Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vanessa Ortiz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Vanessa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

Well one way I love to show my customer that I appreciate them, I usually giveaway a print or sticker. For their purchase or sometimes I give away a original to a special customer that just connects so well to the art work. Customer love the energy I bring and giving a piece or even a discount the customer feels amazing and uplifted.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Born in Los Baños, CA and raised in Kansas, and Oklahoma. I have always been an artist since she was a little girl. I would pass time just sketching, and drawing for hours. Despite being told by professors that I was not a good enough artist to continue. I still managed to continue to paint my heart out. I even ended up graduating Arizona State University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, in 2010.
I’m an amazing local artist from Arizona who is known for my stunning depictions of the Arizona sunsets in the desert, and the superstition mountains. Using various techniques and mediums such as alcohol ink, watercolor, oil painting, mixed media, and acrylic paints.
My work is vibrant, bold, mystical, full of color, and life. Which truly captures the beauty of nature. I have participated in numerous art shows and has been featured in many publications.
My art is a beautiful representation of the beauty of nature, and how Arizona is more than just a desert. I love painting the light and seeing smiles on customers faces when they connect with artwork.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have been on a journey of healing and getting better from my health. So I can do what I love doing which is painting everyday. In 2019 I had my first solo art show ” Badass Latina Women Collection”, and sadly in 2020 I seriously got sick from multiple health problems. It was a long journey but art was always there for me. I choose to positive and painting everyday to bring my soul to a better place. I also got valley fever which left 8 holes in lungs. Where someone might want to quit, I actually fought to get better and open officially my business with business license. Best decision I ever did and I’m thriving right now. Especially getting a call from a gallery in the valley that denied my artwork. It never got me down. The very next call was from the NFL super bowl themselves wanting to sponsor me to created two 10 feet tall stallions. So I have never let the difficult parts of life to bring me down. I have always come through the other side of success.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I have learn not everyone has the best interest in your art journey. I have learn you must get things in writing because sometimes opportunity are not always in your best interest. When I first start I put my artwork in a consignment store which the owner lost the shop and the people that took over didn’t want to give back my artwork. I had to get police involved and multiple emails to business about my art work. They finally gave me my artwork. That was a tough way to learn to not trust everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: ZapataFineArt.com
• Instagram: art_by_vozapata
• Facebook: ZapataArtDesigns
• Youtube: @ZapataFineArt
• TikTok: ZapataFineArt,LLC