Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Parra.
Veronica, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Well, this could be a short or a long story, but, like many, it starts with me drawing as a child. My dad and my sister taught me how to draw and since very young (4th grade to be exact), I knew this is what I wanted to do for a living because it’s what I enjoyed the most.
Once I finished school, I pursued my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, as in my hometown (Maracaibo, Venezuela), this was the closest major I could find related to illustration. One of my classes, a couple of years in, was an elective in illustration and I made a children’s book (that did not look very good, but well, gotta start somewhere…), and there is probably no project I’ve enjoyed the most. Illustration and photography were for sure my favorite classes.
After I graduated as a Graphic Designer (yay!), I had the pleasure of being accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta. Going to SCAD is, to this day, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I obtained my M.A. in Illustration, along with amazing experiences and some of my best friends. Yes, it was tough and a total roller coaster, but hey, I love roller coasters.
I did a couple of internships while at SCAD and after graduation, at Nuby (Monroe, LA), and Rhyme and Reason Design (Atlanta, GA), both incredible experiences I am very grateful for. At the end of 2016, I started working with wayfinding signage at Valancourt International, with whom I presently work with and it’s definitely been filled with a lot of learning along with both personal and professional growth.
I believe it’s worth mentioning, during 2017 I accomplished to work remotely with this company, along with freelance clients such as Aruba Symphony Festival, while traveling through Chile, Argentina, and Venezuela; an amazing year indeed. In March 2018 I came back to Atlanta and have now joyfully joined the team at the company headquarters in The Battery area.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Ohh, I love this question. I create illustrations directed to children and the young at heart.
My purpose is to create happy, joyful illustrations and while they may not all be joyful, there is always some sense of hope or empowerment within them, as what I try to convey is exactly this message, to have hope always, to be positive and keep going, to smile and to do it often.
Hopefully what people take away from it is the light and love I put in my work, that little seed of light that is meant to stir up a feeling and remind everyone that the light is there no matter what. I also enjoy to work with typography, there is definitely something engaging and relaxing about working with type, which also enables me to create more uplifting designs of this kind.
Separately from illustration I do enjoy photography every once in a while, but it is usually just a hobby for my enjoyment, maybe someday I’ll pursue it further, it’d probably be fun.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Yes, go online, and you’ll find lots of “drink and draw” meetings where artists just go hang out, have a drink and just doodle. To me, going to a coffee shop to draw always feels the best and many times people just come to you when they see you drawing, so that’s always fun.
I would say, keep your art friends close, that’s what’s worked best for me, even if you don’t hang out every day anymore, it’s still something very important when it comes to keeping you sane and bringing you back into reality when the head gets too cloudy.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see my work on my website www.veroparra.com and on my Instagram @vero_sparkles.
If you’d like to support my work, I have an Etsy shop with my colleague (and one of my best friends) Chey Diehl, it’s called Shooting Stars Shoppe, and the hope is that one day this grows to become more than an online shop. We have exciting projects in the works!
If you’d like to contact me, feel free to do so at veronicaparra@veroparra.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.veroparra.com
- Email: veronicaparra@veroparra.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vero_sparkles/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vero_sparkles
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShootingStarsShoppe
Image Credit:
Original mockup for wedding card downloaded from graphicsfuel.com, only illustration belongs to me (and to the happy couple ^^)
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