Life & Work with Anna LeDonne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna LeDonne.

Hi Anna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a child, I was surrounded by talented artists — my mom, grandmother, siblings, and friends were all naturally gifted artists, but none of them pursued a career in art. So I always thought of art as a hobby, not as a legitimate career. My family’s love of art certainly honed my eye as an artist and designer. But by comparison, I was the least talented. My inner critic said, “If these talented artists aren’t professionals, who am I to think I could be an artist?”

This self-imposed viewpoint led me down a winding career path of self-discovery in various marketing and creative roles in my early 20s. I’ve been the editor of a magazine, jewelry designer, public relations strategist and creative director along the way. Through each of these careers, the thread has been creativity and connection. Each opportunity has led me further along the creative path to where I am today as a proudly self-employed artist and designer.

I officially quit my day job as a Creative Director for a PR Firm in New Orleans to work for myself in January 2021 making a living from art (Stars & Carrots) and brand design services (Aligned Life Design).

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t view things as struggles but rather as lessons. The biggest lesson of all has been learning to believe that I can achieve whatever dream I decide to follow.

It’s an easy decision to leave a toxic job or a career you hate, but it’s difficult to leave any place you feel comfortable for something unknown. I was comfortable in my career and in my life, which made it much more difficult to take a leap of faith and leave a good job and a career to follow a new path as an artist.

It took several years of building my skills on the side leading up to that final decision to quit my job and it was scary as hell. An obstacle I still face regularly is imposter syndrome and not feeling good enough or talented enough to succeed as an artist. But being an artist isn’t about talent, it’s about the desire to create.

Every skill I have learned is because I wanted to learn it and I had a desire to create a certain effect on a piece of artwork. Sometimes I wonder how much further along I would be if I had gone to school for Graphic Design or started my business right out of college, but I am proud to be a self-taught artist and designer.

I taught myself through Youtube and programs like Skillshare as well as on the job with other artists and designers learning the types of programs they used and teaching myself how to use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Procreate.

I believe that everything happens in perfect timing. I just follow where my joy wants to take me and that’s how I make every career and life decision I make.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In addition to being an artist and designer, I’m also a reiki practitioner and yogi. I believe everything carries energy, that our physical environments affect our lives and that our own energy can affect the physical environment.

That’s why I’m passionate about art, design and the energy of spaces and how we interact with those extensions of ourselves. The art I create is a direct expression of me and my energy. I want to bring beautiful, high vibrational art into lives and homes to bring a little more joy to your space. I enjoy creating really fun, colorful pieces with messages of holistic transformation to inspire people to follow their joy.

And for my brand design clients, I share the same energetic passion for their businesses as my own. I get so legitimately excited for people to be sharing their authentic vision with the world. I help them translate their vision into a cohesive visual representation of their truest self.

I get excited about lots of things (I believe the term is multi-passionate). But basically, I love being creative in many different forms. My work has evolved over the years, and I hope it continues to evolve.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I recently moved to Atlanta from New Orleans and have been immersing myself in the local art community as much as possible! I’d love to meet more creatives in the area so please reach out 🙂

I’ll be participating in some upcoming art markets in Atlanta:
– May 4, 11, 18, 25 – #MadebyaWoman Weds @ Cultured South & Best End Brewing, 2-8 PM
– May 22, “Sunday Funday” @ Cultured South & Best End Brewing, 1-6 PM
– June 4 “Markets in the Garden” – Saturday @ EAV Park, 1-7 PM

Contact Info:

• Email: annalivdesign@gmail.com
• Website: alignedlifedesign.com
• Instagram: @AlignedLifeDesign / @StarsAndCarrots
• Other: Tiktok: @Anna.Manifests