Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Venson.
Hi Andrea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been an artist all my life. Even in kindergarten, I thought I was the best artist in my class. I would draw people, make houses out of popsicle sticks, and draw floor plans for houses. Thankfully my parents nourished my creative spirit, so I’ve always been comfortable with expressing that side of me. I was in art class every year in school, so I had plenty of time to practice and master my craft.
When I went to college, I didn’t pursue art because people said it was unrealistic. They said I wouldn’t make money, so I did the exact opposite and studied something that would make me a whole lot of it; Construction Science. This was a very masculine major, and at Texas A&M University, I was one out of two black women in the program.
I excelled at it for two years. I got straight A’s and had great relationships with the staff. All of this was sending me on a track to success, but then I went on my internship… It was terrible. It was not me at all. Here goes a girl who has breathed art all her life, and now she’s the only woman on the job site sitting in meetings that were extremely hard to stay awake in. I hated it. I remember I was lonely and completely unfulfilled.
That’s when I decided that I would not sell my soul for money. No matter how much security this line of work promised, I would not willingly force myself to be miserable. I knew that I had a purpose on this earth, and it was my job to live it out. So, long story short, I switched majors and ended up graduating with an art minor. After that, I went and worked at an art studio in Houston where we did mosaics and murals around Houston and other cities. It was a great experience, but it highlighted the fact that my true passion is impacting other people.
I needed to be able to actually affect someone else’s life. Not just sit behind four walls and create art. Fast forward to now, I paint commissions for people, have art shows, host meditative art sessions, sell my art, host a podcast, make music, and so much more. I’ve fully owned my creative power and I feel like I’m truly walking in my purpose. I am currently a middle school art teacher, but I’m creating a plan to transition and pursue my business full time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to purpose is full of challenges! You hear all the time that if a dreamer could see the journey ahead, they would turn around and run away. It’s so true! I would say that my biggest struggles along the way have been my insecurities. An an artist, you are putting your insides out for the world to see. The fear of not being enough, fear of rejection, worries about my physical appearance, fear of the unknown, and distractions in general are all things that I’ve dealt with and continue to deal. I’ve come such a long way when it comes to my self-esteem, but I think that if you are growing and taking new risks, there’s always going to be a fear trailing behind.
In terms of actual physical obstacles, I’m the type of person that sees everything as an opportunity to grow, so I don’t think they’ve impacted me as much as they could have. Overall though, I think that our internal world has way more power to destroy us than anything outside of us. That’s why I’m so into self awareness and being aware of your emotions and what drives your actions.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist in every since of the word. When it comes to visual art, I use all mediums but am most known for my paintings. I specialize in portraits but I can honestly do anything. My work is pretty different because it’s super realistic, but I use unrealistic colors. If I paint a picture of someone, it’s going to look exactly like them. Their skin may be blue, but you will know that it’s them.
I also like to incorporate nature in my work because it is so powerful. There’s a pattern throughout all of my work that references the pattern of life. Whether it be tree branches, veins inside our bodies, lightning, or veins in plants… it’s everywhere.
I am most proud of the portraits I’ve been doing lately. I’m currently working on a piece of Erykah Badu that’s going really well. She’s had a huge impact on me as an artist, and I think she’s the perfect person to paint using my style. This is my first time doing a celebrity painting, so I think it will be pretty dope. I also have a self portrait of me that I did last year that I absolutely love. It’s really what’s inspiring the style of more portraits to come, and I love looking at it every day!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust myself. No matter what. For so long, I’ve allowed the voices of others to overshadow my own opinions. I thought that there was no way that my truth could be good enough. There are so many things that I’ve passed up just cause I didn’t think I could make the decision for myself. But, the more and more I let my inner voice guide me, I know that it’s the only way to truly experience the life that God has for me! Yeah, sometimes it’s scary to trust something no one else understands, but it always is for my greater good. No one can see the vision I have inside of me, so I’ve stopped relying on them to interpret the way my life should be. I know that if I have faith and follow through on the instructions I’ve been given, I’ll be good.
Pricing:
- Art Prints $15 – $35
- T-Shirts $35
- Paint Parties $35 per person
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
- Website: www.dreatheartist.com and www.enlightenmydream.com
- Instagram: drea_theartist and enlightenmydream
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWCH57x2GnI976qfYqsJFBg
