Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Victoria Rosas Endsley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Victoria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Growing up I always knew I was lucky to have parents that were talented artists. I spent my childhood in galleries, studios and eaves dropping on artist critiques. My friends would come over to use my dark room or have my mother teach them a new painting technique. What I didn’t realize until I was much older was there are so many people that don’t have access to the mediums that I did. I also learned early on that many working women artists struggled to run successful businesses or know how to properly promote themselves. I began to see the pay gap between the art my father created and that of my mother’s.
When I opened my stained glass and mosaic studio, I began to feel that gap myself. I was equally talented and yet would often be asked to lower my rates. When I would ask my male counterparts about these interactions, they would share they hadn’t experienced this. This ignited a spark that would lead me on a 20-year journey of self-discovery and a passion for helping women and minority artists.
I have always had a mind for business and have owned three over those 20 years but my heart was always led to women that were in need of an empowering voice and support system to help them achieve their dreams. As a foster parent, art became a tool to help connect and bring joy to our foster kids, and after the birth of my son, my life and future dreams began to become even clearer. I knew I wanted a career and life that was fully dedicated to helping women and minority artists, making unique media more accessible, and bringing joy and happiness through creative outlets.
When my son developed a rare immune disorder, I began creating art kits and activities to help him stay positive and happy during his hospital stays. I began studying therapeutic arts, mindfulness, meditation, and soon I began donating these kits to other families that had children in extended hospital stays. From there it grew to selling kits to the public to help pay for the donated kits and that’s when everything came into focus and Bear & Bee | Makers’ Studio & Boutique was born.
I could fulfill my passions, utilize my business knowledge, and years of working in so many different media and turn that into a business that could fund the kits for children in the hospital, those in underserved communities, and the foster system. I could coach, mentor, promote and feature in my boutique minority and women artists. I could introduce so many people to art forms they might never have had an opportunity to try in my Makers Studio. My journey since childhood has led me to this place and my life’s mission has been realized.
I am filled with gratitude for all the hardships I faced throughout my life, the gifts life has given me, and that I never lost sight of what my true purpose is.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up with artist parents that always supported my passion for trying every medium I could get my hands on. Despite their tight budget, from stained glass to block printing they made sure I had an outlet to pursue my creative passions.
Bear & Bee is a minority woman owned Makers’ Studio & Boutique nestled in the beautiful mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado. We are home to a one-of-a-kind “Art Bar” where inspiration and unique media are always on tap. Our boutique is filled with stunning works by primarily women and minority artists.
Our makers studio guests can drop in and try anything from pottery wheel throwing, stained glass, woodburning, leatherworking to painting and candle making and so much more. It has always been important to me to help people discover new creative outlets. When groups come in we don’t force them to do the same thing, we give them a choice to pick from any project on our menu. It’s great because one person might want to try woodburning, another make a candle, while their friend throws a pot on the wheel. This is definitely one of the things that sets us apart from other makerspaces.
We mentor young artists and makers, teaching them the business side to being a working artist. We help promote them in the arts community and offer special popup gallery events at our Pearl St. and Estes Park locations.
A portion of everything we make at Bear & Bee goes towards donating fun, creative and therapeutic art kits to children in the hospital, those in underserved communities, and the foster system. Giving back, helping women and minority artists, making unique media more accessible, and bringing joy and happiness through creative outlets is my true passion. I am so proud to own a business that allows me the opportunity to accomplish all of these things.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think that my reputation has been built on my extensive knowledge and experience of so many different media, my positive attitude even in the face of difficulties, my smart and streamlined aesthetic, my knack for making people feel comfortable and confident when trying new things, and my ability to bring people together within the arts community.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Despite having run several profitable businesses in the past, funding as a minority woman was a major hurdle I had to jump to fulfill my dream. The amount of loans I could have received wouldn’t have given me the cushion I needed to comfortably upend my family’s life and start a new endeavor. I knew I had to take a big risk and so after talking to my husband, and as always with his full support and backing, we sold our house, a small business venture, and I cashed out my retirement. I know this might sound crazy to many, but I knew I would regret not taking this chance and I could always make that money back if worst came to worst. I am so glad I did because now I am not in debt to anyone, and the business has been fully funded by my hard work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BearAndBeeInspired.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearandbeeinspired/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearandBeeInspired/
Image Credits
Jason Endsley