Meet Anna Lisa Leal

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anna Lisa Leal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Anna Lisa, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

It happens….you’re going along fine and then what seems like suddenly….you find yourself struggling more than usual – the dreaded creative block. I’ve had a few of these over the years, but this past year hit me particularly hard. I’d been through some life changes and while I thought these would help me focus more on my work, it only ended up seeming to cause me to lose focus. I found myself chasing the proverbial squirrels and shiny things and not getting much done. I had all these ideas, but that is where they stayed….ideas, concepts, not reality yet. Was it part of the flow of creativity or was I avoiding work? I felt it was a bit of both, but leaning towards the latter.

Initially, what helped me was to admit there was a problem. Talking with other artists and friends to give these feelings and behaviors a voice and bring them to light. I felt particularly ashamed because I should have been working harder than ever, and there were no excuses for this slow down. Yet, perhaps the additional available time simply opened my mind to more possibilities. Perhaps it was just learning to work in new ways.

Next, getting outdoors was important. My inspiration is generally outdoors as that is where the primary subjects for my work reside. I know it sounds like an oxymoron to have a creative block given I was swirling in ideas. The fresh air, activity, and immersing myself in nature was key to clarity. I was blessed to have the opportunity for two artists residencies almost back to back. One of these was in an area with very limited network or cell connectivity. The limited time in a ‘connected’ state was extraordinarily helpful. I spent time journaling not only in words, but sketchbook journaling. Completing studies and explorations to just play and experiment was another key in clarifying my intention and direction.

Last, following the receding energy of the ebb helped get me back to myself and increased the flow. I decided to honor this lower energy time and do lower energy activities. I allowed myself to experiment more and let go of production goals. When I fully accepted the ‘signs’, I started to find my way. For example, a found object turned into a painting. I sought out more of this particular object, and it became a series and a new direction that was well received. When I openly received what the universe literally put at my feet, I found the flow.

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?

I am primarily recognized as a contemporary botanical artist specializing in xeric plants native to West Texas, the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts, and the broader American Southwest. My primary medium—soft pastel—echoes the dry, delicate nature of the botanicals I portray, creating an alignment between material and subject.

I seek the desert for its stark beauty and quiet strength, and it is there I often find spiritual healing. The desert’s terrain and climate strip us to our essentials, demanding resilience and inspiring creativity. In see a parallel in this with the human journey, including the journey through illness and recovery—going from an empty sometimes fierce or desolate place to a place bursting with beauty following a healing rain.

My work often venerates transformation, especially in plants marked by environmental stress. In Ephemeral Evolution, I reimagine an agave from Marathon, Texas, rendering its damaged leaves in patterned metallic leaf. These dried sections—resembling woodgrain—become symbols of tenacity and grace, reminding us that beauty often emerges not from perfection, but from survival. Desert plants bloom in some of the harshest conditions. In this unforgiving terrain, they offer bursts of vibrant color to an otherwise muted landscape. I sought to capture these beacons in Chisos Basin Cholla, where a fuchsia flower rises against a soft sand-colored background. The neutral tones allow the brilliance of the bloom to shine even more brightly—just as our hope and resilience can illuminate the darkest of times.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Daily Painting – paint small, paint often. It makes your work better not worse and helps to let go of perfectionism.

Organization – embrace the administrative aspects of the job – use the low energy days for things like website maintenance, communications, record keeping etc.

Networking – get to know and meet with other artists. The community and support you can find will provide value beyond measure.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

The biggest help in overcoming my creative block was other artists. Finding my tribe and asking for their help and listening to their experiences and incorporating that into my journey through these ‘dark nights of the creative soul” were instrumental in emerging from the other side.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annalisaleal.com
• Instagram: annalisalealartist
• Facebook: annalisalealartist