Meet Anna Pearson | Contemporary artist and muralist

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

Hi Anna, why did you pursue a creative career?
I started my art journey quiet late in life, way after 30, when most people were already enjoying their achievements and resting on laurels. I reinvented myself as an artist coming to the US a few years back because that was my last chance to try something I always wanted to do. It was my call from early childhood that I never allowed myself to fully dive in, being under the spell of the “starving artist” stereotype. Despite making a successful career in sales making art has always been in the back of my mind, with a pulsating question “what if?”.What if I could make it, what if I’m actually good at it, what if there’s a way to live my dream and make a living? After some heartbreaking life changes I decided that it’s now or never – I either give it a shot or will never think of it again. So I started making art every free minute and sharing it on social media. Like any beginning it wasn’t easy, but looking back I can say that it was the best decision I ever made.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Right now my main focus is on painting big-scale murals and custom paintings. My process always starts with careful research to ensure that the art we will add to a specific space will enhance it. I brainstorm it first by myself and then with my clients to find the final result that would make us both happy. There is a lot of planning and preparation before I approach a wall or a canvas. That is almost a bit compulsive, but I enjoy the process. The outcome is even more satisfying that way for me. Creating something for a client I always take in consideration the context my art will be in, the client’s personal story, the environment, the community etc. I also do painting workshops every once in a while. What I think sets me apart from others is my combined experience as a human being. Every person is unique and that’s why I believe we all have our own voice if we just let it shine without trying to imitate others. That’s what I tell people who come to my workshops. If you want to be unique just be yourself. That’s enough.
Of course, starting this late in life something completely new in a new country wasn’t easy, to say the least. Plus, artistic career is not for the faint of heart no matter how early you start it. One of the biggest struggles worth mentioning is that making a good art is not enough nowadays. To have a shot at success artists need to wear multiple hats at once: be a marketing specialist, manager, PR strategist, business owner, accountant, promoter, SMM specialist, photographer, videographer and so much more! Sometimes doing that boring office work takes so much time that there is very little time left to actually create. But without it it’s nearly impossible to make it as an artist.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am very fortunate to live in the San Diego area, so a week’s trip here might only scrape the surface. San Diego is called America’s finest city for a reason – it’s got it all! Sunny beaches, exquisite restaurants, expansive art collection in local museums and galleries, parks, clubs, hikes, sports arenas and so much more!
I would start exploring the city from downtown. Have a cup of coffee in Little Italy (Cafe Italia is my favorite spot), then walk around Gaslamp Quarter and make your way to Waterfront Park. Check out Seaport Village and maybe grab a bite at Motto Pizza (my mural is just outside of their patio). If you still have energy left you can go to Balboa Park, but I would save it for another day as there is a lot to see. In Balboa Park marvel at beautiful Spanish architecture, check out a cute art village and one or a few of their amazing museums. I would recommend the Art Museum and the Japanese Garden the most. San Diego Zoo is also in the vicinity.
San Diego has 70 miles of coastline so visiting some of the iconic beach towns is an absolute must. My favorite is Carlsbad which still preserves that feeling of the old-fashioned small town with a laid-back vibe where people know each other and greet you on the street. If you’re visiting during springtime you have a chance to witness stunning Carlsbad Flower Fields in full bloom. La Jolla is drop drop-dead gorgeous area where you can see sea lions and flocks of pelicans. If you want more diversity, Oceanside, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Leucadia should be on your list. Before your visit check the city event calendar to make even more memories with a kaleidoscope of vibrant events.
San Diego is also the beer capital of the United States so you can spend a day hopping from one brewery to another savoring local specialties. There’s also Legoland, Aquarium, newly renovated Snapdragon Arena, Coronado Island, wineries in the countryside and spectacular California sunsets. San Diego has a lot to offer and I am beyond grateful to call it my home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I imagine that I answer this question in a stunning ball gown holding some shining award: “And now I want to thank my mom, my producer, and my amazing team – without you, it wouldn’t be possible…” Jokes aside, looking back at the beginning I see my story as a fairytale, not without some magic and a fairy godmother’s intervention. I went through a lot of hardships to be where I am now being a girl from a small Ukrainian town who arrived in Dreamland (aka California) with the luggage of a failed marriage and being a single mom. I craved some radical changes in my life and, at the same time, I wanted to go back to what always was my soul’s outlet – art. After settling in California I started sketching things that were around me, mostly flora. The best decision ever was to share my drawings via social platforms. It connected me with new friends and first clients. A big pivot in my career as an artist happened also thanks to social media. A manager from a local mall, my fairy godmother, saw my work on Instagram and offered me a big gig: to paint a mural at said mall. I had zero experience and little confidence, but I jumped at this opportunity. That work became a turning point for me. I realized what I could do and never stopped since then.

Website: https://pannaarts.com

Instagram: @p.anna_arts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078375153898