Meet Andie Desiderio | Artist & Illustrator

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

Hi Andie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Most of my family have conventional lives. So I was encouraged to do the same. After college I got a conventional 9-5 job at a company. It was safe and not risky but I was unhappy with that life. To leave that lifestyle was to accept I was leading a life with greater risk but it felt right. I mentally reframed what risk meant. I don’t really think of the risks I take as risky. I look at it as discovery. I see the life I lead now as one of discovery. There are no real failures or successes because everything leads to the next thing. Neither the ups or downs are permeant. All of what I do it to lead to the next discovery. This is what I see as my real job. To discover and say yes to things. If I don’t try new things and I stay with what is known I will never know where I’m truly meant to be.. I do face judgment. I learned that when your life is risky and unconventional people aren’t always accepting. That was part of risk I didn’t expect. I think that was one of the hardest things for me to deal with. I didn’t want to disappoint people. But this too I mentally reframed. I changed my view from I’m not disappointing them but they are showing me that they are not my people. By seeing things this way I began to put less attention on the people that didn’t accept me and put more attention towards people that got excited by what I was doing and wanted to support my ideas.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist and Illustrator. I have worked on children’s books, editorial, ads, and gallery shows. I love to create different worlds and compelling environments. I tell stories with my work. I like to make people feel good when they first see my work and let the deeper meaning settle in as they continue to look.
My gallery and fine art work are surreal botanical works. I study the plants that I want to work with in an almost scientific way and combine it with the hidden subtle consciousness that exists there.
My illustration work is children’s book like and very approachable. I create vivid whimsical worlds with uplifting stories. I’ve been working on a personal project about a group of witches living in a cottage that I’m very excited about.

I’m excited about doing anything and everything with my work. For the last many years I’ve been taking care of my sick disabled mother. It got harder and harder until I wasn’t able to work at all. Late last year she passed away. As difficult as it is I’m grateful to be in a place where I can devote myself to my art and the art world again. I see the growth I’ve had from that experience and how it is reflected in my work. I feel my art is richer and deeper after so much difficult life experience. Since then I submit and attend anything I can. I’m most proud at just sharing my art and connecting over it and being able to see where that goes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Are we talking about New York or LA? I spend a significant amount of time in both.

In New York I would go gallery hopping in Chelsea and lower east side. I would go all the way down to The Dead Rabbit Pub and Fraunces Tavern. I would also at some point take them to Raoul’s, a french restaurant on Prince Street. We could see a show at the Slipper Room, a cool burlesque club I used to hang out at a lot when I was younger and could stay awake later. I’d show them the Elizabeth Street garden. I would take them to New york Botanical Gardens or the Cloisters. And if we go to Astoria we would see what’s up at QED Astoria Open Mic, and The Astoria Arts Center. And maybe stop in Long Island City and visit the art gallery at the Factory.
If the friend was into it I’d take them to Stormking or the Appalachian trail to go hiking.

If I was in LA I would go Alcove or Messhall in Los Feliz for a meal and walk over to skylight books. I would go to Huckleberry in Santa Monica, go to the Wednesday farmers market, then get drinks and snacks at Ester’s wine bar. Another day I would go to either the Huntington or the LA Botanical Gardens and plan another day around hiking the Angeles National Forest.

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?
My Aunt Dot, I would not be able to what I’m doing without her. I’m sure that most of what I do sounds crazy to her but she’s never discouraged me. I adore her. My cat Casey, she’s always there for me.

Website: https://www.andiedesiderio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andiedesiart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andie-desiderio-4a2b2424/

Twitter: @Andie_Desi

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AndieDesiderioArt https://www.tiktok.com/@andiedesiderio