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ALL ABOUT ANDREA A Profile of a Courageous (Deaf) Artist
“I have always wanted to be an artist, even before I actually knew what that meant. Growing up deaf meant I could not easily interact with others, so making art became an escape for me, a refuge. It also became an activity I could happily entertain myself with for hours, so I chose to draw and paint whenever possible from the time I was 10 years old. One day at 12, I met someone who would change my life forever. Today I share a studio with that same person, Tom Mosser, my mentor, coach, and friend, and an artist I greatly admire. We have been working together for many years now, and he has helped shape me into the full-time professional artist I am today.” Andrea Marie Echavarria was born in Topeka, KS on October 16, 1988, relocating to Pittsburgh PA when she was 6 years old. Born deaf, Andrea was isolated from the hearing world, and began drawing when she was 10, as art became an avenue to entertain and express herself. Her escape into art has since become her full -time profession, one where she is now thriving, coming into her own with a new website, online gallery representation, and steady sales.
When Andrea was 21, she opted to get a cochlear implant, an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the inner ear and provides sound signals to the brain. Where she once painted in silence, she now hears sounds, although not always recognizable. Hearing sirens and alarms were one reason she decided to have this life-altering procedure, but also, to hear her parents voice, her dog’s bark, and to learn communication with others.
“Since the implant I can now hear many things, although I can’t always recognize the sounds. Sometimes they inspire me, as the sounds can be indistinct and fragmented, which has led me to create some really interesting abstract work. Painting what I hear was the topic of my first major solo exhibition back in 2018 – “The Art of Hearing,” where I exhibited 30 paintings and sold six. That was a big milestone for me!"
It is easy to understand then, why her work might appeal to a wide audience - and also – to one particular blind woman. Recently, Andrea was exhibiting in a community event called the Shadyside Art Show, in Pittsburgh PA. She sold 10 pieces over the weekend. but most notably, one piece to a new collector who had not purchased art before. A blind woman was there with a friend, who began a conversation with Andrea’s father. As he guided her hand over the panel, she FELT the texture on one of Andrea’s pieces. Recognizing and understanding the concept of painting sound waves, she was moved to purchase the artwork. This kind of rare connection, from a deaf artist to a blind collector, is one reason Andrea considers herself to be fortunate, not handicapped.
“Thinking about how I got here, I realize that being deaf motivated me to express myself through visual arts. I am able to see things differently –like details that hearing people don’t see, because when I started painting, I am completely focused on the work. There is zero distraction by outside noise. I learned to focus on colors and textures, shadows, and the way light hits an object at certain angles. Learning to paint like that I think was actually a big advantage. I am a deaf person, and I am proud of that, and proud of my accomplishments so far. I still have a long way to go though, so stay tuned!” Please visit the Omni platform to see, purchase, or commission fine art by Andrea Echavarria, Click Here
_________________________________ Author Dale Youngman is an independent art curator, fine art dealer, marketing consultant and art writer, working to facilitate the flow of art in Southern California. She currently consults with artists, galleries, interior designers, non-profits, and a new art platform to advance business for everyone in the art world. She has twice been honored by the LA Mayor’s Office with “Certificates of Recognition“ for her many years of art advocacy. Find Dale at her website.
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While attending the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Andrea maintained her extra-curricular art training with Mosser, later continuing her education with various art and photography classes at the Community College of Allegheny Art School. She then went on to earn an Associate Degree in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She is proud to have been commissioned to create a painting for the Western Pennsylvania School of their school mascot, a lion, which is now displayed in its’ entryway. Early recognition for Andrea’s talent came in the way of multiple awards, including a 2003 VITAC Christmas card design contest, and 1st place for ages 15-19 in the 2008 Gallaudet National Essay, Art Through An American Sign Language contest.
Working in multiple mediums including watercolor, acrylic, and oils, Andrea now creates contemporary abstracts, finely detailed oil paintings, and watercolor portraits, often commissioned of beloved pets. Her figurative work also includes paintings inspired by nature photographs she takes herself, which are painstakingly created over months in layers of rich oil paint. Enjoying the fast pace of quick-drying acrylic, Andrea balances the time-consuming oils and portraits to produce a large number of dynamic abstracts, continually providing fresh work to her clients both in real-life exhibits and online, for the art platform, Omni Art Central, created by her father for the greater art community.
That most unique body of work has become a signature style and ongoing series for her, one where she tries to illustrate sound as the subject of her paintings. The resulting abstract work is highly textural, often including linear waves, spirals, webs, drips, and explosions of color. Depictions of sound traveling, sudden bursts of noise, subtle underlying and undecipherable white noise - all become startlingly clear and brilliant in concept, when you can see what she hears.
As a deaf artist, Andrea has a different kind of gift. Seeing things differently has given her an extraordinary sense that escapes most people – an ability to perceive light and color, depth, even emotion, in a way that imbues her work with complexity and strength. Perhaps because she is able to tune out distractions or has more clearly developed an eye for infinite detail, her work - especially of animals- is quite extraordinary. 
