Meet Andy Del Valle | Artist & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andy Del Valle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always been pretty crafty. My mom says that when I was around two, she gave me a set of 200 colored pencils that I wore down to stumps. We immigrated from Chile when I was pretty young and we moved around a lot before. We didn’t have a lot of money or things at first, so we had to get creative with what we had. Our first Christmas abroad, for example, we spent all of our savings buying winter jackets. We had just moved to Canada, so it was a necessity. We didn’t have a Christmas tree, so I built one out of cardstock. By the time I moved to Arizona as a teenager, I knew I wanted to do something creative, but didn’t know exactly what.

I liked movies, so I went to film school. Although it was a lot of fun, I felt stifled. I didn’t like being boxed into a single discipline, so I picked art back up again as a hobby. I rediscovered watercolors by accident. I bought a cheap set to do some backgrounds for my thesis film and that led to me starting a sketchbook.

I started my shop under the encouragement of my friends. I doodled some cute dogs that became stickers, and I just kept adding more and more things. There is something really special about holding something that you designed or made, which motivated me to try making new things. I love that my shop gives me an outlet to bring all these different interests and disciplines together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work boils down to a simple fact: I love telling stories. I love incorporating little narratives into everything, from my stickers to my larger pieces. It is how my pets accidentally became my whimsical shop mascots. We connect better to art when we can find a way to relate to it. Sometimes that is through a character, whether it is a small depressed cat, or a bunny plotting to sneak into a house to get some tasty snacks. It’s like sharing an inside joke between friends. You see these little characters doing something, and it’s an immediate understanding between the artist and the audience.

Even with my landscape pieces, this is true. The only difference is that I myself am the character. It may sound silly, but people can definitely feel the difference between something that elicited a reaction from me as I was making it, as opposed to something that is just painted because it is “pretty.” When I paint a landscape, it is always to capture a visceral reaction that I experienced.

The first prints I made that actually sold happened to be inspired by video games. It was during the height of COVID, when we were all stuck inside. I happened to be running around a game gathering materials and got struck by how beautiful the location was and how much I yearned to be outside doing plein air studies. When I finished the piece, it very much reminded me of painted postcards I’ve brought home from traveling, and that desire to go explore somewhere new.

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.
One of my favorite things to do in Arizona has been riding my motorcycle. When I lived in South Phoenix, I would ride up South Mountain and enjoy the views. There is something about a desert sunset that takes your breath away each and every time.

However, if you know me, you know that I am very food motivated. I love pastries and tea, and usually end up hitting the Asian markets, like the AZ International Marketplace in Mesa. You can also find me getting boba and playing claw machine games with my friends at Rapha Tea or Boba Cucue. As for restaurants, there are a couple of spots that are my go to for food. Chou’s Kitchen serves some amazing dumplings. I love grabbing some fry bread tacos at The Fry Bread House. Another option would be getting some Arroz Con Pollo at Republica Empanada, or an Arepa at Que Chevere, followed by a tea and pastry at Jarrod’s Coffee in Mesa.

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 want to give a Shoutout to my family. My parents took the giant risk, leaving everything we’d ever known to find a home here in Arizona. It is thanks to them that I could even have a chance to consider following my dreams. My brother, Michael, has been my number one fan since before he could walk. It has been amazing to grow up together and see our individual journeys as artists, side by side.

I want to also give a Shoutout to my friends. None of this would be possible without my best friend, Kris. She gave me my first palette of expensive watercolors because she saw the potential in my art before I even could. To this day, she goes with me to almost all of my events to make sure I am ok and can do what I love. To all the friends I made while vending at artist alleys and craft markets, I would not trade you for anything in the world. This community is so welcoming and supportive. I love seeing what you make and feel honored to be a part of your journeys. Thank you for becoming a second family.

Website: https://andydelvalle.pb.online/

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