We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ana Gabriela Honsowetz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ana Gabriela below.
Ana Gabriela, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I’ve always said that my best and worst quality is my overwhelming confidence. It’s helped me succeed in my career and also landed me in some tricky situations.
Since I was a child, I’ve always felt the need to prove I could do anything. As the second-born, I constantly looked up to my older sister—I wanted to do everything she could do and more. Our relationship, even with its ups and downs like most siblings, gave me a strong sense of belief in myself. She was one of my biggest supporters, and having her in my corner gave me the courage to dream big.
Despite this external support and my wild, creative confidence, I struggled with severe depression, hopelessness, and a deep lack of identity. I didn’t know who I was or what I was meant to do in the world.
At 10 years old, I found my calling: I decided I wanted to be a full-time artist and do my best to leave the world more beautiful than I found it. But I did not know in what artistic way I wanted to make the world beautiful. So in search for the niche of my purpose, I explored anything and everything creative I could think of—makeup, FX makeup, photography, drawing, painting, sculpting.
Most people told me it was impossible—that I needed a “Plan B.” But deep down, I knew this path wasn’t just a dream; it was a need. Like air, I needed to create. So, even when faced with doubt or pushback, I leaned into my purpose and hoped it would help me understand who I really was.
From that point forward, I pursued art relentlessly. At 10, I became obsessed with anime and manga and started turning my friends into manga characters. At 11, I taught myself how to use makeup to enhance my features—but also to transform into movie creatures and create realistic wounds with FX makeup. As someone with ADHD, many of these passions came in waves, but around 15, after navigating some intense depressive episodes, I discovered my true love: painting and hyper-realistic portraiture. It was through these mediums that I found not only my strongest artistic talent but also a deeper understanding of myself.
At 15, I began the real journey toward self-discovery and developing my self-esteem. (And honestly, I believe that journey never really ends—we’re all constantly unfolding and evolving.)
I taught myself to draw my favorite actors, like Robin Williams, and models like Cara Delevingne. When my mom saw my growing talent, she enrolled me in a trade school where I was mentored by artists who truly believed in me. That school gave me something I’d never had before: a sense of belonging. It helped me realize that I didn’t have to accept the narrative others had written for me—I had the power to take hold of my story and shape my own future.
That realization gave me the confidence to move to New Zealand at 18 without knowing a soul. It empowered me to start my business at 20 back in the states, without a degree. It’s what helped me quit my full-time job at 21 to go all-in on my creative business, to pursue therapy so I could understand my inner world and grow my self esteem, to apply for massive mural projects worth $20,000 to $100,000+, and to mentor other artists—some my age, some older.
Now at 24, I’ve successfully run my creative business for four years. It has grown in profit every single year and shows no signs of slowing down.
I started this journey as a 10-year-old filled with spite, fear, self-doubt, and stubborn determination. Today, I’m a 24-year-old woman who knows herself—who’s filled with joy, creativity, confidence and self worth. And while the business achievements are something I’m incredibly proud of, my greatest success will always be the time I’ve invested in learning who I am, building my self-esteem, and learning how to steward my confidence for good—rather than letting it run amok making unpredictable choices.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Ana, and artistically I go by Ana the Artist. I run a mural and design business that focuses on large-scale public art rooted in storytelling and place. My murals often feature native plants, local landmarks, and themes that reflect the heart and identity of a community. I collaborate with neighborhoods, small businesses, and nonprofits to create artwork that’s not only visually striking but deeply meaningful to the people who live and work around it.
Alongside murals, I offer graphic design services like branding, logos, and visual assets for creative campaigns. My background in fine art and design helps me bring a strong sense of storytelling and intentionality to everything I create—whether it’s a large wall or a logo for a small business. At the core of all my work are values like connection, collaboration, and community. I believe public art has the power to create shared spaces that foster pride, spark conversation, and reflect the truth and beauty of the people who call a place home. More than that, I believe public art is vital to a thriving community because it’s accessible to all—regardless of financial class. Unlike traditional gallery spaces or ticketed events, murals and public installations meet people where they are and bring beauty, meaning, and inspiration into everyday life.
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. By the time I was 10, I knew this was my calling. I began teaching myself through YouTube and occasional classes until, at 15, I enrolled in a trade school where I studied hyper-realistic portraiture for three years. After that, I moved to New Zealand and worked as a photographer and social media manager for a nonprofit. That time helped me sharpen my skills in composition, perspective, and digital storytelling.
When COVID hit, I moved back to the U.S. and finally decided it was time to start the business I’d been dreaming of since childhood. I got my license, built a website, and committed to going all in. To support myself, I worked full-time jobs—first as a nanny, then as a barista—while building my network through photography. I said yes to everything: senior portraits, newborns, weddings, products, families… anything to get my name out there. I even managed a venue part-time just to have access to a free studio.
In those early years, I knew I needed to grow my community connections if I wanted to paint for a living. So I put on my best “I-look-like-a-professional” outfit and showed up to every networking event I could find in Vancouver. I met every business owner I could, asking them if they needed anything painted or designed—and always sharing my dream of becoming a muralist.
That persistence paid off. In 2022, I painted my first murals at the venue I was managing—two inside, one outside. From there, I got a call to paint a floral door for a local homestead business. That piece caught the eye of Michael Walker from the Vancouver Downtown Association, who offered me a 1,600 sq ft floral mural on the side of a two-story building. That became my big break—and the moment I stopped being just a photographer and truly became a muralist.
After that, things took off. Over the next year, I painted murals in office buildings, retail stores, residential spaces, and even designed banners for the City of Vancouver. I kept photographing and managing the venue to support myself, but I knew I was finally walking the path I was meant to be on.
Then came a dream project: a 600-foot-long overpass mural for the City of Vancouver. The goal was to engage the community, liven up the space, and reconnect two parts of the city. I designed a vibrant community garden with local wildflowers, animals, and even beloved neighborhood pets—paired with an interactive online scavenger hunt. I was the only artist considered, and I’m so grateful for the trust the city placed in me. That project truly put me on the map.
Since then, my business has grown rapidly. I painted eight murals back-to-back and am now fully booked for 2025. It’s been a wild ride getting to this point, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue creating six large-scale murals—or eight to ten medium ones—a year, while expanding my impact beyond the wall. I want to engage more deeply with my community, both through social media and by collaborating with nonprofits whose missions I believe in—organizations like Fosterful here in Vancouver, as well as those supporting arts education, creative youth, the unhoused, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and clean water access. At the heart of it all, I want to use my art to amplify voices, uplift stories, and create spaces that people feel proud to belong to. I’m incredibly grateful for how far this journey has taken me—and even more excited for where it’s going next.
If you’d like to follow along on my journey, you can find me on Instagram @anatheartist_ where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my projects, works-in-progress, and everyday life as a creative. To explore my portfolio or inquire about a mural or design project, visit my website at www.anatheartist.net. I love collaborating with city planners, business owners, nonprofits, community organizers, arts organizations, and schools—but also with folks in construction, commercial real estate, and architecture. Whether you’re developing a new space, refreshing an existing one, or bringing public art into your next project, I’m here to help you create something meaningful, vibrant, and lasting.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three most impactful pillars in my journey have been community, persistence, and confidence.
Community was, without a doubt, the most essential part of my growth. I needed the people closest to me to cheer me on when things felt bleak. I needed the business community to continue hiring me, proving time and time again that my art held value. And I needed my online audience—a community in itself—to remind me not only that they loved my work, but that they were excited to see what came next.
In the beginning, there were only a handful of people who were truly relentless in their belief in my vision. As I grew and began to find success, some of the people who once doubted me slowly transitioned into supporters. Learning to accept their newfound encouragement—without resentment—was a vital part of my emotional growth. Holding onto old grudges would’ve only made me bitter, and there’s no room for that when you’re trying to build something beautiful.
The support of the business community also changed everything for me. As a 21-year-old woman navigating a space often filled with people who had decades of experience, I didn’t feel much imposter syndrome—but I did feel the pressure to prove myself. I knew I had to show up with excellence and presence. And when I did, my community showed up for me too. They referred me to jobs, hired me directly, and generously shared advice so I didn’t have to learn everything the hard way.
My online community was another game changer. Seeing my art bring joy to people I’ve never met reminded me that beauty, connection, and storytelling have no borders. I’ve built real relationships through those digital spaces—ones that keep me grounded and grateful every step of the way.
Then there’s persistence. Without the sheer will to keep showing up, none of this would’ve been possible. I went to networking events for months before they led to any jobs. I sold at markets where people passed my booth without a glance or tried to haggle me down. I kept sharing on social media even when it felt silly or vulnerable. I kept introducing myself to every business owner in town—even when they said no.
And if I had stopped the first time I was told no, I wouldn’t be here today. So instead, I chose to be persistently present. I showed up everywhere—retail shops, coffee spots, networking mixers, city events—not just to promote myself, but to connect. I wanted people to know my face, my dreams, and my work. But more than that, I wanted to know them. I run my business with a simple philosophy: “Be lovely to everyone. You don’t know what they’re going through, and you never know if that person will one day become your friend, your client, or your greatest advocate.” Whether people hired me or not, I showed up with kindness, respect, and an open heart. Because their stories matter, too.
And finally—confidence. Without confidence, I wouldn’t have had the gumption to even try. That confidence wasn’t something I woke up with fully formed. It was something I had to nurture, redirect, and grow. It came from years of study, practice, therapy, and self-reflection. I read books, invested in my mental health, and took the time to truly master my craft. I still do. Confidence, I’ve learned, doesn’t mean never doubting yourself. It means choosing to keep going—even when the fear creeps in—because your belief in your purpose is greater than your fear of failure.
So, if I could offer any advice, it’s this:
Surround yourself with people who believe in you.
Invest in your community. Listen to their stories, and support them where you can.
Be persistent. Don’t give up at the first hiccup—or the hundredth.
Show up. Be present. If you’re not there, someone else will be.
Invest in yourself. Go to therapy. Read insightful books. Take time to really know who you are.
Be confident—even if you have to fake it a little at first. One day, it’ll come naturally.
And for the fellow artists out there, here are a few things I wish I’d known sooner:
Get a client management system like Honeybook to stay organized.
Never do work without a signed contract—ever.
Make sure you have business and liability insurance.
Set personal rules and boundaries. (For example: “I need six months of expenses saved before I quit my day job. If income dips below that, I’ll get part-time work.”)
Learn business lingo—it will help you stand out.
Do what you say you’ll do. Be early to every deadline. Honor your word.
The creative path isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely worth it. Keep showing up for your dream—because no one else will do it for you.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My Biggest Challenge Right Now: Learning to Rest and Have Fun
At this stage in my journey, the hardest thing for me isn’t showing up to do the work—it’s making time to rest and have fun.
As a 24-year-old, self-employed woman running a full-time business solo, I carry a lot. On any given day, I’m juggling client outreach, contract writing, email marketing, Instagram, accounting, mural painting, design work, and managing past, present, and future clients—just to name a few things on my plate. I wear all the hats that a larger business would hire an entire team to handle.
The work itself doesn’t scare me. In fact, I find it easy to wake up and dive in. But what I do find incredibly difficult is carving out time to rest, play, and take care of myself.
And yet—those things are vital. Rest, joy, and self-care aren’t luxuries. They’re necessary for a life that feels whole.
The paradox of being self-employed is that yes, I have total control over my schedule. I can work when I want, how I want—but when you carry the weight of an entire business on your shoulders, it’s tempting to always put your clients and projects first. And over time, I’ve learned that when I continually place myself on the back burner, I start to burn out.
This has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced throughout my business journey—not the hustle, but the pause.
After years of trying (and failing) to figure it out, I’m taking a new approach. I’m giving myself rules, not as restrictions, but as boundaries that protect my well-being. Because if I don’t choose to rest, my body will eventually force me to.
Here are the new commitments I’m making to myself:
I will only paint one mural per month.
I will always take at least two days off in a row each week.
I will prioritize sleep and aim for a full 8 hours every night.
I will build in a buffer week between every major project—time to rest, reset, or catch up on design work.
I will move my body three times a week, in any way that brings me joy—walking, cycling, snowboarding, lifting… anything goes.
I will make space for 1–3 fun, just-for-me experiences every month.
To some, this might sound rigid—but to me, it’s structure. It’s how I’m learning to prioritize myself in the same way I prioritize my clients. And the beautiful thing? As I’ve started implementing these boundaries, I’ve realized my clients actually respect me more for it. They see that I’m invested in showing up as my best self—not just for them, but for myself, too.
I’m not perfect, and I never will be. I don’t believe in chasing perfection. Balance is not a destination—it’s a practice. It’s a constant, shifting dance. Some days I get it right, and some days I fall short. But I keep showing up for the practice.
Like a trapeze artist, we don’t achieve mastery overnight. We improve with each small adjustment. And one day, we look back and realize how far we’ve come.
So here’s to the quiet discipline of choosing rest, the courage to chase joy, and the belief that we’re worth showing up for, too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anatheartist.net
- Instagram: @anatheartist_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anatheartist.net
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-gabriela-honsowetz-a44605206/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/anatheartist
Image Credits
image of me sitting on the ground in front of my mural – Emily Shirron – on Instagram = @mleblvard
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
