We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vee Castro. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vee below.

Hi Vee, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I think it was when I realized how truly happy it made me. It was fulfilling and didn’t feel like work but just expression. It was an outlet for me and it allowed me to express myself and created a sense of control and accomplishment for me. When I would post my work and receive so much positive feed back, I told myself I would keep posting content and started believing in myself a little more. The more I worked on perfecting my craft, the better I got at it. All I could think about was how I could grow as an artist and what I could learn next to continue to be successful.

Vee, 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’m Vee, a latina mom of three, and part time artist. I’ve always loved to express myself creatively. Whether it be through painting, drawing, singing or fashion, I just enjoy it so much. My dad would draw with me and play guitar while I would sing, write songs, and create with him. Over time as I got older, the time I spent creating had almost become non-existent. I almost forgot how much I loved the creative process and how fulfilling it was. Fast forward to 2020, during covid I got laid off for a month and a half with no clue if I would get called back to work or not. With my newly found free time, I started painting for fun, but I also needed to start making money and had no idea what I could do for some extra cash. As a single mom, I had 3 kids depending on me to make moves. I had always wanted to start my own business and just didn’t know where to start. A friend of mine suggested I sell her a painting since I had been already painting so often for fun. I sold her my very first painting and once I posted my work, I started getting commission requests and paint night requests and I haven’t stopped since. My business really grew through social media, word of mouth, and networking. It became an answered prayer and made me so happy, that’s when I knew I could never stop creating again. I feel like I don’t just provide commissioned pieces or paint events, I help create memories. When people ask me to recreate a portrait of a loved one or a pet or a character they love, I get to know the person, so I can incorporate their favourite colours, songs, movies, ideas etc. I use all that information to create the most memorable painting or experience possible. I believe my love for the arts and my individual creative expression, raw emotion and unique ideas are what set me apart. I love to recreate photos as semi realism pieces, cartoon style, and abstract pieces that make people feel something. I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked to finally be able to display my work and share it with the world and always keeping God first, never forgetting that He is the reason for any success in my life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think it’s the feeling I get while creating, and how it makes others feel. I love how fulfilling it is for me to create an art piece for someone who wants me to create a long lasting memory. The joy, the tears, the genuine emotion and reaction I see on people’s faces when I hand them their finished piece is what does it for me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to eventually open my own Art studio and allow other artists to rent space and time to create in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. My dream is to have my own space in order to create my art and also have classes for adults and after school art programs for children. As a single mom I struggled with finding childcare for years and was always looking for affordable extra curricular activities for my kids. My mission is to help those who are in the same situation I was  in and to create an affordable creative outlet for the community.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Veecastroart