Today we’d like to introduce you to Annastasia (stacy) Nalapraya
Annastasia (Stacy), we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a self-taught artist- I always loved to draw and color when I was little, but pursued a psychology degree because, well… the whole “starving artist” concept, right? All kidding aside, growing up in an Asian household, art wasn’t acknowledged as a legitimate career choice.
Then I went through life- met the father of my children, had kids, raised them, worked a 9-5… The art fire has always burned in me, yearning for something more. Not that my family was not enough, but I always felt like there was something beyond me. And it was calling me.
One weekend during the summer of 2013, I stumbled upon the Pasadena Chalk Festival. I was so enamored by the technique, vibrant colors, and how many participating artists there were! So I said, “Why not, let’s give this a try.” So my sister and I signed up for next year’s event. We did a piece from the cartoon, “Adventure Time,”measuring at about 10′ x 10′.
During the Pasadena Chalk Festival artist demo that was held a week before the event, I met Randall Williams. He was giving the chalk demonstration to new artists to the event at the time. We became fast friends, and eventually, the love of my life. Ever since then, I have been an Italian street painter, a.k.a “imadonarri.” I participated in all kinds of chalk events every year with Randall, and haven’t looked back since.
Italian street painting has opened the door to so many opportunities for me, from participating in night market events, to epic art battles in LA, to running my own freelance mural business. These opportunities have allowed me to flourish and grow as a person and even gave me the courage to leave an abusive relationship.
Fast forward 11 years later… I won second place at the event that started it all for me at the Pasadena Chalk Festival, which was incredibly surreal! To be standing at the podium in June of 2024 accepting an award for my piece “Gemini,” a 10′ x 10′ sci-fi-themed mural, surrounded by my chalk heroes, friends, family, and the love of my life that gave me the strength, inspiration, and endurance during this journey.
Today- I still participate in chalk events throughout southern California. I work an office job (because, inflation…) but also maintain my art business on the side and still do commissions and mural projects. I have been recently very involved with the Southern California Indonesia community (i.e. House of Explore Indonesia, aka HEXI) to promote Indonesian art, heritage and culture (this is where I am from).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Lol, definitely not a smooth ride. For one, at the time I was struggling financially and was the sole provider for my family. So it was hard to leave my family to go to art events at the prospect of an additional source of income. Also, it was hard spending money that we needed for food and a new place to live in (my family and I were living in a motel at the time), on things that I needed to go to an art show (i.e. registration fees, art supplies, etc.).
Lastly- I was in an abusive relationship when I started my art career. In a lot of ways, art helped me go through what I was experiencing. But, there are a lot of times when I wanted to give up.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Aside from being a professional artist, I am also a pension administration professional. I have worked as a Pension Benefit Analyst since 2007, and have worked for the Motion Picture Pension & Health Plan, and the Writer’s Guild of America Pension & Health Plan, to name a few. My current employer is the Director’s Guild of America Pension & Health Plan.
I am proud of the ability to work with industry talent in the office that has promoted my technical skills, making me the analyst that I am today. Working with motion picture professionals achieve their retirement goals has been and still is very rewarding.
I am known for being the very few pension analysts who has worked for numerous entertainment guilds. This has given me the advantage of knowing the different Taft-harley retirement plans. I hope to one day use this knowledge an potentially build my own retirement consulting company. I am also known for being very positive, down to earth, and easy to work with.
How do you think about happiness?
– Being a mother to my children, and seeing my kids happy and healthy, because… motherhood <3
– Art, this is my passion
– My boyfriend <3
– My corgi (because… corgis!)
– Online shopping 😀
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snalapraya/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snalapraya
