Meet Ana DiGiallonardo | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana DiGiallonardo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
The way I view my work/life balance is in two periods of time: B.B. (before baby) & A.B. (after baby). Before I had my son in August 2019, I was working full-time as a Marketing Coordinator for a large General Contractor in Southern California. I spent my weekends rekindling my passion for art by painting as much as I could, starting with watercolors and then eventually acrylics. It felt like a very easy work/life balance because I had a set 8-5 schedule during the week and the weekends were always time for myself. This all changed completely when I had my son. I decided that it was the right time to leave my stable job of 7 years to finally pursue art full-time, while also caring for my son. It was the first time in my life that I was home 24/7. After the newborn haze faded, I had to reprogram myself to think of art as my job and focus on using whatever time I had for myself wisely. It took some time to readjust. Eventually I figured out a schedule for myself where I am able to work a few hours a day, whether it’s emails, mixing paint, or…. eventually… painting. I still struggle finding a balance between these two full-time jobs of motherhood and artist. It will always be a work in progress.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m very drawn towards the balance between structured and organic forms. Being born and raised in Southern California, mountains have always been a constant in my life. I feel at home when I am surrounded by these towering mounds of earth. Then on top of that, what is also so special about Southern California, are the sunsets and sunrises that appear over our beautiful mountains. Those landscapes are epitome of the balance of soft abstract color with structured grounding forms. I’m always trying to capture those fleeting moments in my paintings.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I think about the success I’ve had in the last few years, the three same people always come to mind. The first two people are Taylor Compton and Bonnie Brooks, owners of a gallery that used to be located in Old Town Yucca Valley. They gave me the exposure that my career needed. I was the opening show at their new gallery (formerly known as Midnight Oil Gallery) in 2018 and I painted a corresponding mural on the outside of the building. You can still visit the mural today in Yucca Valley. This show and mural completely changed my life. It opened so many doors for me and exposed my art to a much wider audience. I am eternally grateful to these two women who took a chance on me, when I wasn’t known really at all for my art. I also wouldn’t be the artist I am today without the love of my husband, Ryan. He is a photographer and woodworker, so naturally he has helped me with my all of my photography needs and he makes all of my custom framing for commissions. But more importantly, he has been my soundboard for all my questions, thoughts, dilemmas, etc. He is always there for any advice I need. I had repressed my creativity for many years and that all changed when we met. I felt alive again with him and felt confident again in expressing myself through art. That love, our love, will always be inspiration for me.

Website: anadigiallonardo.com

Instagram: @anadigiallonardo

Image Credits
Ryan Lopez