Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Muñoz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lauren. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started loving and creating art since before I can remember. It has always been the one thing that feels the most natural to me. When I was younger, I was 100 percent sure I wanted to become a working artist when I grew up. This changed during my late teenage/early adulthood years due to a lack of confidence. I wasn’t sure that going to school for studio art would be a smart career choice. I was my own worst enemy and tried to talk myself out of my love for art over and over again. Ultimately, I was afraid of failing at the one thing I was completely in love with. Slowly over time, I finally accepted that yes, I WAS going to fail. I was going to fail over and over again and make a TON of mistakes along the way. But those that are close to me know that I don’t quit (almost to a fault). I’m currently enrolled at Texas Woman’s University for studio art with a concentration in painting/drawing. I’m working on my BFA and eventually want an MFA so I can teach art at the college level. Meanwhile, life happened and I have a beautiful almost 5-year-old daughter and a loving, supportive husband. I am so thankful for these two humans. They keep me strong, grounded and have supported me completely along the way. I also have a part-time retail job and just recently started volunteering when I am able to at The Stewpot in Dallas for their Art Program. When I have free time, I love to practice yoga and I’m always reading a new book. Side note, I still fail on the daily, but I’m always learning and I’m always growing. As John Maxwell said, “Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course, it has not been a smooth road! I started school when I was 18 and I just turned 34. Early on while in school, I was so focused on working and making money that school fell to the side and eventually, I took a few years off. School was on and off until I had my daughter. After that, I decided I wanted to go back to school for something I loved and to sh0w her that anything is possible if you want it bad enough and work hard for it. Being a stay at home mom, college student and working part-time is HARD. There are days that I just want to quit school and find a full-time job so I can have weekends off with my family and friends. I never get far in this thought because I know I would immediately regret that decision. I’m very blessed to have a supportive husband and wonderful family that keeps me going and helps with my daughter. Their support and encouragement mean the w0rld to me.
Please tell us about your artwork.
N0t too long ago, I started an Instagram and Facebook page for my business Lauren Munoz Art. Website coming soon. I specialize in original acrylic paintings and soon I will have prints of my originals. I think I’m known for my pop art style as well as my unique color palette. I’m proud of the moment I decided to put my work out for the world to see. I put a lot of love and time into my paintings and it can be a scary thing to show them and open them up for criticism. I don’t show anything that I am not completely proud of.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have finished school when I was younger. I would definitely have my MFA by now if I had. I PREACH this to my younger peers. I know it’s tough now, but try going back when you are married with a kid. That being said, everything I have gone through has made me that much stronger and that much more incapable of giving up.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 214-603-8540
- Email: laurenmunozart@gmail.com
- Instagram: Laurenmunozart
- Facebook: Laurenmunozart
- Twitter: Laurenmunozart
Image Credit:
Lauren Munoz
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