Meet Maya Juarez-Pena of From Her Eyes LLC in Glendale

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology, and I train Martial Arts at Ucelo Tae Kwon Do Phoenix 6 days a week. I have always been interested in art, and it is in my family. My great aunt, my grandfather, my mother, and father are very artistic, so I feel I get it from them. I used to be a very negative and unhappy person until I took the chance on what my heart wanted. I was working a full-time job and found it absolutely miserable and only found joy in my Martial Arts, where I met my husband, or the little time I found to paint. When I wasn’t working, going to school or training, I would create dot art in my free time to relax, a form of meditation for myself.

A few years down the road, November 2017, I opened my art business focusing on photography and dotillism, but it was very slow due to not having enough time to truly focus on it.

In June of 2018, I quit my full-time job to focus on my business and self-expansion. It was a very hard choice that my husband and I talked about for weeks to make sure I was not making a big mistake. Now, I have fully dedicated my life to martial arts, my husband, my self, and my art.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No way has this been smooth. They say the first three years is the hardest and I am in my second year, I guess. This business is my job, so if I do not sell anything, then I do not make any money. So it is safe to say I would be a full-on starving artist if it was not for my husband who works so hard so I can create. There are many times when I feel that I am wasting so much money and time trying to sell my art and get my name out there when I could be working and saving up money to buy a home for us.

The times when I would go to events with a booth trying to sell my art and not sell anything, and see other small businesses sell, I would get down on myself and not even create anything for a few days, thinking “what’s the point, no one wants my stuff.”

Really, money is the biggest struggle, of course. I need money to create and live, but there are weeks or even months when I do not make any money. So I stress out that I am being selfish, making my husband pay for everything and not being a good wife and I do not have money to purchase more art supplies to create things that might sell.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about From Her Eyes LLC – what should we know?
I started with a love for dotillism, creating paintings and images from individual dots all done by hand. I now specialize in creating works of art with resin and alcohol inks. I love anything beach themed and colorful, so I try to keep all my works in those two styles.

I am most proud of the beautiful custom art pieces that I get commissioned to create for my customers. Also, Being able to incorporate the beach into jewelry, coasters, and on wood from alcohol ink and resin is what I love the most.

I feel like what sets me apart for others is that I do not focus on one style or technique of art. I have found a few that I love and am working to perfect them so that there is always something different and unique to my art.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Positive vibes is what keeps it alive. Sounds cheesy I know, but when I get down on myself or my business, I have to look at the brighter side of things and keep a positive mind. I have to know that in my heart I have chosen this path because it makes me happy and when I keep a positive set of eyes I can see new ideas and better ways to sell and create. I hope that the people who follow my social media accounts or know me see that positive vibe, and I hope that it, in some way, inspires them or helps them be positive.