Andrea 'Ani' Lozano, Artist / Rock Whisperer
“The first human who hurled an insult instead of a stone was the founder of civilization.”
-- Sigmund Freud
"Ani" ANI ROCK Santa Fe
"My job is not complete until someone sees the painted rocks and smiles --or even laughs! I believe we can all use some joyful feelings throughout our day." -- 'Ani' |
Not so much a "diva" as an "avid" artist since childhood, Andrea 'Ani" Lozano has painted on just about any surface she could get a hold of --without getting in too much trouble...
Formally art-trained and with many years of professional practice in the Visual Arts, Andrea has produced and sold countless EASEL PAINTINGS--on the more traditional paper and canvas. However, while running her Art of Living Portrait Studio/Gallery in Lake Orion, Michigan she found time to paint on rocks with her sons. When she moved to Florida she was shocked to find there were no rocks to be found! Since her arrival in the Santa Fe area, the artist noticed how plentiful rocks are. With a renewed appreciation of this natural resource, she started painting little ladybugs on round pebbles, which she has taken to a new level in a collection of varied subjects, from care-free ANIMALS to mineral-rich FUN FOOD --artfully represented on rocks of many shapes and sizes. "I can hardly go for a walk anymore without filling my purse and pockets with pebbles and rocks!", she muses. With her relocation to Santa Fe, the city of her dreams, Andrea has also returned to using her childhood nickname: 'Ani', which appears as her signature on each piece of rock art. "I believe having the ability to be child-like is good, especially if can retain adult privileges". Practicing her mantra "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" and a can-do attitude, 'Ani' has launched ANI ROCKS Santa Fe. "I saw a void and created a niche for myself", she says, as she picks up and admires a smooth and nicely-shaped rock. She also wonders why more people don't paint rocks in Santa Fe: "I think people see rock painting as an infantile activity...maybe because it is so much fun to do!" Some rocks she finds in Santa Fe ARROYOS and other locations (OK, some parking lots too) resemble something to her right away, while others sit around until their form fits a project. "I actually have respect for these 'antiques' which have been around for eons -which is why I try to leave a bare area for its natural beauty to be visible. I would not mind being thought of as a rock whisperer...", she says, half-jokingly. While pointing out that lugging around a bunch of rocks is heavy work, she also notes that her arms are getting quite strong, "Besides, people have started to bring me rocks they find. I'll know I have really succeeded not only when the dough starts rolling in, but when people start showing me the rocks they themselves have painted!" |