Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angela Hansen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Angela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

My initial decision to learn the art of Pinstriping was a huge risk, especially since it was something I had never attempted before. Also, being a woman in an industry with mostly men was very intimidating. But the driving force for me was when one of my professors in college literally laughed at me when I told him I wanted to learn Pinstriping. It was the right amount of motivation that I needed to prove to him, and everyone else that doubted me, that my goal was achievable.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a self-taught Pinstriper and Sign Painter from San Diego, CA. I was in college for Graphic Design when I looked into the art of Pinstriping, and felt a strong desire to learn more. I spent many years as a Graphic Designer, but spent nights and weekends pursuing my real passion. Creating art with your hands has a much more creative and unique level to it. Years of practice paid off and I was finally able to quit my regular job to focus more time and energy into creating my own business. Clients that trust me to put my artwork on their cars, motorcycles, guitars, etc. is the most rewarding experience. I am proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I will continue to learn and grow everyday.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building a reputation within my market was pretty rocky at first. How can I stand out as a “newbie” in an industry that seemed to be already dominated by incredible artists? Self-doubt is something I think most creatives struggle with, but thankfully I realized that this is not and was never a competition. We do this type of artwork because we simply love doing it. So I let go of self-doubt and let things flow. I visited a ton of car shows. I set up a booth and introduced myself. I set up a website with lots of information and pictures. I grew my social media by posting my artwork. When clients call or send me an email, I make sure I respond as quickly and efficiently as possible. When I put my artwork on someone’s vehicle, bike, etc. I make sure it is my best work. These are the things that I believe contribute to building my reputation.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to do what I truly love to do. I am able to build my own business where I can determine my own schedule and financial freedom. (I’m still working on the financial freedom part, but I’ll get there.) Being able to donate time and artwork for charity has also been greatly rewarding and I would encourage everyone to try to do this as much as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.angelalyndesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelalyndesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelaspinstriping
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/angelalyndesigns-spring-valley-4?osq=pinstriping