We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ali Pilli. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ali below.

Alright, Ali thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

There have been more than a few experiences while working various jobs which have taught me about being an artist/creator. However, this one really stands out as an important experience in developing as an artist…

I was working as a cake decorator, training alongside and to eventually take over for a bakeries head cake decorator- think cake boss. I had just finished my diploma in illustration a year before and was getting antsy about working as a freelance artist- this was a time of pre-social media so getting artwork out there was different and required a confidence level I was not yet at. So, I considered cake decorating an avenue that was a stable and safe way to make money while still getting to create. To debut my work and share that I was a new artistic talent on the team I was given the opportunity to design and decorate display cakes in my style for customers to see. I excitedly created designs for 3 cakes as well as put them together to share in the display cases. They stayed on display for about a week when the owner- who had returned from some time away and missed their creation stages- saw them. The reaction was not as I expected, and I remember being told that the cakes I had just poured my heart into working on were “too creative to sell here”. I was in total shock, you hired me to be creative, to show off my vision to literally create newness and now this newness was too much. I then asked, “How would you know it won’t sell here if you don’t try to put it out there?”. There was a debate back and forth about knowing the customer base and not wanting to stray from the norm. I walked out that day and knew in my heart working there would not last too long. The cakes did not last much longer on display.

From then on, I became obsessed with developing creativity, artistic growth, and harnessing confidence in my work. I decided that I would create as freely as my heart wanted and embrace all outcomes because you truly never know what can happen when you put yourself out there and try. I began to take notes and observe my creative inklings and track what environments and thoughts/habits led me to when I felt my most creative. This is when I started to trust myself as an artist and when I knew I was meant to follow my own path in working as an artist and creative. However, over time I have begun to understand the flip side of what my old boss had said about knowing what would sell to clients. As important as it is to push the boundaries and keep ideas novel it is also important to know the clients you want to attract (like he did) to keep working as a creative. I suppose you could say the big idea in all of this is staying true to your creative self while understanding that your work won’t be for everyone and that’s ok. As well as learning how to be flexible in your approach when working with clients and what their needs are. To this day I recall this experience as one that propelled me into observing my creativity and pushing me to trust myself as an artist with valid ideas and artworks.

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

My name is Ali Pilli. I am a methodical yet playful artist, who works mainly with acrylic paints and textured mediums. I work as an artist and Ontario certified teacher with diplomas in illustration, and cake decorating, a bachelor’s in early childhood education, and a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology and Education from the University of Toronto. I am represented by Kismet Art Co., a representative for the Ontario Art Education Association and an advisory board member for the visual content creator program for Seneca College. I focus on intentionally using colour and texture to display emotion and exhibit creativity. I started off working as an illustrator and over time have moved toward an abstract approach to creating. During my time as an illustration student, I regularly studied colour theory and understanding its effects on mood and aesthetic of our emotions and lives. This has greatly translated into my abstract works as well as creative photography and video of my works and process. I have always aimed to use colour/texture in a minimalistic way to remind audiences and myself that slowing down to enjoy the simplicity of life will show us the world is full of colour and delights that we are lucky to experience and explore.

I started my painting journey to get back to my creativity after a long while of not creating for myself. I used social media to hold myself accountable for sharing my work and over time transformed this therapeutic practice into a business. I have developed a place for myself as an artist through avenues such as gallery shows, word of mouth, collaborating with others I have met online, and working with interior designers and brands. The people I have met along the way have been such passionate and supportive individuals, it has truly been a blessing to be able to build a community that feels the same way about art as I do.

I paint artworks that can be used to bring interior-designed areas together, whether it is midcentury modern décor or a neutral aesthetic I love working with clients and designers to create art that brings life to decorated spaces. It truly makes my heart sing. Over the years I have spent time fine-tuning my knowledge of colour, texture, and composition to create pieces that capture simplicity, balance, and playfulness, helping others realize the beauty of their inspiration in a way that fits into their lifestyle and décor. I think what sets me apart from other artists is my diverse experiences of using creativity and imagination in many different avenues of life and being able to pull from those to develop paintings that are novel, exciting, and tailored for visually appealing aesthetics, vibes, and environments. Having worked and studied in a variety of settings has allowed me to develop a special connection between my creative process, play, and technique which in turn translates to my ability and passion to communicate, collaborate, and create artwork that speaks to you.

I am most proud of transforming myself from a terribly shy artist to one who embraces her truest creative self no matter what while still being able to take time to grow and discover new ways to develop as an artist and creative.
The main things I want you to know are my deep desire to use my imagination and artistic skills to make the world a place that is not fearful of being creative but one that embraces new ideas. No matter the project or idea my works are created with intention, playfulness, care, love, and a whole lot of creative thoughtfulness just for you.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I am fascinated by the idea that we can create based on what we think and interpret, to paint what cannot be said, this has been a driving factor through my creative journey. I cannot wait to spend my life interpreting the world around me using various materials to paint and express beauty, simplicity, emotion, and texture. For a while now I have been deeply captivated with figuring out what makes us consider something- whether it be photos, clothes, rooms, furniture, nature, etc- aesthetically pleasing. I love to observe with an open mind at the world to remind myself of the simple nuances that make us fall in love and develop certain tastes. I take all these interests along with me on my creative journey with the ultimate mission of building a life for myself on my own terms through totally embracing my creativity and the adventures it has and will lead me on.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist has been numerous opportunities to be myself and share my passion, inspiration, and creativity wherever I go. No matter the path or circumstance art has helped me make things happen that fill my heart daily. Knowing that I can trust my creative vision and self with others whether it be through creative collaboration, commission work, or teaching art there is and has always been a place for art in my life. It has helped me connect with myself, others and the world on so many different levels, it has been such a gratifying journey thus far and I can’t wait to continue this ride of bonding over creativity and art with others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alipilli.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ali.pilli.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alipilliart/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/alipilliart/_created/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alipilliart