We recently connected with Jabria Anala and have shared our conversation below.

Jabria, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I knew that I wanted to pursue my artistic path professionally once I decided to quit cheerleading after 12 years. I thought cheerleading was my passion until I kept being unappreciated and unseen in so many ways. Even with having a high-level skill, I was still overlooked. After I quit, I decided to start back painting in my free time. Sometimes you grow out of things and that’s okay. I understood that God wanted me on a different path in this time of my life and I kept moving forward. I’ve always been a creative, talented kid growing up. My mom would buy me fashion kits to design clothes, paints, a guitar, braiding dolls, color pencils, and canvases all the time. I loved creating things so much and loved it even more once my mom continued to buy materials for me. She saw my talent at a young age before I noticed. I’m very appreciative of her. Around 2021, was when I started taking my craft very seriously.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jabria Anala, an artist from Atlanta, Georgia. My artwork showcases a variety of mediums, including colored pencils, charcoal, acrylic paints, and markers. The pieces I create focuses on the struggles and positive aspects of African American culture, with the aim of encouraging people of all ages within the black community to love and embrace their skin. Despite my community facing many challenges, I believe we should stay strong and come together as one. With my powerful and impactful artwork, I am sure to be a part of making a difference in the world. I create art pieces on canvases of all sizes. All of my art has a meaning behind it. There’s no piece created by me that doesn’t have a story. While pursuing this passion, I plan on spreading the gospel as well. God plays the biggest part into my career and my life in general. Even when I get discouraged, I stay persistent. Until God tells me to stop creating, I will keep the passion alive for many years to come.

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

I would have to say that the most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is being able to leave behind a legacy so pure and influential that many generations to come will remember me by. Making a positive change for not just me, but for all people. It’s about doing what you love while doing everything that God has set out for you to achieve while on this earth. When you leave an impact so strong that after passing on others cannot stop mentioning your name or your successes willingly keeps you alive forever.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My particular goals are to make original authentic pieces of artwork, make my loved ones proud, make my dreams a reality with the help of God is what’s most important to me. I would like to teach the children of today about how valuable African and African American studies is for our lives and the arts. My biggest goal is to help educate the mind and spirit. That’s what drives my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: jabriaanala.etsy.com
• Instagram: @jabriaanala
• Art Portfolio: theeabstract.crevado.com

Image Credits
@eyesoftaj- Photographer/Videographer