Meet Marina Galasso | author/illustrator/teacher/crafter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marina Galasso and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marina, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to pursue my artistic career frankly because I had no choice. My heart has lead me to create since I was a child which developed into a way of life for me. I have leaned on my art many times in my life for support and inspiration. As I got older I found ways to market myself and actually make a bit of income from my work but it is a by product and not the main reason why I create. I create because it keeps me balanced and happy and sometimes I happen to make money and sometimes I don’t. Furthering this love, I chose to go in to art education. I hope to share my art with the kids I teach and show them a healthy outlet for their emotions. Creating is a way of expressing the things we have no words for. Mental health is a huge part of the reason I create and what I want to cultivate in my students.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are always challenges when creating- sometimes your ideas work and sometimes they don’t. But it is important to not get discouraged and not give up. It matters not what others see in your art. We need to create for ourselves and if others like it- great and if they don’t that’s ok too. It’s not really for anyone but yourself. I think with social media we can get caught up in following the likes and it can distract us from our true creation. I think the most important thing is to just never stop- keep creating- everyday, even if it’s as simple as drawing pictures in the dirt with a stick. Do something everyday that taps into your creative side. I am excited to share this love with my future students and help inspire some future artists. I truly believe anyone can create and be an artist.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting Durango I would want to get them on the river- rafting down the lower Animas or paddle boarding one of the beautiful lakes here. I would take them on the train which is such a staple of this town and gives some breath taking views following the upper Animas. I’d take them to some of my favorite restaurants like James Ranch, pop sushi and Akami. I would take them up to Fort Lewis and show them the view of the entire city of Durango and I would tell them about the culture and lifestyle of living in the Southwest. If we had enough time- there are so many beautiful surrounding areas such as Telluride, Ouray, Moab and Silverton.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe every success story has a whole team behind it. I would like to thank my Grandmother and my Aunt for always supporting my love of art. My Grandma always let me lose in her art room, where I would lock myself for hours at her house making things as a kid. My Aunt who lived in a different state would always have a “art box” full of goodies to make things with when I visited her. She herself was a librarian and supported my goal of becoming a teacher. I also am thankful for my art teacher in high school Mrs. Helland. She would allow me to wait for the bus in her art room using up her supplies and creating. Because of her I was inspired to create my first children’s book which I have now made 3 of!

Website: www.marinaaamade.com

Instagram: @marinaaamade

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinaaamade

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtofWxSlkZ4

Image Credits
These are my 3 children’s book I wrote and illustrated