December Cake Decorator of the Month
Ana Gutierez Padilla – Unforgettable Art
What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Scrambled eggs with greens and keto coffee.
How long have you been Cake Decorating for?
I’ve been decorating for 6 years but painting has always been a part of my life.
Why did you choose cake decorating?
I remember I wanted to make my daughter a half birthday cake and that was the first time I made a Swiss meringue buttercream cake. I love to paint but never really had the time so when I realized I could make edible art it became a passion to make it into a business.
In times of doubt, what do you do to get back into your creative zone?
I take time off. I walk away from it and give myself a break. I then come back to a fresh start and with a new approach.
Where did you learn your Cake Decorating skills?
I have an artistic background so that helps a lot with decorating but at first it was YouTube and Pinterest for learning new recipes. I’ve taken formal classes to learn new techniques with talented artists like Luma’s Cake, The Painted Box and Cakes by Angela Morrison.
What is your typical day like, what does it entail?
It starts with getting my daughter ready for school. I drop her off and then take a walk around the lake. I find that this really prepares me to start my day. Afterwards I drink my coffee and prioritize my to do list. It usually involves shipping molds, baking and decorating, or filming a tutorial. Once my daughter gets home I take her to her self defense class and then get home to prepare dinner. I like to end the night with some tea and family time but this depends on the amount of orders I have.
We know Edible Art Paint is a medium you use, what do you love about it?
I really love how I can blend colors with edible art paint. It just blends so beautifully with a flawless finish and I don’t have to worry about visible brush strokes. With the new paint powders the feel is like painting with real acrylic paint which is something that I love. It’s so versatile too, you can use it on everything.
What is your #1 piece of advice for the newbies in Cake Decorating?
Go at your own pace. It’s definitely not a race. Don’t feel that just because someone else in doing something you need to jump on it too. It’s ok to start slow and figure out what you really want to do. It will yield a greater reward. Also take high quality pictures! We rely so much on our phones nowadays and the cameras have definitely improved but when you’re asked for high quality photos of your creations you don’t want to be left short.
Who is your inspiration in the Cake Decorating world - name three (TAG THEM)
There’s so many of them! @Lumascake @cakesbyangelamorrison and @spring.bloom.cakes are a few cake artists that are constantly inspiring me to keep learning and to try something new.
Who is your inspiration outside of the Cake Decorating world.
I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for my family and daughter, they inspire me so much! I want my daughter to grow up knowing she can achieve whatever she wants in life. Other accounts I follow and love include my friend Liz @artsy_liz_flores, her artwork is so beautiful and inspiring, and seriously who doesn’t love Disney?! And I just love @davidlozeau unique, illustrative style. I own a few of his Day of the Dead illustrations and they are amazing