Meet Bethany Madrid of Original Artwork in West Houston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Madrid.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My love of art and entrepreneurship started at a very young age. My parents like to joke that when I was 5 years old I was a huge admirer of our neighbor’s iris garden. She was a kind lady and told me “oh honey you can take as many as you like”. Apparently, I took that to heart and was later found going door to door in my little red wagon, selling iris plants. That natural entrepreneurship continued to grow as I became older. With the encouragement of a junior high teacher, I started a small business creating jewelry creations and selling them at local festivals and art shows. Growing up in a small Oklahoma oil town, I was blessed to be surrounded by a community that highly valued the arts and investing in their youth. I continued to explore different mediums and enjoyed learning about pottery, ceramics, glass blowing and other fine art mediums. I still remember selling my first painting to a member of the New York Philharmonic that was in town for our local OK Mozart festival. I think I was 13…and amazed that someone liked my style enough to hang it in their home! For me it was just the start.

I studied marketing in college, while taking every possible elective in fine arts. For me it was such a freeing expression and helped balance the stress of university studies. My love of creativity and art eventually led me to the corporate world, where today I manage a global portal for the world’s largest computer company. Due to the nature of my work I work unusual hours and often travel to work with teams across the world. When I’m not traveling for business or pleasure, I enjoy spending my free time creating unique abstract and resin artwork.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve been blessed to have a great education, and work for a company that values the importance of healthy work-life balance. Working in the corporate world prevents me from being a starving artist, while my clients keep my busy and constantly challenged. For me, painting is a stress relief. It has allowed me to share a small piece of my world with others.

People say it’s not possible to have everything, but it really is. I’m a perfect example! No matter how long I’m away from my studio, I always get to come home to a fun, messy and place to create.

Please tell us about Original Artwork by Bethany Joy Madrid.
I specialize in artwork specifically designed to complement a clients personalized style and preferences. Most of my clients are word-of-mouth and through local design stores. Many artists finish a painting and sell it “as is”, but for me it’s important the client is involved along each step of the process. That way in the end they have a painting that is not only unique, but also a direct reflection of their personality. I love dabbling in interior design, so I usually mockup several digital samples so clients can better understand how the finished product will look once complete. I understand it’s hard to visualize different options, and that’s a challenge I enjoy working with.

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 probably be a starving artist and an art teacher. I’ve ended up with a reasonable compromise while still providing food on the table for my family.

I’m a strong believer that it’s important to live a life that reflects your priorities, and for me that’s my family. Instead of missing time away from them while I paint and attend fine art shows, I enjoy taking them along for the journey. They not only help me with my art, but they are also some of my biggest critics!.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BethanyJoyMadrid.com
• Phone: 2812503818
• Email: bethany@themadrids.com

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.