My Story

My medium of choice is gouache, a water-based paint with a rich, vibrant opacity that brings light and life to the animals I paint. Many see shadow and light as simple shades of black and white, but I aim to reveal the explosion of color hidden in every shift between them—in the folds of scales, the layers of fur, and the wisps of feathers. Through these subtleties, I hope to breathe life into each being I create and share the beauty that surrounds us, often unnoticed or taken for granted.

Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, I’ve been fortunate to live among breathtaking landscapes and an incredible variety of wildlife. Bringing these inspirations to life on paper is my greatest joy, and I hope you feel that same joy in the work I share.

Beyond the studio, I’m the happiest when the river calls—rafting with my partner, our blue heeler Jasper, and friends brings me immense joy. At home, I find the same rhythm in the kitchen, making pastas and simmering rich, comforting sauces from the tomatoes we preserve from our garden each year. A rustic slice of sourdough with a generous layer of butter is often the perfect ending to a day. As the youngest of six siblings, I carry with me a deep sense of community and connection, which continues to guide both my life and the art I share.

Angela is in the river waist deep. , facing away from the camera, with water splashing over her head in a forested setting.
Angelas hands with tattoos and rings touching water in a dark, shadowed environment with sunlight filtering through leaves.
Angela pressing a rock with water on it against a flat surface outdoors, creating natural pigments (paints).
Badge for Angola LoJaco Art, painter of critters, featuring a stylized pig with colorful line art and dotted background on a black background.

  • I’ve always been drawn to the natural world, and it flows through every piece I create. My subjects often come from what is native to the place I am focusing on, with an emphasis on capturing the elements of their being that often go unnoticed.

    Through color, I try to make people pause and see them differently. Even in the deepest shadows there are rich purples and blues, and in the brightest light, bursts of yellow and orange. There is wonder in even the most “ordinary” creatures. A squirrel is never just brown. Its fur holds a tapestry of shifting tones and hidden hues, each worthy of a closer look.

  • My primary materials are gouache and acrylic, though I am always curious to explore beyond them. I love experimenting with new mediums and even creating my own paints from materials I find in nature.

    Natural pigments fascinate me. On river adventures and other outdoor wanderings, I often gather stones with deep, saturated colors, bringing them home to grind and transform into watercolor paints. I have made vine charcoal from pruned grapevines and collected botanicals to create gentle, earthy dyes.

    For surfaces, I tend to work on watercolor paper when painting with gouache, while my larger acrylic works often find their home on smooth panels of wood.

  • My process begins with gathering inspiration. Depending on the subject, I collect reference images, sometimes photographs I have taken myself and other times treasures I discover while exploring the vast corners of the internet. From there, I sift through them, pulling pieces and details that speak to me and weaving them together into a vision that is entirely my own.

    I create digital drawings and layered composites to map out the flow, composition, and color. This stage is where the idea takes shape, gaining clarity and direction. Once the vision feels complete, I move to my chosen medium, sketch the design onto the surface, and begin painting, building the piece layer by layer until it feels alive.