Meet Alan Simonton | Artist

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

Hi Alan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My pursuit of an artistic carrier has been motivated by a few factors. I’ve always wanted to be a professional artist. Creativity has dominated my thought processes since I was in Kindergarten. The biggest influence on my pivot into this career came after the loss of my younger brother to cancer. He was an art installer at a private gallery in NYC, and an artist as well. After he passed I received his art supplies, and use them in every art piece I create. Whether its paint brushes, color pencils…etc. He is with me in spirit and motivates me to get better and have high standards in my art business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art prowess is eclectic, colorful, includes many different styles of painting, drawing, and mediums. My favorite styles are Cubism, Mid-Century design, and Art Deco. I’m most proud of how my art business has grown over time, and the constructive feedback received from artists and friends. I picked the pencil back up, after many years of not sketching and drawing, and Ive quickly experienced an elevation of my processes, and finished work. The talent may come naturally, but this hasn’t been easy. I dove in, studied, observed, and bought a lot of used books on different techniques (I love, used book stores!). Putting yourself out there, as an artist, is a vulnerable space to be in. Embracing that is a challenge for me, but with every sale my confidence grows. A.Simonton Gallery is my brand, and developing this business has been a process. Organized planning with task due dates, SMART goals, marketing strategy, and to do lists…lots of those. I remain committed to embracing excellence.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love my city. Dallas, TX is where I was born and raised. Some of my favorite spots to experience are the Bishop Arts District, Uptown Dallas, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Nasher sculpture Center.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to my family. My biggest support crew, by far. My wife of 23 years, and my 3 kids have a great eye for art, and definitely have shown patience as I pursue this artsy life. Also, no doubt about it, my parents are my top fans, and deserve credit for encouraging me to be creative and see the world through that lens.

Website: https://etsy.me/3v2DWJ6

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alansimontonarts/

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