Today we’d like to introduce you to Velasco.
Hi Velasco, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from a small Caribbean island called St.Lucia. I’ve always loved art for as long as I could remember. I started off sketching Marvel and Dragon Ball Z as a kid and then graduated to watercolor paintings. However, once I attended college, my focus shifted to the sciences. After I graduated, I started working in my field, but I’ve always wanted to get back into art. In 2018, I applied to teach sip n paint classes in my free time, then eventually started doing my own private events. It was at that point I found out about the art scene in Atlanta, and I knew it was something I wanted to do. I did my first art show in 2019 and loved it. I’ve met some amazing people, and now we have our own art events.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I believe there’s a little bit of struggle in every path. My first art show was an eye-opener. I was so unprepared. I had to work the day of the event, so by the time I got there, a lot of wall space was already taken. I had no command strips to hang my work, and I had no clue on how to price my artwork. Looking back, I just have to say a huge thank you to all the artists who assisted me that day and gave me advice. I’m definitely more prepared now than I was back then. Another unexpected obstacle was the entire of 2020. Obviously, this year we’re all adjusting to life, and I’m just thankful for health right now. My plan for 2020 was to participate in art shows in other states. I was excited to meet new artists and just expose my work to a different audience. However, due to the pandemic, many shows were canceled. These experiences have definitely taught me the importance of preparation and adaptation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I mainly work with acrylic paint and broken glass. At this point, I think I’m mostly known for my broken glass pieces, but my inspiration comes from everywhere and everyone. I’ve been inspired by other artists, celebrities, politics, and just everyday experiences. As artists, we’re all unique, yet we’re all the same. We all use similar methods, similar tools, similar principles. We’re all passionate about what we do and love to share our creativity with the world. The differences are in the expressions. As an artist, I’m really proud of the progression I’ve made over the past year, both on the creativity side and the business side of art. I went from participating in my first art show a year ago to teaming up with a couple of amazing artists and curating our own events. The future looks so bright.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Credit goes out to my parents. They’re probably my biggest cheerleaders. When it comes to my creativity, I definitely inherited that from my mom. She’s an amazing seamstress and has made some of the most beautiful wedding dresses. She’s also the one who pushed me to continue with art, even while I was in college acquiring a biology degree. In general, I’ve just been truly blessed when it comes to support. I’ve had friends and family come out to my shows. I’ve had artists give me advice. I’ve had individuals I’ve never met show me love and share my work through social media. It’s all just been an amazing process.
Contact Info:
- Email: velasco.vmw@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/velasco.vmw/
Image Credits
@d.gates_photography
