Meet Damaris Alvarez

We were lucky to catch up with Damaris Alvarez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Damaris, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

My favorite way to keep my creative blood pumping is listening to music. The sweet sounds invite me to focus on the lyrics and to imagine a visual story alongside it. Then I replicate the emotions and story that I envisioned on a digital canvas. It is a beautiful tale of creatives inspiring other creatives. There is a significance on who you surround yourself with in your daily life. I find myself blessed to have like minded individuals who inspire me and encourage my creative spirit everyday.

In all, I believe a creative mindset can be found in anyone. We all have different life experiences that are expressed in unique ways. And it is up to each one of us to decide how we answer our life in passion for the things that matter most to us.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I was raised most of my life in a small town called Lindsay- just one hour North of Bakersfeild, California. From there, I’ve always been telling stories and doodling in my diary. My work is nostalgic and optimistic with a range of shy but bold characters. It includes characters that desire more out of their life and are optimistic in the face of their deepest doubts. They are silly and often hopeless romantics trying to discover the unknown.

I’m also a recent graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelors in Animation and Illustration. During my time studying there, I was able to work on a short animated film. During the production process, I learned so much about communicating with a team, persevering in the midst of self doubts, and having fun with the project even when the deadlines made it seem impossible. My short film, “RadioCATive” has been shown in several film festivals and is now available to watch on Youtube! As of now, I’m focused on expanding my artistic skills to include the growing market of 3D animation as well as looking into writing and illustrating a children’s book in the future. If anyone would like to join in seeing my journey more closely, feel welcome to follow my social media!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I recognize that having a strong support system, the ability to manage my priorities, and an unwavering confidence in my ideas and God’s timing are all key aspects that have kept me persevering through my artistic journey so far.

I encourage artists to truly find pride in their work and to not be ashamed of their ideas. It is easy to downplay the abilities we have and to compare ourselves with others. I challenge you to find contentment in your own journey. Afterall, there’s a whole lifetime to improve and learn new skills!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I get thrown a lot of projects to juggle, I get overwhelmed. A practical thing I do is break down the list into manageable tasks. Yet, there are other times where I’m overcome with emotions that result from work and personal priorities. That is when I have to shift my approach to asking for guidance from loved ones.

An important thing to note is that feeling overwhelmed will be an inevitable experience in our life. You are not weak for feeling like the world is on your shoulders! However, it must also be known that heavy burdens are not meant to be handled by yourself. Ask for a helping hand or seek comfort from someone you trust.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://damarisalvarez8da.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damallamb/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damaris-alvarez-51375a1bb/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Damallamb