We recently connected with Theresa Vandenberg Donche and have shared our conversation below.
Theresa, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I went to school at San Diego State University to be a graphic designer. My love for fine arts was always there but I worried I would not be able to make a living on my artwork alone so I became a designer. In my late 30’s I went back to painting and what made me the most happy. I’ve never looked back. Am constantly curious and exploring, the creative process is endless and so exciting. Currently I have discovered clay and all the possibilities of what I can create from it.
Theresa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I come from a long line of creatives, my grandmother, a prolific painter was a huge inspiration to me. I was the weird kid that loved the smell of oil paints. Having been a designer for decades gave me the structure one would need to pursue painting. My work is intuitive and gesturally built, layer after layer of paint and other materials go on the flat surface until the work speaks to me.
I belong to a women’s artist group called TWA (Time for Women Artists) we show our work together in places like the
Oceanside Museum of Art and currently at BFree Gallery in La Jolla. We pursue topics that resonate to current events.
In addition to having exhibitions I place my work in online galleries which provides me a steady income. I
teach abstract painting workshops and coach around California. I am in awe of my students and what they are capable of.
In my spare time I throw and build clay. I find parallels to building my paintings to building a sculpture. Lately I have been incorporating clay into my paintings. Currently I bide my time between my studio in San Diego and in the Sierra’s in Northern California.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that it is endlessly satisfying. I look at the work I’ve done and the work I am currently creating and get excited of what I have done and what I am going to do. Am always seaching for new ideas and messages. As an artist we want to connect to the viewer, to make an impact whether visually or verbally. Painting and art in itself takes me everywhere, museums, galleries and generally a comroderie with like minded people, its a community built on being inquisitive and curious. Colors pop out to me where ever I go. Mundane images appear fascinating and exciting.
I work in series and usually reflect what or how I am feeling at the time but generally an element of views and perspective always make there way into my work.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Something I teach in my workshops is that everyone is creative you just have to work at it. Some may make it look easy but it is not, its hard work and constant attention to it is needed. My belief is that we all have the potential and some decided
early on to close the door on any creative potential. In my workshops I try to make them get rid of their inner critics and just paint freely. The work will probably not be what one would expect but thats when the work comes in. I really feel many do not give themselves a chance to really explore. Some even find it emotional and painful. We work through that and try to
find the joy art actually is.
Contact Info:
- Website: theresavandenbergdonche.com
- Instagram: theresavandenberg
- Facebook: tdonche