We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Britney Sandoval. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Britney below.
Britney , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from Pueblo, CO. This is where I grew up! It is known as the City of Steel & The Home of Heros. It is also known as one of the most dangerous cities in America. Growing up in this environment had many positive and negative experiences which shaped me & taught me resilience.
Growing up, we didn’t have much money. My step dad worked but didn’t make enough, I remember my family being on every welfare program. When I was seven yrs old and in second grade, my step dad started going in my room at night and robbed me of my innocence. Since my stepfathers job was the main income, my mother was in a hard spot. However, I stood up for myself and put him in prison for what he had done. It took me five years before I gained the courage and strength to put a stop to the abuse. It was scary fighting a grown man when I was only twelve but, I did it and I won! I had to learn resilience in order to protect myself from my own family.
This was just the beginning of my journey to self discovery. This is what woke me up & made me gain resilience to fight for myself and to fight for what is right. When I hit an obstacle in life, I think back to 12 year old me that fought for months to make my step dad face the consequences for his actions. Now that I am 35 years old, I still feel like that same little girl! That little girl who wants to have fun, play with glitter, take care of family, and help others in need. Today I teach art because it’s the outlet that was taught to me when I lived in Pueblo, CO. Art is how I transform negativity into positivity, it is my magic, it helps me when I need to be resilient. Art reminds me of who I am and where I came from and in that I remember my resilience.
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?
Creating art is a sacred way of healing ourselves. It is my mission to ignite the creative fire in others so they can witness their capabilities! When you create something you thought was not possible, you experience a boost of confidence. This is something I want to share with as many people as possible!
We cater to all ages starting with children’s activities at local events as well as birthday parties. Adults can choose from paint & sip classes at local restaurants or book us for a private party. Book us for birthdays, team building, corporate events, and more. To help our senior community, we provide arts & crafts at retirements homes and clinics.
Community outreach and mental health is extremely important to us at Reflection Art Studio. We have worked with the local non profit, TRUE Care to bring creative activities to local schools. This provides children with the opportunity to try new things and learn about how they can turn their dreams into a reality.
Recently, I have moved back to Pueblo, CO to help my aging grandparents. This has presented many challenges and opportunities that require me to be resilient. I have decided to expand my business and start operations in Pueblo, CO starting in August 2024.
I am now looking to support local artists in San Diego that would like to engage with the community and teach their passion. If you would like to join our team, please email your resume to office@reflectionartstudio.com.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
When I look back at my journey as a business owner, I’d say that having ambition and drive is a must, being able to create a business around your interest or skill is crucial, and learning to network is required.
When you start your own business and you become your own boss, it is very exciting. However, you must remember that everything in life is dual. There is always a good side and a bad side. For example, not having a boss can be nice but, not having a steady paycheck can be stressful. You must have the ambition and drive to make it through the startup phase & become profitable.
When I started my business, I had to identify my strengths. Imagination and creativity have always been my strong points so I created a business around that. You can build around your interests and skills too! For example, I use my imagination to create new projects for my clients every week. Sometimes my clients have special requests that require me to break a project down into easy step by step instructions for different skill levels. This is something that is easy for me but can be extremely challenging for most. This is how I solve problems for my clients.
In order to keep new clients coming in, I had to learn to network. This was not easy or comfortable for me at first. I joined the Chamber of Commerce and had to learn my elevator pitch. The Chamber of Commerce is an amazing resource & provided education I needed in order to mingle and network at their events. After gaining my confidence, I created connections that proved to be vital to my business. These connections ranged from new clients to finding help with my marketing.
My drive to succeed, imagination, and ability to network were the most impactful in my journey. If you are early on your journey, stay focused, join the Chamber of Commerce, join the Small Business Development Center, and celebrate your achievements. There will be good days and some days you might feel defeated but keep going. In my opinion, maintaining a positive mindset and managing your mind is critical in successfully building a business.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
As a mobile art studio dedicated to enhancing productivity, mental health, and reducing stress through the power of art and aromatherapy, I am eager to collaborate with like-minded nonprofits and forward-thinking corporate clients who prioritize the well-being of their employees and communities.
I am seeking partnerships with nonprofits that are passionate about promoting mental wellness and creativity, as together we can bring the transformative benefits of art and aromatherapy to those in need. By working with organizations focused on mental health advocacy and community support, we can make a meaningful impact and foster a culture of well-being.
In addition, I am excited to engage with corporate clients who understand the importance of investing in the holistic wellness of their teams. By offering tailored art and aromatherapy experiences, we can help employees unlock their creativity, boost their productivity, and cultivate a positive work environment that values mental health and stress reduction.
Whether collaborating with nonprofits to reach underserved populations or partnering with corporate clients to elevate workplace wellness initiatives, I am committed to creating meaningful connections and making a difference through the therapeutic power of art and aromatherapy. Together, we can inspire creativity, promote mental well-being, and cultivate a healthier, happier world.
If you are reading this and would like to partner with me, please send me an e-mail at office@reflectionartstudio.com. You can also call me direct at (858)366-5798.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reflectionartstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reflection_art_studio
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/reflection-art-studio-san-diego
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