Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Ruvio.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Pink Guava Studio started towards the end of 2022. We are a female and Mexican owned small art business. We named our business after a guava tree we have right outside our window at our workspace in Phoenix. We started selling our art online through our etsy shop, then we decided to join local Phoenix markets and art shows. Towards the fall of 2023, we created the bilingual Outdoor Watercolor Class concept and started offering watercolor classes at various sites. By the summer of 2024 we finally started offering indoor watercolors classes. We plan to continue having our art available at different markets as well as offering one-session classes this fall. Up to this point we have been funded by the art we create and our painting classes. We started working at our desk, we did not have an easel initially, or a photography set up, lights or a shade structure to even show up at a market. We have been taking risks and investing in tools that are beneficial long term and we hope it will help us grow.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest struggles for us has been withstanding the heat while we have events outdoors. On some occasions we have spent as much as our booth fees just on hydration. I remember one instance when we were outside for a good 5 hours in 105 F heat. I thought I was fine, I ran out of water and by the end of the market I felt my body was burning and I had never felt that way before even though I am used to the Phoenix heat. Not being able to participate at outdoor events has really impacted our business presence but you have to put yourself first and do not go past your limits. If there is no you, there is no business.
Apart from the Phoenix heat, it has been a challenge starting a business with a limited budget in an evolving city. You are being monetized for everything you do and when you do the math it is not sustainable for an art business so you have to find ways to work within your means. Many small businesses fail within the first years especially those female owned. Now we can see why. There is only a limited amount of money a person can destine towards purchasing art in the markets we have access to. Art is not a priority like food or clothing so it is very challenging to sell to the general public. We cannot afford to have a presence at markets outside our budget. They are a huge risk and more costly. On top of all this, finding markets where our art is appealing has taken lots of trial and error and money. It has been a challenge to find our place and get started.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pink Guava Studio is a creative space located in Phoenix. We create visual art that is soothing and brings joy to the viewer. Our goal is to create imagery that can bring calm to our chaotic world. Our two dimensional work can range from watercolors and acrylic paintings to dry media pieces such as charcoal, pastels, and graphite and a mix of all these. We offer themes of local flora, fauna, and celestial bodies. What sets us apart is our determination to stay true to the world we see and our constant fight to not change our style to fit the constrictive ideas of what people of color should be creating based on the beliefs of who we are, the levels of knowledge set for our race and even the way our history is interpreted. We definitely are different from the competition in the sense that we make our products accessible for Spanish speakers by providing our customer service and social media in Spanish. Additionally, we make an effort to treat people of color like human beings and that goes a long way. Visit our etsy shop pinkguavastudio.etsy.com to check out our art pieces. We have new items coming out this fall.
If you are ever in the Phoenix area, you can join one of our monthly guided watercolor classes. The classes are family friendly and we provide all the materials and instruction. We offer them in Spanish in case someone needs interpretation. Check out pinkguavastudio.eventbrite.com to sign up for the next watercolors class and stay on the know about our future art shows. We also offer private one-session watercolor classes for social gatherings, youth groups or community center enrichment activities. Contact us to get a quote, we have options.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Confidence is key when you are building a space that does not exist. As immigrants, women, diverse individuals, bilingual, alternative members of subcultures, we live in a world that is not made for us. We have to believe in what we are doing so others can trust that we are leading them in the right path. In this way we can create spaces for us that had never existed. If you think about it, when was the last time someone in your family took a watercolors class? Growing up we did not have “fine art” in school. I am pretty sure none of my family members ever took art or painted for fun on a canvas. Many did not have the privilege to stay in school. I believe it is the same case for many communities where we offer our services and products. So be confident because you might be creating something that has never existed and you have to tell others what it is that you want to create.
Contact Info:
- Website: pinkguavastudio.etsy.com
- Instagram: pinkguavastudiophx
- Other: pinkguavastudio.eventbrite.com
Image Credits
Standing Instructor- Elevating Legends Holding Calaca Self Portrait- Eka Photografy Watercolor Classes & Personal Photo- AwespireFoto Tabling at DBG-Sandra Ruvio
