We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vanessa Velib a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Vanessa , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I started painting instinctively as a child, and later took formal art classes that gave me technique and freedom to express myself.

Looking back, I learned by doing. Exploration has always been the way forward for me—trying different techniques, materials, and approaches, and having fun in the process. That curiosity is what keeps the work alive.

The most essential skill I’ve developed is courage—the courage to show my work even when it wasn’t perfect. Since high school, I’ve been exhibiting, sharing my art with whoever would see it. I didn’t come from a network of art world contacts—I built my path from zero. I just kept showing up, painting, and being ready when an opportunity came.

If I could have sped up the learning process, I might have immersed myself earlier in more diverse art communities—workshops, residencies, group projects. There’s so much to gain from being around other artists. But I also believe learning in art is deeply tied to personal growth. Your inner evolution reflects in your work. You can’t rush that. The only real shortcut is to stop repeating the same internal patterns—to learn from your missteps and keep moving forward.

The biggest obstacles I faced weren’t external—they were in my own mind. Self-doubt, comparison, fear of not being “good enough.” I sabotaged myself many times, even stepped away from creating altogether. But I eventually realized that my work wasn’t meant for everyone—and that’s okay. It just had to be honest. There are always people who resonate with what’s real. And the more I followed what made me feel alive, the more my work found its place in the world—and in other people’s homes.

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’m a visual artist who has been painting for as long as I can remember. Since I was a child, art has been my natural language—a tool to express what words couldn’t. I always knew I was an artist. I used to write it in my school notebooks, long before I imagined building a career around it. By 18, I had a deep desire to share my work—I wanted it on walls, visible, connecting with people. At 20, I began selling and exhibiting in Texas and Miami, where my professional journey started.

I studied performing arts—mainly theater and television—which gave me a deeper sense of emotional expression. That training continues to influence how I express through abstraction. I choose abstract art because it allows me to speak through colors, textures, and shapes, free of rigid definitions. I want viewers to connect not with an image, but with a feeling—one that’s personal and unique to them. Each observer finds their own story in every canvas.

My work has been exhibited in museums, galleries, and art fairs across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. I’ve participated in residencies, received art awards, and collaborated with nonprofit organizations to auction pieces for meaningful causes. I’ve been doing this for over a decade, and though the path hasn’t always been easy, I always return to the canvas. It’s where I feel most myself.

In recent years, my focus has expanded. I’m now drawn to the therapeutic side of art—helping others connect with themselves through creative expression. I don’t aim to teach people how to paint; instead, I guide them to feel, explore, and create from within. I believe in the power of play, presence, and emotion as the true foundation of art. It’s about transformation, not perfection.

And now, one of the most meaningful ways I create is with people—surrounded by them. I facilitate art rituals and shared experiences where a painting is born from the energy, movement, and emotion of those present. Every gesture, every feeling lived in that moment becomes part of the canvas. It’s not just a painting—it’s a living memory, captured in form and color. Something eternal, something unique. A visual legacy of a moment that can never be repeated, yet will live on in their lives forever.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, it’s trust and freedom. A dear artist friend and mentor of mine, Garsot—a successful Greek painter living in the United States—used to always tell me, “Trust in the arts.” He had a long, accomplished career, and yet he remained generous, humble, and deeply passionate about creating.

I was only 21 when we started collaborating; he was 77. Despite our age difference, he believed in me and treated me as an equal. We painted together and exhibited our collaborative works at art fairs in both New York and Miami. His mentorship taught me that trusting the creative process—letting go of fear, control, and self-doubt—is what leads to true artistic freedom.

That lesson shaped how I approach my work to this day. Trust keeps the art honest. It keeps it alive. And that freedom—to express, to evolve, to connect—is the most rewarding part of being an artist.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building an audience on social media is something I’m still learning to navigate. To be honest, it’s not the part I enjoy most—sometimes it distracts me from what I truly love, which is painting, creating, and being fully present in the moment. But I’ve come to understand how important it is to show up and share.

Some of my paintings have sold simply because I documented and shared the creative process. People connect with the journey—the raw, imperfect, beautiful parts of making something. That’s where the real connection happens.

My advice? Share what makes you feel good. Share what nourishes you. When you’re connected to what you’re doing, that energy is contagious. It’s not about curating a perfect feed—it’s about being honest, consistent, and real. Let people into your world, and trust that your authenticity will speak louder than any algorithm.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Vanessa Velib