[2] Alvarez demonstrated artistic talent at a young age and 1915 enrolled in the Art Students League of Los Angeles, where she enjoyed immediate success.

As a young woman, she was influenced by the philosophical writings of Will Levington Comfort, who espoused principles of Theosophy and Eastern mysticism.

[4] In the 1920s and 30s, her works were heavily influenced by the Synchromist Movement’s Stanton Macdonald-Wright and Morgan Russell,[2] who would remain her teacher for over 20 years.

[6] In August 1941 she had a one-woman exhibit in the Los Angeles county museum that featured paintings of bold color she created while she was staying in Honolulu.

[7] In 2001 her work was exhibited at Mission San Juan Capistrano in California, U.S.[8] The primary color that Alvarez used to express herself was green which to her represented joy, love, hope, youth and mirth.