store was very popular but I was not prepared to handle the demands of a handmade business and became overwhelmed. In 2018, I had the stroke, which brought my business to a complete standstill. I had no idea that my previous challenges were preparing me for the hardest challenges yet. As part of that journey, I discovered my love of creating collage art.

I have found my true north as a collage artist, specializing in crafting visually comprehensive and cohesive storytelling, combining my artistic vision and skills and 20 years of experience in the music industry, project management, and cultural anthropology. I really love telling stories that highlight the uniqueness of a specific time and place. Also, I make art to heal my own trauma and intend for my art to provide comfort and hope to those who may need it. My work is influenced by the folk & street art of my heritage, political art posters, magical realism literature of Latin America, poetry, and the natural world/landscapes of California, New Mexico/Southwest.

I do commissions and contract work, as well as my own art. I think my non-traditional journey as an artist has led me to be able to be very well suited to help people tell their stories through collage. My process in working with clients includes an in-depth interview to determine the client’s ultimate vision, collecting from the client as many photos or other ephemera as possible, creating a scope of work to provide a roadmap of us working together, researching archives to discover any relevant historical records.

I then combine analog and digital collage techniques, illustration & graphic design.

I have had the honor of creating the cover for the Grammy-nominated album Traveling Wildfire.

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

My non-traditional journey to art as well as my survival, serves as a testament to my resilience and determination. I am committed to my growth as an artist and cultural storyteller. I have embraced digital tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator to expand my skills and techniques. Through my art, I seek to heal my own trauma and provide comfort and hope to others. My hope is that my story and art can inspire others to overcome their own challenges and find their unique path in life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My entire life story is one of constant pivots and re-inventions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sylviamarinamartinez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecozycasita/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCozyCasita
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviamarinamartinez/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4mpCwbiBkjYa0FvZYGCmrg
• Other: https://linktr.ee/thecozycasita https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecozycasita/?etsrc=sdt

Image Credits
All images are credited to me Sylvia Marina Martinez. They are my art.