Daily Inspiration: Meet Darlene Delro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darlene Delro.

Hi Darlene, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was the quiet kid that would doodle in the margins of my notebook paper, find myself getting lost in a book during recess, and be journaling in my diary during class so much so that teachers would have to confiscate said diary. I’ve always been a daydreamer and have had a wild and vivid imagination since childhood. I’m a first generation American with immigrant parents who held very high expectations of me mostly due to the fact they wanted me to succeed and not struggle. I ended up pushing my creative career dreams to the side to pursue a career in the sciences, specifically computer science, which is a field I still work in primarily.

When I found myself still doodling on sticky notes during downtime in the office and writing poetry in the evenings on my Notes app while I laid in bed before the next work day, it occurred to me that my passion for art and storytelling never left. I was working my first tech job when the pandemic hit. I was working intense hours every single day at the hospital I worked at, I needed a way to de-stress and get lost in my creativity after work. That’s when I decided to buy an iPad, download Procreate, and dive into the world of digital art. I would spend hours after work in the evenings just watching “how to” videos on Youtube and studying other artist’s processes for digital drawing. I was enamored and instantly fell in love with this medium. It felt like the best of both worlds, tech and art, combined.

I kept practicing nights and weekends until I found my rhythm and curated my style. After gaining confidence and finding my footing in digital art, I then started to explore other mediums like paint, clay, and pastels. I then found myself working in tech at an art college which allowed me to study art through their extension program as an employee benefit. I felt so lucky to find a place where I could practice tech and art all in the same place. After taking classes and furthering my art skills more, I then began to offer commissions and am proud to say that my art is available at two retail locations: Underdog Bookstore in Monrovia and Eastbrew Cafe in Eastvale. I am so grateful to these spaces that value local artists and create opportunities for us to share our creations with the community.

This art journey has been such an incredible experience in large part due to the amazing fellow artists, small business owners, and art-loving community members I’ve met along the way. They all keep me infinitely inspired and as a result, I am constantly daydreaming of what to create next.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As you can tell by my story so far, it’s been a long, windy road. I definitely struggled a lot with imposter syndrome, doubt, and fear. I also had this weird guilt (and still feel sometimes) that I was “wasting” my time making art. Likely because when I started my art journey, I was in my mid-twenties which is the age where you’re trying so hard to establish yourself as an adult and figure out who you are in the real world post-college. I constantly felt like I had to try the latest fad workout, keep my house sparkling clean and “aesthetically pleasing” all the time, or fill up my social calendar to the brim. But then, I also had this weird guilt when I didn’t do enough art, I felt like I couldn’t call myself an artist when all I did some weeks was draw on napkin during my lunch break or write poems on the envelopes of my bank statements I got in the mail (I’ve since then converted to digital bank statements, it’s better for the environment). Anyway, I call it weird guilt for a reason. It’s weird because, no matter what I do, it always seems to be there. After lots of therapy in my twenties, my best advice to you, dear reader, is to do your best to create balance. Seems simple and obvious but it’s easier said than done. It will not look perfect all the time or at all for that matter. Know that your best is enough and that your best looks different day to day. It is a very important practice to recognize your humanity and accept the limitations that come with that. It is even more important to give yourself grace.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create whimsical art with a positive message and turn them into stickers and stationery! I occasionally expand my product base for art markets and will sell hand-made clay pins, magnets, and more. The next market I’m doing is coming up on Saturday, June 20th for Monrovia’s first pride festival! I will be testing out my new art vending machine which I’m very excited about.

I also hosted my very first art workshop where I taught sketchbooking 101, which I have to say, was a top tier moment for me in this art journey so far. I’m proud that I put myself out there because of the joy, curiosity, and creativity I witnessed the attendees experience that day. It’s a priceless feeling to get to share my love for art with the community and see all the different works people create. I’ll have to do more in the future!

As for what sets me apart from others, I am proud to say that I use absolutely no AI in my work. When you purchase something from me, it will always be something hand-drawn with love, passion, and attention to detail. Also, my products are quality forward so you can expect them to last a long time.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Yes I love this question! I have to give another shoutout to Procreate, the best app for artists on a budget. They don’t overcharge and the app changed my life for the better.

I always recommend Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert to every artist/creative person I meet. This book helped me step into my power and muster up the courage to start my art journey and share my work with the world.

I am also a part of a creative process group hosted by the amazing Dr. Kathleen Fitzgerald who is a professional psychoanalyst based in Pasadena. The group is based on content from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, a renowned book celebrated by the creative community. This group has been so encouraging in times I’ve lost hope and have also been there to celebrate my wins when they happen. I’m so grateful to Kathleen and this wonderful group! We meet once a month and make it a point to cheer each other on.

I’ve brought up two books now so I should mention that the library, specifically the Monrovia Public Library, has been a great resource for me whenever I need artistic inspiration. They have a wide selection of art and illustration books I’ve checked out whenever I need a new perspective or just want to take in beautiful art to fill my own creative cup. Support your local libraries, everyone!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenedelro/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@darlene_delro
• Other: https://darlenedelroart.etsy.com