We recently connected with Anima Hoitt and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anima thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am extremely thankful that I get to live my life as a full time artist. I understand that some may not have the luxury of doing the same, so I often think of how lucky I am and the fact that I get to make it my day to day job.

There are times when I look at my family and friends who chose different paths in ‘regular jobs’ and there’s that tiny voice of self doubt that creeps in saying “why didn’t I do the same?”. Ive always been the artist in my family and community, and while I enjoyed the attention of being able to create and think differently than my left brained peers, I still felt like I should have been doing the same as them- going to school, earning PHDs, choosing the path that makes the most money etc. But as a kid I had no idea what I wanted to do, all I knew was that I understood art, and it made me happy to develop my craft and be apart of the art world. It has taken me a long time to feel confident in the path that I chose for myself and to learn that rather than being so absorbed in what others are doing and if I’m doing the right thing, I should be proud of the work that I do and strive every day to become a better version of myself, so that I can continue to do what I love.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a 23 year old artist born and based in Denver, Colorado. I have been a painter for years but I didn’t claim the title of ‘Artist’ until about 2020. After High School, I had plans of moving out of state and going to school, traveling, working and figuring out regular adult things. I wasn’t as focused on my painting career at the time, It was more of a hobby than anything. So in April of 2020 when my mother, Silvana, passed away, everything was turned upside down for me. I was 19 and completely lost. I felt unmotivated to continue with the plan that I had set out for myself. During that time of processing I turned back to painting as a way of therapy. I began working on small random projects, and I quickly fell back into my craft and remembered how much I enjoyed working with my hands and being in a creative mindset. From that I quit my boring retail job and committed myself to painting.

To avoid the starving artist cliche I started a service of painting custom pet portraits for others. I thought I had the greatest job in the world, staying at home, looking at pictures of dogs all day, and I was meeting new people through that connection. But over time I felt like I was working for others and not creating for myself. So I began to branch out and dive deep into the subjects I was most interested in. This past year has been my journey in showing others what I can do with my art, and In growing my portfolio, I have been working on a new series that I plan to show independently this year. My main focus and goal is to show my work on a larger platform. I want to communicate with others that I take pride in developing my brand. And the support that I receive from others, no matter how large or small my audience is still motivates me to do what I love and call myself an artist

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect is the fact that I get to bring my skills to situations that need to be seen in a new light or form. I have been told by others that I excel at problem solving and thinking on my feet. I used to feel that wasn’t true, that since I didn’t think of logical answers for most things I would always come out with the wrong answer. Over time I came to realize that it was somewhat of a blessing in disguise. I have been able to use my creative knowledge for many situations that don’t always involve art and it has given me confidence in my intuition. While my ideas and knowledge may not always be accepted, this way of thinking has guided me in many opportunities and I will always appreciate that about myself.

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

The goal that drives me on my journey as in artist is simply the fact that I want to learn. I want to absorb everything I can to further better myself, both in my work and my personal life. I enjoy picking up new skills and speaking with other artists and creatives. With this mindset I have picked up photography, tattooing, gallery work and have even done work on commercials and film sets. While it is hard to be a freelance artist I think I have picked up more knowledge just by living than I ever would have if I went to school or had gotten a ‘normal job’. Every time I find a new medium to work on I dive deep into the culture and history and I’m introduced to a whole new sub culture that I might never have found out about. Im fond of the frustrations I come across in my journey and I think on all the others before me who might have had the same feelings, but have pushed on and developed something for the world in a positive light. As I develop my skills and add them to my growing resume I feel a deep sense of accomplishment and it further drives me to keep learning every day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: animahoitt.art
• Other: I’m mostly just on instagram but my website is currently under construction and will be published soon!

Image Credits
all art is owned by me. Portrait photo of myself was taken by my sister Sasha Pettus