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

Allana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I’ve always been creative, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with cancer that I became an artist. After receiving my initial diagnosis of hodgkin’s lymphoma in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, I moved home to Madison and found myself drawing on my “good days” between chemo sessions. Looking back, I was completely unaware that those doodles would mark the beginning of my career as an artist and business owner.

Since reaching remission in 2020, I have explored digital artwork, watercolors, acrylics, screen printing, and murals. Much of my inspiration draws on the whimsical nature of the artwork I encountered during my time living abroad in Taiwan. I am consistently drawn to playful, and colorful pieces and my goal is to capture those same attributes in my own designs. Over the past few years I have challenged myself to take on new mediums and, as a self-taught artist, I continue to learn something new everyday.

My art business, Ten By Ten, currently focuses on traveling to markets around the Midwest and painting murals in the Madison area. Both of these avenues have been extremely rewarding and growth I have experienced continues to push me forward. As a young adult cancer survivor, my perspective on life has shifted a lot in the past few years. Ten By Ten was not something that I set out to create, but rather it was naturally born from the circumstance I found myself in; my cancer diagnosis is what led me to this career and is an integral part of my story as an artist. As a result, I am very aware of how privileged I am to be creating art that gives back to others. The support I have received from the Madison community is a huge reason why I choose to invest in myself as an artist.

The heart behind my art career really lies in giving back and building community. Since 2020, my small business, Ten by Ten, has donated over $15,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I have also started hosting my own market that is designed to bring local vendors together and give back to nonprofits in our area. Through participating in markets, I have also witnessed my artwork create community among cancer survivors and give back in ways I never could have imagined. Seeing the impact that my designs have made is the driving force in my journey as an artist.

Allana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

All items are hand-drawn digitally, and then transferred to a product. For example, prints are first drawn and then screen printed onto fabric. I also use watercolor and acrylic mediums to create print and sticker designs.

My best selling items are my dishwasher safe glassware and suncatcher stickers. Over the past 3 years, I have been fortunate enough to travel the Midwest and attend many market selling my products!

Mural work has also become a large part of what I do–painting large-scale pieces fills my heart with so much joy! My designs are typically bright, cheerful, and colorful. I am incredibly proud of the murals I have completed and excited for future projects!

Cancer took a lot from me, and I will never be thankful for that. However, the unexpected impact of my art continues to astound me. Since my remission in November 2020, my donation-based art shop–Ten By Ten (10×10)–has donated over $15,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The experience of creating art and sharing stories with others has been humbling to say the least. I am so grateful for the personal growth I have encountered through this journey, and I look forward to continuing 10×10’s artistic mission for years to come.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Going through chemo in 2020, during the height of COVID, meant I was extremely isolated at home. I had treatment every other week, and, on my “good” weeks, painting and drawing kept me feeling occupied and productive. I dug into watercolors and worked on pieces that reflected survivorship.

The day before my last chemo, I had 10 stickers made and gave them to my closest friends and family as a thank you for their love and support. One of my friends posted a photo of the sticker and, within 6 hours, I had more orders than I could keep track of. I opened an Etsy that day and shipped out orders following my final round of treatment.

The beginning of my shop is incidentally the same day I finished treatment, and that means a lot to me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was living in Taiwan and applying for grad schools in Wisconsin when I was diagnosed with cancer. Pretty much the biggest pivot I could ever imagine.

I remember sitting in a hospital bed, sending emails to my mentors telling them I “probably had cancer” and “probably would not be attending grad school the following year.”

A few weeks later I was moving home for treatment, and life was essentially on pause. 6 months later, I accidentally started a business that is now my full-time job. I will never be grateful I had cancer, but my business is proof that beautiful things really can come from the darkest circumstances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tenbytenart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenbyten.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075798910412
• Other: Tiktok: @tenbyten.art