Ana

Ana was born in Spain in 1968, and arrived in Australia when she was one.

Ana has been painting since she was 13. Drawing and painting lead her to a magical place, focusing her mind and thoughts.

Ana draws inspiration from Salvador Dali’s works, particularly the skies, backgrounds and water in his paintings. Ana enjoys painting in turquoise and blue – colours that soothe her – and her works also contain blends of reds and yellows, which point to her Spanish heritage.

Some of her favourite subjects to paint include bulls, the ocean, Don Quixote and Greek village scenes from her travels there in 1997.

Ana has lived with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 17 years. She was diagnosed with the disease at age 31, after experiencing a loss of balance and problems with her vision.

MS is a condition of the central nervous system which interferes with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.  According to MS Australia, MS affects over 23,000 in Australia. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, but it can affect younger and older people too. Roughly three times as many women have MS as men. There is currently no known cure for MS however there are a number of treatment options available to help manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease.

As a result of the disease, Ana has learnt to look at life from a different perspective.

Today, Ana has two children and her hands are always restless to paint. Her art reflects the imagination and courage required in the face of obstacles that life has brought her. As Ana says: “I fight with all my strength to make my life a beautiful rainbow”. Through her art she “wants to be known, not famous”.

Ana studies at the Australian College of Professional Styling and through this she hopes to help people with disabilities look great and get a boost.