Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee DeCristofaro.
Hi Renee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m finally living my dream as a full-time artist and creative based in Southern California. Ever since I was little, all I wanted was to draw, paint, and be near the ocean. Growing up on Long Island, I lived for the summers—the long days in the sun, warm air, saltwater swims, and that feeling of being fully alive. That love for light, water, and warmth eventually led me to San Diego, where summer is a year-round feeling and creativity feels woven into everyday life.
I started taking art lessons as a kid and never really stopped. I studied art and design through school, college, abroad, and beyond, exploring different creative paths along the way—but I always came back to visual art. There’s something deeply grounding about working with my hands and creating something out of nothing.
As I evolved creatively, I became increasingly aware of how much environment affects how we feel and function. That curiosity led me to study interior design and work within the home improvement world, where I saw firsthand how technical—and powerful—design can be. I pursued another degree in interior design, realizing that the same principles I loved in art— composition, balance, contrast, scale and movement—apply directly to the spaces we live in.
Today, my art and design practices inform one another seamlessly. Both are about creating experiences and evoking feeling. Whether it’s a painting or a space, the goal is the same: to make someone feel something- to bring intention, joy, calm, and presence into everyday life.
I feel like I’ve landed exactly where I’m meant to be—and I’m continuing to build and expand from here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a straight path. One of my biggest challenges was giving myself permission to make art purely for myself again. For a long time, I tried to fit my creativity into more structured or traditional paths, while continuing to make art on the side. I took on commissions and loved creating meaningful pieces for others, but I noticed my most aligned work came from painting without expectation.
During the pandemic, I finally slowed down and painted simply for joy—the ocean, surfers, sunsets, and familiar coastal scenes that have always felt like home to me. I shared the work casually, and people immediately connected. Often, the paintings sold as soon as they dried. What resonated most wasn’t just the imagery, but the feeling behind it—nostalgia, calm, freedom, and presence.
After years of going back and forth seasonally between New York and San Diego, I made the decision to fully commit—staying in San Diego and pursuing art full time. Showing my work publicly can feel vulnerable, but it’s also been incredibly rewarding. It’s brought me community, connection, and the confirmation that creating from an honest place is what people respond to most.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My art is about capturing small, meaningful moments—the kind that invite you to pause and be present. I’m deeply drawn to the theme of duality: light and dark, softness and strength, stillness and movement, especially in water. The ocean is a constant source of inspiration for me—powerful yet gentle, ever-changing yet grounding.
Across my favorite practices—painting, yoga, and surfing—I’ve noticed a common thread: each demands presence, intuition, and trust. When those elements align, they create a flow state that feels meditative, restorative, and quietly magical. That feeling is what I aim to translate onto canvas.
I’m proud to have developed a visual language that feels unmistakably my own—one that reflects both my inner world and lived experience. My paintings are known for their sense of calm and their intricate rendering- especially of light on water. They carry a subtle, Zen-like energy. Softness is my strength.
Ultimately, my goal is to create work that invites awareness and ease into everyday life—offering a moment of pause, a deeper breath, and just a hint of magic.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Growing up, my mom constantly reminded us how lucky we were to live near the coast. Every trip to the beach came with some version of the “you’re so lucky” speech—her way of saying don’t take this for granted. I think that early awareness shaped how deeply I value the ocean and why it continues to play such a central role in my life and work.
I feel lucky to have found what truly lights me up—and even luckier to be able to pursue it. When you discover something that feels like your purpose, there’s a grounded sense of trust that follows. It doesn’t mean everything is easy, but it does create a feeling that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
There have been plenty of challenging moments along the way, but I’ve learned to see them as teachers rather than setbacks. Every hard day has offered something in return—a lesson, a connection, a clearer direction, or simply a reminder of what matters most. Perspective has been everything.
I’ve come to believe that luck is often about noticing what’s already working and continuing to move forward with intention. When you stay connected to your joy and remain open, things have a way of unfolding as they should. I try to carry that mindset into my art and business—staying present, trusting the process, and always keeping it moving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reneedecristofaro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneedecristofaro/?hl=en
Image Credits
Photographer for photos “Renee Ocean” + “Renee Ocean 2″= Allie Nagel
Photographer for photo “Renee Interior Design”= Linsey Kromer
