Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Garza-O’Shaughnessy
Yvonne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is my budding start of how I was determined to recreate myself at 60. I am an emerging contemporary artist that specializes in female Icons. From female artists to activists and even pop culture icons and the like. I also try to show my Hispanic culture in some of my paintings, It’s the female image through my eyes.
I’ve spent the past 20 years in the home building and residential remodeling industry. I worked for corporate/national companies as well as the individual builders and smaller companies. i also have a retail management background.
But 2 years ago, after contracting a virus, my body started to breakdown. Doctors couldn’t tell me too much at the time. I had pain everywhere and could barely walk. Anxiety took over and I had found myself not wanting to leave the house. I couldn’t get over it fast enough and in conclusion, I lost my job. It was hard for them to let me go and it was hard for me to leave. Prior to the illness, I also lost my parents. So, grief set in too. There’s a lot to unpack there.
Feeling so much loss, my husband felt helpless but then he reminded me that now there was nothing standing in my way of painting. I always thought I never had time to do anything for myself. I was always at work, cleaning, cooking, taking care of my elderly parents, I thought, he’s right. I have nothing in my way now, so pick yourself up and get moving and that’s what I did. In 1 month, I has a studio set up in my house and I had this overwhelming urge to create and create like a mad woman. Then I created a couple of social media business accounts as well as an online shop for my prints. Before I knew it, I had nearly 50 paintings….and not small ones. It had become my full time job. and I was obsessed with getting my feelings out on canvas was the perfect medicine.
Not knowing why I was so obsessed in creating so many paintings, I thought I might have a small shot with a gallery, But I knew nothing of the art world. I had been out of it for so long. In June 2023 we paid a visit to my daughters’ new apartment. She lived in front of Sawyer Yards. Shed said, “Look Mom….that’s where you need to be.” I asked her what that was and she told me its where all the artists are (giggles). When I stared down onto Sawyer Yards, I I’ll never forget how I felt. Sad, that I wasn’t part of it but excited that I wanted to find out. So we took a Saturday afternoon and headed out to see what it was all about. Prior to our outing, I was scrolling through Facebook and came across a post from Art Machine Gallery at Sawyer Yards. I placed a simple message to Jay Jax with photos of my art and immediately he invited in to talk. Before I left, I was offered a resident artist position at the gallery. I was so thrilled. It was my first step in the direction I wanted to go in. I’ll be there a year, this July 2024.
My art may not be for everyone, but truth be told, I paint for myself. If others love it, then that is certainly a bonus for me. But I love seeing the excitement in my client’s faces, makes me feel like my cup is running over. My artwork is fully developed yet, as I see improvement with every painting and that tell me my journey has improving and I love to see progress. I also get to meet other artists and that is invaluable.
Today, I’m nearly pain free. I literally give the credit to my passion as it has helped me to release what my mind needed to let go of. I have a small following on social media but I’m steadily increasing those numbers. I have an online shop, in a gallery at Sawyer Yards and am starting to go to events. I did this in one year. I could go back to work but honestly, I’m so driven to make this work. that I can’t focus on anything else. It’s what I’ve waited for my entire life, literally.
So, as I look forward into the future, I can hope that each year bring a new manifestation of my passion and dreams. It’s a great start and I’m grateful I’m finally on this secret path and I’m so excited to see where this journey takes me. We can do anything we put enough thought into. My story may not be noteworthy, but for those wanting to make a bold change in your life, following what you love, at any age, is never the wrong direction. I have one chance to make my mark on this world, one painting at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think I covered this on the first section.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I paint Icons like Frida Kahlo, Pop Culture Icons, like Marilyn Monroe. I also paint everyday women doing what they are passionate about and I tie some of my Hispanic Culture in my paintings as well. I’ve barely scraped the bottom of the barrel, as I’ve only been doing professionally, for a year.
This year, the one thing I’m most proud of is the grace I took to accept my fate and use that to drive my passion and get into a gallery after a year of painting.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I good one is the secrete. You can channel the right energy into manifestation when you believe and when you model your behavior and business like the best. Being in some top sales categories in the companies I worked with in the past, you get to read a lot of Sales and business manuals and even come up with your own. But, my biggest influence was my father. That man touches anything, and it turns to gold. He was military but a big personality with a huge heart. He told me you can do anything I put enough thought into. A man who started sweeping the warehouse floors for Dillard’s, ended up the number a store manager with the number one store in Texas. He helped his community with fundraisers and bringing the culture of Music to our little community.
Pricing:
- Art Print rage from 20.00 to 120.00
- Original art work ranges from 150.00-1200.00
- My Art merchandise starts at 15.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yoartstudiocompany.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/y.o.artstudioco
- Facebook: Yvonne Garza O’Shaughnessy
- Other: https://yoartstudiocompany.etsy.com
Image Credits
Photo Credit include Chris Zane Garza and PrintIT for all of my painting photos.
