Meet Marie Valencia | Artist & Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marie Valencia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had my first experience,selling my artwork in 2006 at First Friday in Las Vegas and that feeling never left me, as I continued to work on art and also full time on the Las Vegas Strip at well-known Casinos, Restaurants and Gentlemen’s Clubs until’ one day in 2014,that I arrived to the parking garage and broke down..I told myself, that risking it all (starting a small business/selling my art full-time) and quitting my regular jobs was a necessary sacrifice.I quit my job that month and have been teaching myself all I can about operating a small business (be it without any inheritances,loans or credit cards).

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being an Artist and Small Business Owner, requires a certain amount of patience and also tenacity in my opinion.I have been creating full-time since 2014, without any major financial investments or loans.Making art in the city of sin and being noticed,is no easy feat.(Especially, as a Queer-Chicana Artist).I have had to deal with many challenges,including misogyny from art peers,cronyism and exploitation in art circles,which only has inspired me more to help co-create Artist-lead Events and write more about these experiences.

Mystic Herbs Shop,is a safe place to showcase my talents as an Artist,Mystic and Small Business Owner.I hope it will serve as an example or inspiration to others growing an organic and sincere connection in their own Artistic goals.All of the tools, resources and talent is unlocked within ourselves when we believe in ourselves.(Not saying, it’s easy either.I have plenty of my own “bad” days.)

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live currently,1 hour south of Albuquerque near Socorro,New Mexico.Any visitors, would accompany me to near by Truth or Consequences to hang out.So many natural hot springs,art galleries and local restaurants will make up a day of exploration in this southern part of NM.

Passion Pie Cafe for fresh food,Firewater Lodge for a proper hot springs soak in room and catch a show at the historic El Cortez Theater.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m a self-taught Artist,but will be forever grateful for having my HS Art Teacher now professional Comic Book Artist,Patric Reynolds teach me the fundamentals of creating art.(Even though I could be a handful as a student,in those days.My art teacher never hesitated to encourage me in creating art or going after a career in Art that was highly discouraged in my family.)

I also,want to highlight all the work my veteran spouse AJ also has done to help support me in all my creative endeavors the last 3 years,it means the world to me to have a partner who believes in what I do.

Website: https://mysticherbsshop.myshopify.com/?fbclid=PAAaZxS36cAruszp793f01ovyjVishW8Spbbj0aN5lJ3nA1rdo4jDohK04ie4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticherbsshop?igsh=NnZkMDVwaDV5ZjJt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticherbsshop333?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
All images taken by myself or my partner,AJ Schirling.