Hello, my name is Mario Alvarado, I was born in San Antonio, Texas. Growing up, my family were migrant workers working in the fields picking fruits and vegetables. As I child I always loved drawing because it was a way for me to escape and be creative at the same time. We lived in upstate New York for 6 years and then came back to the Texas Rio Grande Valley. I went to Mission High School and studied fine arts for four years. After graduating, I joined the U.S. Navy and served for four years as a Gas Turbine Technician. Serving in the military was truly a journey and I got to travel the world visiting many different countries. After four years, I came back to San Antonio and joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Staff Sergeant working in Logistics at Kelly Air Force Base for another four years. I enrolled at San Antonio College and worked as a Ballroom Dance Instructor. I studied Fine Arts and earned an Associates of Art in Fine Arts from San Antonio College in 2020. Currently, I am a Veteran, Ballroom Dance Instructor, Visual Artist, Empowered Arts Member, Amazon Delivery Driver, Transporter Technician at Compass Connections, Volunteer at Empower House, and graduate from American Military University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. I like drawing, painting, and sculpture, working with acrylics, graphite, ink, and clay. I also enjoy graphic arts creating digital art works, as well as playing guitar, piano, and drums.