Meet Ana Dominguez of Redondo Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Dominguez.

Hi Ana , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a constant need to create. Over time, making things became my grounding force and my way of working through anxiety. I genuinely believe that when your hands are busy creating, your mind finds peace.

For a long time, though, it was hard to truly believe in myself. We often carry a rigid idea of what art is supposed to be, and I never considered myself an artist. It took time to realize that art isn’t reserved for a select few—we all have something of the artist and the artisan inside us.

No matter what traditional jobs I held, I was always crafting on the side—stitching embroidered bracelets, printing stickers, and hand-embroidering apparel. When I finally took the leap to sell at artisan markets, everything began to shift.

Searching for new places to showcase my work unexpectedly brought me to our physical location. It became much more than a shop for clothes and gifts; it’s a living studio where I can keep creating, and a space where we host workshops for other makers to share their craft and unlock that same creative drive.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all, but the bumps in the road made the journey worth it.

Starting a project like this as an immigrant meant building everything from zero without an established support system. When you move to a new country, earning people’s trust and cultivating a real community takes time and patience.

For years, I worked from home so I could stay present for my kids. Balancing family life with an ambitious personal vision wasn’t easy, but as my children grew, the dynamic shifted. Today, they even step in to help me with the business.

Looking back, that transition was essential. I wanted my kids to see firsthand that pursuing your dreams is valid, but that making them real takes relentless hard work. There is no better way to teach that lesson than by living it every single day.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
It’s definitely not a traditional linear path, but every single chapter was a stepping stone to where I am today.

I’ve always been driven by a deep curiosity and a love for learning. Over the years, I’ve specialized in wildly different fields: I studied International Relations and worked with environmental NGOs, coordinated projects with National Geographic for a global convention, managed social media for startups, and even became a board-certified Health and Wellness Coach with training in psychology when I needed to understand how the body and mind truly work.

For a long time, these pieces felt separate. But about a year ago, I realized that every single skill, certificate, and experience had quietly accumulated to give me the exact strength, knowledge, and grounding I needed to build my own business. It also gave me the confidence to finally let my creative and artistic side flow fully—the way I feel it was always meant to, right at the moment I was ready for it.

Today, through ARTSN, I combine all of that. I craft handmade apparel and items, manage a physical retail space, and host workshops that bring people together.

What sets me apart—and what I’m most proud of—is this exact multidimensional background. I don’t just create products; I design a holistic experience rooted in well-being, community, and human connection. My journey taught me that life doesn’t happen in a straight line, and that every piece of knowledge you gather eventually finds its place.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that has been most important to my success is adaptability rooted in continuous learning.

Looking back at my journey—from international relations and health coaching to building a physical space from scratch as an immigrant—success has never come from sticking to a single rigid plan. It has come from being willing to learn, evolve, and step into unfamiliar territories without losing my core focus.

When you pair that adaptability with relentless discipline, challenges stop being roadblocks and simply become part of the process. Adaptability lets you pivot when things get tough; learning gives you the tools to rebuild better; and consistency ensures you show up every single day, no matter how hard it gets.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artsnlastudio.com
• Instagram: @artsn.la

Image Credits
Photos by me.