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

Hi Reanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was the thought of why work towards someone else’s goals when you can work towards your own. When you own a business all of the pressure is on you, but you also in my opinion are more fulfilled as a person. I wanted to create a business model that made it to where I got to create my own schedule, accomplish dreams I never thought I would get to achieve, and to push myself. I truly believe that if you aren’t scared then you aren’t doing the right thing for your own personal growth. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an abstract expressionist expressing my PTSD and anxiety disorders through my art, thus helping me cope in a positive way and give back to others. I create my art primarily in acrylic and canvas, making both series and individual paintings, which tend to be my most explosive works. I create what I feel, and the emotion channelled through my work conveys the feeling to the viewer. The raw nature of me style is chaotic but draws the viewer in to discover layers within layers. I grew the small east Texas town of Crosby Texas and was constantly involved in academics with art being my passion. I won Best of Show in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for drawing when I was 8 years old. I took a break from art to focus on school and recently graduated with my MBA. I help my family by taking care of my 92 year old grandfather who is a vet of WWII. Growing up I was also very involved in the Boy Scouts of America, my first job working at a Boy Scout camp and living in a tent for three summers. This helped make me who I am and to this day love to volunteer my time, help others, and spend time in nature. I am most excited that I get to paint professionally and help others with my time. Getting here was not easy and thankfully I had a great support system to get me here, plus the tenacity to not give up. My brand is about helping others at all times and living by the Boy Scout oath and motto. I want to help everyone I meet.

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?
We would definitely go to New Orleans and walk the city, see art, listen to music, enjoy the culture and food. In fact I have done this and it was a blast. We went to cafe dumond of course, hung out on bourbon street, ate as many oysters and Cajun food as possible. Visited the voodoo museums, and just had an absolute blast. If I could go back I would want to go to the World War II museum, I have read all of Stephen Ambrose’s books.

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?
I met Bobbie Marshall about 5 years ago and she very much inspired me and believed in me to achieve my dreams and move forward even though how hard it was to achieve my goals. I honestly have been inspired by many women in my life and wouldn’t be where I am without them. Dr. Manisha Gupta, Nancy Isaacks, Teresa Scannell, Freda Wood, Laurie-Leigh White, Kathryn Osborn, Kaylie Deem, Sarah Senn, Alyssa Stewart, Alyssa Lewellyn, Morgan Loftkin, Ginger Cochran, Iris Candelarie-Feuer, Dixie King, Jena Foster, Claudia Fernandez, my Aunt Lauryn, both my grandmothers, my sister, and all the other badass women I call friends. My girl tribe. The Boy Scouts of America also helped shape me, I was in a program called Venturing and they taught me inner strength, responsibility, loyalty, hard work, determination, and grit. I would not be who I am if I hadn’t been in that program. As for books I am obsess with them, one of my favorites is Enders Game, but I could never pick just one book. Every single author I have read has helped me grow as a person.

Instagram: @reanna142
Facebook: https://facebook.com/Reanna.DiPaolo.art

Image Credits
Claudia Bridges For photograph of me, the rest of the paintings I did.

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