My name is Giada Conte, I am an artist, author, art educator, and museum docent (member of a program that teaches Art Appreciation to K-5 students). 

A Montessori early childhood teacher training is also part of my background.

I’m Italian, moved to Santa Clara, California, at the end of 2017, where I live with my husband.

I’ve been working for more than 15 years as a theatrical set, prop and costume designer and artist, extremely in love with my job, and with Arts in general.

Then, all of a sudden, one day in March 2020, everything changed: theaters and live events closed their doors indefinitely, and I felt completely lost. 

Trying somehow to adjust to the new reality, I committed myself to practicing positive-thinking exercises as a daily routine. 

 

At least one happy word per day, focusing on all the privileges my life already had (and still has, more than ever): Family, Love, Energy, Colors, Memories, Freedom, Hope, Creativity... so I reached the 50th day, with the word JOY, the day I took my pencil and started drawing... the day Flora came: a little whimsical character with the mission of lightening my days, MAKING ME SMILE. 

It worked!

 

So much so that I thought that maybe she could spread a bit of color and brightness to some other lives too, even if only for the time of a chuckle.

Hence, I’ve started posting my daily illustrations on FB and IG, I opened her personal blog with educational/inspirational contents, created free downloadable worksheets for kids and seniors. 

I ran contests, and did collaborations with non-profit organizations, teachers, educators, and other artists.

 

I was creating art, all alone in my little corner of the world, trying to make the best of my social isolation, and I ended up being surrounded by a community of beautiful people who sent me the most special and heartwarming ‘Thank You’ messages, cards, gifts. And much love. 

No words can express how I feel about this.

Over time, the illustrations became 100, then 200, 3, 4... and more than 1000 by now.

I am still drawing, every single day.

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(Click here to find a few Behind-The-Scenes facts about Flora!)