If you are drawn to art with charm and humor, there is a good chance you will enjoy the illustrated world of Alli Arnold. A resident of the Old Northeast since 2011, Arnold applies her singular style and illustrator’s eye to everything she creates, be it a simple line drawing or a colorful canvas.

Alli Arnold moved to St. Petersburg from New York City, a place that inspires much of her creativity. These days, she balances her native New Yorker side with a blossoming love for lush St.Pete. Her favorite days are spent walking her dogs, admiring historic houses, and having quick access to Crescent Lake, the Bay, and Downtown. Living close to 18th Ave NE gives Alli and her husband a front row seat to the delightful Halloween madness and the lovely lumieres on Christmas Eve.

Her artistic path began early: Growing up just four blocks from a public library, Alli was able to bring home as many books as she could carry. Influenced by illustration legends Saul Steinberg, Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey, and Shel Silverstein, and with the support of her art-loving family, she knew from a very young age that she wanted to be, specifically, an illustrator. 

Alli’s favorite medium has always been a simple black pen and whatever paper is available. Confident lines, surprising details, and her signature wit & whimsy define her drawings. Recently, Alli has been pushing herself into new territory: painting. The freedom of painting has inspired larger-scale pieces, featuring bold colors and delightful details. Alli loves pulling on overalls, grabbing a big brush, and seeing what happens on the canvas. That playfulness is visible in her finished works, which feel lively and unpretentious. Alli is thrilled to say that her paintings are now available for purchase at Leslie Curran’s ARTicles Gallery, in the Uptown district of St. Pete.

One of Arnold’s most memorable illustration commissions was an animated “holiday countdown” for Tiffany & Co. This cheerful collaboration continued for years, with Alli illustrating Tiffany & Co. gift cards printed on premium stationery, designed for children (of all ages) to color. It was, as she puts it, a perfect marriage of luxury brand and whimsical illustrator.

Like many artists, Arnold is candid about the challenges of making a living. Her approach? Persistence. She is fearless about reaching out to desired collaborators, pitching ideas, and believing wholeheartedly in her work. She applies the same approach to her community involvement. Alli is a longtime supporter of Creative Clay, a local non-profit supporting equality through art for people with disabilities. At Creative Clay’s 30th anniversary and “Good Folk Fest” this past November, Alli created over seventy-five illustrated canvases for donors to color either with Alli or in the comfort of their own homes.

Ultimately, Alli Arnold hopes her artwork makes people smile. If someone loves a piece enough to hang it in their home, she considers that the highest compliment. If you would like your own Alli Arnold illustration, pet portrait, or painting, please reach out to Alli directly. In true Old Northeast fashion, she is always ready to chat with her neighbors.

www.alliarnold.com
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