Meet Ana Villavasso | Artist, Owner: Ana Paints, LLC.

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

Hi Ana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I never really had a dream for starting Ana Paints, LLC. When I’m asked how I got into art, the honest answer is that I was bored. I was sitting in my room in June of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and decided to paint one of my favorite music artists’s albums. I posted the work on social media, and it got a lot of attention- so much that others wanted paintings like it. From there, I started making paintings of albums covers, to portraits, and now I do all sorts of art such as muraling, 3-D design, animation and more.

I started my actual LLC in July 2021, when I wanted to sell t-shirts with my designs. Starting an LLC was more of a technical and logistical last-minute choice, but since then it has opened a variety of doors. I am currently the youngest person in my hometown of Decatur, GA to start an LLC- I was only 16!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am best known as quite an interdisciplinary artist. I started off doing acrylic paintings, with no art classes or experience. I moved on to oil portraiture, to digital art, animation, muraling, videography and recently engaged in photography, graphic design and marketing. However, I am best known for three central art styles: one, my oil portraits, as seen in my pieces “Mona Lisa”, “Sukuna” and “Good Days”; two, my cartooning recreations of music artists (an ode to the beginning of my career) as seen through “Young Thug”, “Carti”, and “Kurapika”; and three, my faceless art style that replicates the style of Annie Lee, as seen through my pieces “Dancing Through the Renaissance” and “He Loves Me”. My art is reflected of the many facets of my life that I enjoy: love, music, friends, art, and Blackness. In the future I hope to center my art style in the style of Annie Lee in order to revitalize her work and appreciate her unique style in a modern context- so, there will be a lot in store in the coming future!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take anyone visiting the area to explore the college scene of Atlanta. Atlanta is such a uniquely vibrant city that is alive with Black culture, LGBTQ+ life, and so many minoritized communities that call ATL home. As a current college student as Atlanta native, I’ve been familiar with the illustrious Atlanta University Center, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Emory University, Agnes Scott, SCAD, Oglethorpe University and so many more that make me a proud ATLien. Every student that has a privilege of attending an Atlanta based college or university, especially THE ILLUSTRIOUS Spelman College, will revel in the beauty of Atlanta culture and magic.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to thank a variety of people that have helped me grow my business. I would like to thank my college, Spelman College, where I will graduate as a Presidential Scholar in 2026 with a B.A. in Art Practice with a minor in Entrepreneurship/Marketing. The professors, my fellow classmates and mentors have opened so many doors for me and opened my eyes to the many facets of art. I would also like to thank my parents, grandparents, uncle and family friends that have continuously supported me. Finally, I would like to thank my business mentor, Gigi Wilborn, who has endlessly helped me grow my business, my art skills and my personal being. Without her help in the early stages of my business, I would not be where I am now.

Website: anapaintsllc.com

Instagram: ana._paints

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/anavillavasso

Youtube: Ana Paints,LLC.

Other: TikTok: ana._paints