Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Leja.
Ali, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Painting is a 2nd career for me. I served as a high school guidance counselor for 19 years. I have always loved crafting and design but I was too insecure to paint so I collected art instead. Something wonderful happened about 4 years ago and I decided I was going to teach myself to paint know what it took. I spoke to several artists and they all told me that you need to paint every day in order to learn. I basically paint 6-7 days per week due to this advice. I am an instinctual painter and paint best when I follow my inclinations verses analyzing my thoughts. This suits my personality perfectly as I tend to be a tad messy, impulsive and impatient in “real life”. Honestly, it is refreshing to have embraced a career that encourages and highlights my natural tendencies.
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 work is quirky and joyful. My goal is to evoke a smile or laughter from my audience. Having overcome many obstacles in my life, I make the conscious choice to focus on positivity on the canvas. For me art brings happiness and joy and I strive to share that with others.
As a full time, artist, it is my mission to stay focused on improving and enhancing my style. I want to see a positive difference in my art every 6 months- whether it is a new subject, different brush stroke or new use of color. I crave to be different from other artists and I always want to keep my viewers interest. If everybody is doing it, I don’t want to.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
I am a spiritual and introspective person and there are certain concepts/advice I am always reinforcing in myself. Do not compare yourself to other artists. You will either feel really good or really bad about yourself and neither is your reality. When given opportunities to promote, share, or sell your work- say yes until you know you can say no. Self-doubt stifles the creative process so go where you are wanted. When people love your art, it builds your self-confidence. Positivity attracts positivity.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see my work by visiting my website www.alilejadesigns.com, following me on Instagram @designsalileja and liking my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Aliblejadesigns
In Georgia my artwork is represented by:
SARAH’S HOME
308A Willow Bend Rd
Peachtree City, Georgia 30269
SLOAN HOME
3802 Roswell Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
SUNSHINE VILLAGE ART GALLERY
11 N Main St
Watkinsville, Georgia 30677
TAYLOR KINZEL GALLERY
16 Elizabeth Way
Roswell, GA 30075
VIOLA’S MARKET
267 Redfern Village
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
Contact Info:
- Address: Artist Studio- Johns Creek, GA
- Website: www.alilejadesigns.com
- Phone: 404-216-2429
- Email: alilejadesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: @designsalileja
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Aliblejadesigns
Image Credit:
Image of Artist taken by Brandon Luther of Southern Bit
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