Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Albano-Payton.
Hi Abigail, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a creative person, but I didn’t fully tap into that part of myself until my last year of high school. At that time in my life, the loss of a dear friend thrusted me into a headspace where I didn’t have clarity on the positive aspects of life. However, art ultimately became the driving force that allowed me to process grief and depression in a healthy way. Drawing whatever came to mind without really thinking too hard about it just felt right. I also would like to give huge props to my art teacher back then, Allison Garrison. She created an environment inside and outside of her classroom that allowed me to fully be myself as a young person growing up in this complex world.
In 2017, I decided to move to Laguna Beach in order to further pursue art. Honestly, the first two years of art school broke me down before building me back up. Being in a completely new environment far from home, with grueling 6-hour classes, tested my mental strength as someone whose skills were limited. Over time, those four years not only helped me gain technical skills for traditional painting but it forced me to confront my fears of speaking about my art and what it means to me.
Through the experience of art school, I also made incredible, lifelong friendships with people who are making their marks as professional artists. That’s what inspires me the most having a creative community that still stands strong through supporting and believing in one another as we all embark on our own journeys.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were absolutely challenges on the journey to where I am now; growth is uncomfortable! Teaching yourself to get outside of your comfort zone is never a linear path, but the rewards that come from doing so are worth it in every way.
Moving to a new location by myself to pursue art forced me to learn to depend on myself much more. Of course, that came with many moments of feeling lonely and isolated, even when surrounded by friends. But without those experiences, I don’t think I would have learned to enjoy spending time alone as much as I do today have I not learned to look inward and reflect on how I individually function as a person.
Being a POC in a predominantly white city for the duration of my art education also affected how I viewed myself. I found that at times, my competence was sometimes questioned when it came to my professionalism and skill sets. However, with the guidance of a few mentors, I began to advocate for social awareness and mental health through my art. I believe that with the aide of visual creation, I felt more inclined and encouraged to tell my story and portray stories that others could relate to.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I juggle a lot these days, but I love and appreciate every second of it. Since 2021, I have been living back home in Texas. Currently, I work full-time at a Digital Marketing agency. That job has allowed me to learn from the ground up the ins and outs of digital marketing solutions (SEM, social ads, targeted display), and how to help local businesses build up their repertoire and clientele. The software/ platforms I have been trained in always keep me learning in a technical field that I didn’t expect to grow in, and I love that.
I am also represented by Jen Rofe at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Specializing in picture books and covers, I am working on the first ever one of Septima Clark, a Civil Rights activist and educator. This book is slated to come out in December of 2024.
My work is known for its depictions of figures in environments and home/everyday life scenes. I primarily specialize in oil paintings, but mixed media and watercolor remain an exploration of mine as well. Something I am proud of is creating art that can be related to by others; whether that is comfort, questioning thoughts, or even inspiration. I don’t necessarily strive to set myself apart from others-I think every creative goes through the journey to discover their own style that they exist within and take elements that they want for experimentation. And that’s what naturally makes them unique, as we are all individual people. But what I am most proud of is becoming the person I looked up to when I was a child, someone who gets to “use paint and get messy.”
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
You have to find someone that you can relate to in some ways. Mentor/mentee relationships should have reciprocated respect for one another. Another huge thing, probably the most important one, are your communication styles. Be sure to advocate for yourself in terms of what re-enforcement style you align with the best, otherwise, feelings and miscommunication of ideas can occur.
My mentor, Ty Anderson, has helped me tremendously in both my digital marketing and illustration role. I was struggling for a few months with my work/personal balance, but he gave me the tools to refine that on my own without the fear of asking questions. Make sure you can also have conversations with your mentor that are outside of work-related goals! Goals should not only be for your professional life but your personal life as well.
As far as networking, it helps to put yourself out there. There are so many groups you can join, in-person or online, that have people with the same interests/experiences as you. The world is your oyster.
Contact Info:
- Website: abigailalbano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailalbano_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailalbano16
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK6fOYss0yk
- Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/abigailalbano?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&kw=&utm_campaign=[NB]_2140_ADL_Search_DSA_US&g_acctid=343-048-3320&g_campaign=[NB]_2140_ADL_Search_DSA_US&g_campaignid=17659461963&g_adgroupid=138806213899&g_adid=614371703735&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=aud-1661583534667:dsa-43585743766&g_network=g&gclid=CjwKCAjw_aemBhBLEiwAT98FMrYrKR25kEgAwo_Kf6liEzj8OTz5sDue3AIWjG5HY0RmF1jRXOsD7BoCrIwQAvD_BwE
