Vanessa Valencia

My name is Vanessa Valencia. I feel like a strange and curiously artistic woman from the 1800's trapped in the body of a thirty year old girl living in a bizarre Arizona.

I make all kinds of art. Paintings, mixed media, paper dresses, art dolls, jewelry, illustrations... I also make funky pottery, and I am always exploring other mediums...

I live in Tucson Arizona, and have an art studio & private little gallery at my country home in Catalina, Arizona. My little private gallery is only open for shows, or occassionally by appointment. However, all of my currently available art pieces, can be found online.

I realized many years ago that today is the day and this is the time. Embrace and adore now, this minute, this second, everything around you and about you. There is only so long you can dwell in the darkness before you have to escape...

(In the right hand sidebar of my blog, you will find something called Archives. The Archives list, lists blog posts by month and year. Use Archives to read any posts from my blog dating as far back as Dec. 2006)

Email: VanessaValencia@aol.com

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I have been asked many times to extend my bio.. So, here we go...

I love anything and everything creative, magical and imaginative. I started playing piano at around 4. Which I think sparked some kind of dreamy stuff in my imagination... I have since found that, I won lots of fair contests for some of my artwork at that same wee age. Who knew???

At about 11, I started painting designs on walls. At 13 it was on to furniture and large scale canvas. My parents really nurtured all my creativity. It also helped to have a mom who always has her fingers in hot glue and crafts... I think I have known about hot glue gun burns since birth...

It was always dollhouses and dress ups. My grandmother added to this with hidden double attics and doll clothes making galore...

My mom sat back the other day and shook her head. Then she said... "Where was I, in my mind? I didn't even flinch... I had this 5 year old, who, as we were backing out of the driveway in our car, would scream WAIT!! I forgot something. Then return with her signature beauty mark and red lipstick..." Yep, twas I...

I spent my youth in the desert. And, much time in California. My father owned a produce brokerage for 30+ years. So we got to spend half years in San Diego & other parts of California. This is because the produce industry has seasons, and fruits and veggies take you to different parts of the country at different times of the year. So for us, it was Arizona mid-Fall to Spring. California, Summer to early fall.

However, our homebase was (and still is) in Arizona. We were in the mountainous zone, and did have the pleasure of green billowing canopy trees...

I explored real ghost towns (alone many times), and hunted for treasure in the hills. Entering caves without a care in the world... Kinda scary now that I look back on that...

I was a wacky girl with a wild streak... A Sagittarian who wanted simply to be free... No rules!! ;)

When it was time to go off to University, my parents were adamant that I must get a degree in something I could get a job with (haha!). And, proceeded to insist that I could not study art (wish I had, although I taught myself a lot. I have 5 bookcases of art books). So, I have a Bachelor of Science in International Retailing and Consumer Studies. And a minor in photography. I spent many a wee hour in the University of Arizona dark room. Love that place!!

So many things had happened in my wee life up until then, that I could have written a novel...

I was showing my work in a tiny gallery/shop at 18. And began working there. It was in Downtown Tucson, so I got to meet some wonderful artists, who I have stayed friends with ever since... That was the best art education I could have hoped for...

I am only now understanding what people mean, when questioned about their life, respond by saying "it was another lifetime ago..."

I feel like I have been so many different girls in my life... Grown and learned and continue to grow and learn...

I have been asked many many times, how I got into art... I have to say. I was born with the love of it in me. But, I too had to have jobs I hated in life... And, found myself painting late at night or on weekends. I was even a business woman by day for 10 years. But, thanks to those jobs, I had the means to buy fun art supplies... And, now that I look back... Those were some of the most emotionally creative times in my life...

I have learned so much over the years... I used to pile my artwork in my convertible (long gone) as a late teen and do shows... Then it was doing hundreds of jewelry trunk shows. Setting up for many grueling hours. Oh, the story could go on and on...

And, now, I find myself here... I get to share through my blog... The most magical adventure to date...

I feel like so many of my dreams are making their way to the real world... And I am still in a state of shock over it sometimes... But, that has taught me something very valuable...

"Nothing can break you, nothing can take away your imagination, nothing can stop you from creating. No one can take away your wonderful spirit. Dreams do come true. They really do. And it is true, dreams do come true if you believe. So hold on to them tight. Never give up. And never let any other person take any of that passion away from you. You are yours. Protect your little soul, and heart. The only person you have who will be with you through everything, and hold your hand, and love you, is you!!"

My wonderful parents always told me some form of that... Mom and Dad, you were right ;)

Today I have a home in the city of Tucson. But, I spend most of my time at my humble and beloved country home, 30 minutes North of Tucson. This is where I keep my studio and an office and a private little gallery, tucked away in the country, under huge beautiful trees... It is my bliss...

Okay, enough babble... Let's make ART!!!!