Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Monsanto.
Ana, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I began painting since I was very young. My inspiration came from the letters my father used to send my mom when he was in Cuba. At the time we lived in Ukraine, where I was born. Among the love letters to my mom he always included a bedtime story for me with drawings for me to color. This was my first introduction to drawing. I sat and tried to mimic each little character on my own. Anxious for the letters to arrive just to see what story and were inside, I could almost hear his voice when we read them. Those stories helped time go by faster when he was away.
While I lived in Ukraine, my grandmother used to take me around the city to show me the beautiful art and architecture of Kiev. I also attended ballet lessons regularly. My dream was to be a painter and a ballerina. I remember the golden roofs of the churches catching light perfectly when the sun set, the smell of the wood in the ballet studio and the sound of the piano and how I stood out. A brunette among all those blondes. They used to whisper: “Look there goes that Cuban girl.” The city itself is a masterpiece. The parks full of tulips and bronze statues, churches with historic paintings and decorated in gold. We lived in Kiev until I turned 13-years-old. Moving to Miami wasn’t easy. My dad being born in Miami barely knew English. No more ballet lessons, my parents worked hard to provide for us and any activities after school were out of budget. I came home to watch one of the few channels we had and Bob Ross was painting his tiny little trees here and there. I would sit and watch him for an hour or two until I begun painting my own little trees here and there. My high school art teacher gave me my first oil painting set. I painted a landscape with a small farm house in the distance. Immediately falling in love with oil painting and how the paint blended perfectly with every stroke. Searching for inspiration in magazines, I would tear a sheet of a landscape and paint using the grid system on canvas. My paintings were photorealistic. I tried watercolors and pastels. They didn’t captivate me enough. Throughout the years my art has evolved. I found a new hobby to replace ballet. Surfing. There is this intense and overwhelming connection with the sea. The world can come down on my shoulders and once I paddle out and catch a few waves, nothing matters anymore. The colors are mesmerizing too. I want to take them with me and stare at them for as long as I can. The way the water moves and dances all around me is magical. I began painting water and the movement of water.
After graduating from Florida International University, I worked as a Marketing Manager and Director for over 10 years. I traveled for work often and painted in my spare time. I never thought I could make a living with art. In fact, I didn’t believe in myself. I put so much pressure and didn’t think I was good enough. Such a tough critic. I got laid off in 2015 and those who know me well said I hit the ground running with my art career. I would wake up every day and paint for 14 hours a day. Eventually our house filled up with canvas and I began attending local art festivals to rid of inventory, so we could walk around the living room without breaking an ankle. At my first show I sold out. I priced my art very low too. Got picked on by other artists about my pricing and “funny looking” set up. Eventually I invested into a good tent and booked a full schedule of festivals. I’m looking back to my corporate days and I don’t miss a thing. I’ve never felt so alive in my life. This is what I was born to do. Paint.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My acrylic paintings are partially poured to show the flow of the ocean water. I concentrate on the details and control the composition with multiple glazes. Most of my paintings are partially resined. I want to show off those beautiful colors of the sea and the resin helps them light up and pop. I chose to paint water because it’s magical. I am a complete being when I’m near or in the water. There are hidden hearts that represent eternal love in my paintings. Some of my jellyfish are intertwined to form a heart. I secretly believe in soulmates and I incorporate that into my work.
The little details and memories I chose to retain while spending time in the water can be seen in my work. All of my pieces are bits of me and the ocean that surrounds us. My art is like the ocean – vast, mighty and in a constant state of flux.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
There is no job security in this business and you can’t get fired. There are no stable checks or bi-weekly transfers to the account. Selling art is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had. I’ve started from nothing and am now in a comfortable place. To get to this comfortable place takes a lot of nerve and positive attitude. While the seasoned artists stayed in their RV’s during the tour or in hotels, I slept the first two years in my van and prayed I made enough to break even and pay for the next show. The ups and downs of the art business can take a toll on anyone. What kept me afloat was believing in myself and my art. If I didn’t believe in what I created and my product, I would have not made it this far. The art business is not for the weak. One must not only create an amazing product line, set up shop in good or bad weather, drive around the state for shows, sleep in van, pray the credit card woks, wake up sweating with anxiety in the mornings, but most importantly, love the journey and believe in yourself. Without faith and trusting your instincts you can’t get anywhere.
Contact Info:
- Address: KROMA Art Gallery
3670 Grand Ave
Coconut Grove, FL 33133 - Website: http://www.anamonsanto.com
- Phone: (786) 247-9697
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ana_monsanto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ana.monsanto
Image Credit:
Elena Monsanto
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