We recently connected with Veronica Aguilar and have shared our conversation below.

VERONICA, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

Every blessing is especially exciting when you weren’t even expecting it (Try saying that five times fast haha)!

That’s exactly how I felt about a year ago. I had decided to rent a studio space at a local co-op art building. It was much closer to home than the studio space provided by my school across the bay bridge in San Francisco, CA. It definitely felt like personal growth as I was now spending every day there working among other creative professionals with very unique styles and mediums. They along with the owner were so welcoming and knowledgeable. They were very willing to share their experiences in the art business.

What was also extremely helpful is that they held art shows throughout the year. They also participated in the annual East Bay Open Studios event which is an even larger organization. It was at this event 6 months later when a complete stranger and his wife walked into our purple building–a quirky structure partially covered in tile and mirrored mosaic art.

They approached my studio space (which was a huge mess by the way), and took a long look at everything on my wall before asking to buy my small palette knife painting titled, “Venezia”. It was an urban landscape of a yellow boat docked in Venice, Italy. I was so surprised and grateful that they admired my artwork!

Since settling into my art space, I’ve participated in six art show’s at Jingletown Art Studios (JAS) in Oakland, CA (formerly the Mosaic Institute). As an emerging artist, I’m still getting used to these opportunities to show my work and talk about the pieces that our guests are drawn to. I’ve never been comfortable with “sales” but I feel more and more comfortable talking about my process and personal journey. It feels more meaningful that way and should they purchase a piece of my art, hopefully they’ll have a different kind of connection to it.

VERONICA, 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?

My name is Veronica Aguilar. I’m from East Oakland, CA. I am a fine art painter. Since elementary school age It has been my dream to become an artist. The interest had sparked from one of my older sisters’ drawings of Chicano culture with only a blue ballpoint pen: a woman’s piercing eyes with one sparkling tear drop, a spiderweb covered with rain droplets, the spider hanging halfway down the page, classic roses and the elegant lettering of a message, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”.

I was in awe and asked her if I could have her drawing. She obliged and even scripted my name onto the shaded scroll that wrapped around a heart. She had also stained the notebook paper drawing with a wet tea bag and had used a lighter to burn the edges. She had transformed it into a treasured, aged piece of art. I had then studied and practiced achieving the same shading and precision of those symbols. From there, I had become more fascinated with creating illustrative visuals of life as I experienced it and special moments as I observed them. I had always wanted to learn how to paint on a canvas. That was something I would have to be patient for as I was navigating life thereafter.

About 30 years later, is when I was able to officially begin my artist journey after a plot twist in my mid-20’s, I enlisted in the United States Navy! After serving 10 years I had come to the decision to end my quite successful career to begin a new chapter pursuing my forever passion.

I’ve been producing various subjects of oil paintings over the last five years as an art student at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. Some of my favorites are from my 7 1/2 week study abroad in Florence, Italy in the summer of 2022. That experience was UNFORGETTABLE! That collection included six palette knife paintings.

This past fall semester I’d been re-introduced to figurative painting (partially and full nude fine art). I have enjoyed the process and achieved lovely results so much that I’ve been offered commissions for this specifically.

I also enjoy re-creating compositions of urban landscapes inspired by my travels overseas, my beloved bay area and any setting that inspires my creative eye.

I’m still in school now pursuing my MFA degree in painting and drawing so I will be starting a college-level teaching career in addition to producing my own artwork for commissions. I’m currently working on my thesis painting series of figurative Mexican Ballet Folklorico dancers. They are the visions you would see at any major celebrated event of Mexican culture. Seeing them in their dresses flaring beautifully back and forth like butterfly wings was always mesmerizing to me. My decision to focus on these expressive figures came after searching for new inspiration for one of my studio classes. I LOVED how my first painting progressed and couldn’t wait to paint my next dancer!

With these artworks I will be presenting a final thesis review later on in my program. Afterward I will be organizing a solo exhibition with this body of work (about 18-19 paintings total), fittingly around the next Cinco de Mayo festivities of 2026.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I had mentioned earlier, I had come to a major decision about whether to continue on a highly successful career in the United States Navy after already serving 10 years. I would have achieved the revered retirement status (and benefits). The other choice was to completely deviate and return to society as a military veteran. I would begin a brand new chapter–my artist journey. That plan entailed moving back to my hometown and starting art school to earn my BFA degree in painting and drawing.

The thought of finally being able to receive formal training to become an artist most times dominated the latter! It was when my military colleagues and superiors approached me to insist on having me stay in to lead more Sailors and make a better impact that sometimes swayed me in the other direction. They tried to persuade me with many other facts that would benefit me in committing at least 10 more years of my life to the 1% of the U.S. that still serve.

I had almost accepted the challenge of putting off my dream to finish out a full 20 years for the retirement goal. Eventually, I had realized how important my family is to me and how more importantly the opportunity was there to pursue my dream and build my foundation sooner than later in life.

At times I miss the adventure and purpose I felt as a Sailor, leader and mentor; But every single day I’m re-directed to the feelings of overwhelming gratitude for my now creative environments in which I thrive in. I
receive invaluable weekly guidance from my instructors and strive towards more disciplined practice of new skills. Each block of time I spend in front of a canvas is the precious chance and risk to discover another step towards my own signature style and technique. The paintings that I’ve produced so far have made such an impact on fellow artists and art patrons, on family and friends and everyone else who happen to see my work or see me at work on a painting.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Looking around my community and online I noticed little representation of these dedicated Mexican Ballet Folklorico performers. Just as formal as my fine art painting goes, so too are their practices in proper footwork, skirtwork and stage presence. There are so many rewards to come from this current concept, and it may not be what you think. The biggest one would be to simply recognize them, to document each dancer mid-swirl in a truly majestic moment. I already feel honored to represent them through my traditional fine art oil paintings! I can already see so much joy and inspiration to come from this!

I hope to have follow-on exhibits of my work and be able to reach other areas accessible to more communities that can enjoy and be inspired. I would pitch an exhibit to different types of venues like Veteran’s halls, galleries, county buildings, libraries, even cafe’s or restaurants who may be delighted to bring diverse crowds together to appreciate my artwork. I intend on donating a portion of any proceeds to a charity near and dear to my heart–KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation. This organization has done so much to support my little brothers family while they were fighting to save their youngest daughter from this rare condition (she passed away at 3 years old). #AlejandraStrong is what has brought my family closer and helped other families with KCNT1 warriors through support and advocation.

My intention has been to be the change I want to see; To help in any way I can; To promote others that are trying to do the same in their own way. I always love to remind everyone around me that if I can do everything I’ve done, so can they!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Lovesmangos_art

Image Credits

“Venezia” (yellow boat) photographed by ALMAC Camera. All other photos taken by artist.