hi, i'm Arianna, aka Ari, the artist behind Indigo Sugar! 

i live in a cozy 2 bedroom apartment in Flagstaff, AZ with my wonderful husband Robert, our two adorable dogs, Buddy and Naomi, and our perfect baby daughter Lilith. 

​

i've been drawing for as long as i can remember; when i was little i'd make up stories and draw "comic books" about my teddy bear - who was secretly a super hero and would take me on adventures when my mom wasn't looking. when i got a bit older, i'd use my computer to draw and animate videos of my own little cartoon girls lip-syncing to my favorite songs (usually Selena Gomez or No Doubt). in middle school i'd draw myself intricate permanent marker "tattoos," which i was so determined to keep i'd sleep with cling wrap around my arms and carried around the full set of markers to do touch ups any time i washed my hands or smudged it. i was drawing any chance i got - it was something that was all mine and completely in my control, i could drown my artwork in my thoughts and feelings when i had no other outlet.

when i got into high school, i started to question whether art was something i'd really be able to pursue as a career. the uncertainty led me to focus more on my academics, and i ultimately decided to major in secondary education - mathematics at Northern Arizona University. i studied to be a high school math teacher for three years, and if the pandemic hadn't hit i may have continued on that path; i had already started struggling in some of my upper level math courses, and switching to online lectures didn't help. when i found out i wasn't on track to graduate, i had to decide whether or not i wanted to be a teacher enough to justify taking out another $10k in loans to finish. i didn't, so i quit school, sat around unsure what to do for a little while, and decided to pick up art again.

​

i spent almost 2 years vending Indigo Sugar Art at various events & markets in Flagstaff, before deciding that I wanted to go further with my business & pursue a brick and mortar store. in April 2025, along with the help of my husband, i opened Ari's Art Exchange, a local art & creative reuse shop. nowadays you'll either find me running the shop or at home chasing a toddler, and I wouldn't have it any other way!