Meet Maria Galloway | Artist, Art Teacher, & Studio Owner

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

Hi Maria, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Achieving work-life balance has always been a challenge for me—something I’m sure many of you who are passionate about what you do can relate to. I’m incredibly fortunate to have my dream job as an artist and art teacher, spending my days immersed in creativity. Most of us here in LA have multiple gigs, side hustles, etc. For me, it’s the trying to keep up with juggling everything I do: my art business ReGallowayArt.com, being a business owner of 2 art studios here in Los Angeles, ViridianArt.com, running an Art Teacher blog, ArtTeacherinLA.com, and, family, exercise, and life in general. It’s a lot to keep up with. Carving out time for my personal artwork has often been a challenge.

I realized something had to change, so I committed to myself to prioritize my art. While I’ve always painted and sold my work, the past few years have sparked a bigger dream: becoming a full-time artist. Not saying that I want to give up running my art studio or teaching, but I want to the bulk of my day to be spent painting. To make that dream a reality, I started creating space for my own art. I began dedicating 3-4 mornings a week painting for a few hours before work. When I stick to that commitment, everything else seems to fall into place. Mentally, I feel more balanced, fulfilled, and connected to the artist I want to be.22

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artistic journey is a reflection of my love for nature. Whether it be the watercolor sketches that document my travels, the oil paintings depicting bunnies and birds, or my recent dive back into pottery and creating with clay. My work reflects the harmony I find in the world around me. My collection of artwork can be found at www.ReGallowayArt.com

My commitment to my daily painting practice has helped me refine my skills and to focus on creating collections of works, rather than just randomly choosing inspiration. I’ve learned to fight like hell to protect my art practice. Otherwise it slips away and gets filled with everything else. Those precious hours that I get to paint and commit to it are such an important part of me.

Art has been my constant companion.
In 2011, I co-founded the Los Angeles Art School, Viridian Art Academy, a nurturing space for aspiring artists to learn, grow, and flourish. This endeavor reflects my commitment to fostering artistic growth and nurturing the creative spirit within our community. www.ViridianArt.com

In 2015, I embarked on yet another venture, founding a blog for art educators, “Art Teacher in LA” is a platform dedicated to sharing insights, ideas, and inspiration for fellow art teachers. I use this platform and instagram to share art lessons and resources for other art educators. www.ArtTeacherinLA.com and instagram @artteacherinla

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a proud LA native, born and raised in “the Valley,” I have a deep love for my community and the place I call home.

My ideal weekend kicks off with a Friday morning stroll through the Topanga Canyon farmers market, soaking in the fresh produce and local vibes. Later in the evening, I’d head back to Topanga for dinner at La Chingona, enjoying their incredible vegan tacos on the charming patio, or to Endless Color for live music paired with vegan pizza.

Saturdays are made for the beach! Paddleboarding at Malibu or indulging in lunch and window shopping at the Malibu Lumber Yard makes for a perfect day.

While I don’t often venture too far from the Valley, the Hollywood Bowl is a summer tradition I never miss—especially when hosting out-of-town guests. Packing up wine and snacks, catching the shuttle, and enjoying an unforgettable night under the stars at this iconic venue is a quintessential LA experience.

Another favorite outing is hiking through Griffith Park, taking in the views of the Los Angeles skyline from the Griffith Observatory, and capping off the adventure with food and drinks at Golden Road Brewery. It’s the perfect blend of nature and LA culture..

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One of the most transformative and inspiring experiences in my journey as an educator was participating in the UCLArts & Healing Program. It was a truly exceptional educational experience that surrounded me with a community of like-minded, passionate educators who shared a commitment to arts education and social-emotional learning. The program provided a wealth of knowledge and tools. Being part of a group so dedicated to art and healing shaped my approach to teaching and gave me the confidence, and resources to become the kind of teacher I always aspired to be. I will always carry the lessons I learned there with me, both as an educator and as an artist.

Website: https://www.ArtTeacherinLA.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-galloway-15817a44/