We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vanessa Jo Bahr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vanessa Jo below.
Vanessa Jo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. I cut my teeth as a full-time artist when I first discovered printmaking and realized I could independently make prints for bands and festivals as an undergraduate college student. I would sell prints in the parking lots before and after concerts all across the country between my academic obligations. This work was challenging, a whole lot of fun and taught me multitudes about life, the world, marketing, budgeting, time management, presentation, finance, relationships. and so much more. This breakthrough method of getting my art into the world gave me the financial stability, confidence and freedom to pursue a career in the arts. It helped me realize that I could make a living from my art and have a great time while doing so. Making work to sell in this way really fostered the development of a studio practice, improved my self confidence and helped cultivate my entrepreneurial side. It takes a lot of determination and resiliency to put yourself out there in such a way but was such a rewarding undertaking in the end.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a printmaker, educator and founder of Scavenger Studios – a printmaking studio in Ashland, Oregon. I opened Scavenger Studios in 2022 after receiving my MFA from Ohio University. We a collaborative, community-based space that offers classes, workshops, memberships and one-on-one sessions. We have also been building a resident artist program where we invite in printmakers from outside of the region to come make work and share their skills. The studio specializes in several print processes including: relief, etching, letterpress and screen printing. I wasn’t yet ready to go immediately back into academia after grad school but wanted to continue sharing knowledge about printmaking with people. Opening Scavenger Studios was the best way to keep teaching while simultaneously making printmaking accessible and having the space to pursue my own creative practice.
I first discovered printmaking in undergraduate school in Denver, Colorado at Regis University. I was asked to be a TA for the printmaking course by the professor, Eugene Stewart. I had no idea what printmaking even was but he took me under his wing and taught me everything he could. I was able to receive credit for the course while being the work study / TA. For the next 4 years, I was the TA / Studio Manager and spent everyday and night in the studio; I basically lived there. I fell in love with the art form while using it to help earn a living and pay my rent outside of my school commitments.
I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world because they made me who I am today. I did take 8 years off between undergraduate and graduate school and in hindsight, I wish I went back to grad school a bit sooner. The 8 years off in-between I spent developing my style, traveling and supporting myself strictly from art sales and teaching part time at art centers and after school art programs. I think it’s important for every artist to follow their own path. Listen to that voice inside your head telling you what you want to do – not what others think you should do. Its not up to anyone else, you have to listen to you own intuition, be true to your heart and trust that even though it may be a winding path, it is your path, and its leading you exactly where you need to go.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I truly believe that teaching others is the most rewarding aspect of being a creative. More than just a rewarding benefit, I believe it is our solemn duty to pass our experiences on to others. To be a true appreciator of an art form or craft, you must realize that it is bigger than you. To be in service to it, to honestly love it, you have to be willing to share it with others in order to keep it alive. The survival and relevancy of such art forms depend on its evolution and continuation by people learning and pushing the medium. Teaching others is my way of contributing to the reciprocity of that cycle which is fulfilling all on its own.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think one of the hardest things for people who aren’t artists to understand is that the separation from work and the rest of your life is non-existent. Every minute of every day, we are in our element: learning, interpreting, observing, contemplating, researching and dreaming about the next idea or project. We don’t ever leave our work at the studio, it comes with us everywhere. We are constantly thinking about it and the idea of not “taking it personally” is unfathomable. It is our everything and all of our self worth and identity is wrapped up with it. Our work as artists is inextricably linked with our very existence, and that can be difficult to explain to those who don’t understand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.VanessaJo.Studio, www.ScavengerStudios.net
- Instagram: @VanessaJoBahr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-jo-bahr-78201349/
Image Credits
Vanessa Jo Bahr