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

Hi Veronica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Although I graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts, I went down a different path soon after. I started working part time in the public library system and then in an academic library. While moving up in the library world, many people asked if I was going to pursue a masters degree in library science but I could never bring myself to it. I realized my heart was always set in the arts. At home during my time off, I began creating illustrative narratives hoping to jump into the children’s picture book industry. I created a portfolio and became a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, attending as many conferences and workshops as I could. It’s not easy, many years learning and growing until I realized I could sell my art because of the amount of interest I received. I created an Etsy shop and began to sell my illustrations. I dove back into fine arts and started creating all sorts of paintings without limitations of style. I felt free to create whatever I wanted and I knew that is what I wanted to pursue.

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?

I have always known that I do not thrive in jobs that require a lot of interpersonal communication and/or management. When I have needed to do so, it truly drains me and I always feel imposter syndrome. My outlet and way of communicating is inward, so I felt free when I started to create paintings and illustrations as a form of communication. Narratives through art form became a common theme in my work and I started to explore children’s picture book illustrations. I joined the Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and began to attend conferences, critiques and dive into what it takes to work in the industry, meanwhile keeping my 9-5 library job. I realized it is MUCH harder than I thought seeing that the children’s publishing work is saturated with illustrators, mainly digital art which is not my forte. But I did a wonderful collaboration with author, Silvia Lopez, to illustrate her children’s ebook, Zunzuncito: A story of Cuba’s Bee Hummingbird. It won the 2017 Latino Book Awards for Best Children’s E-Book. Being first generation Cuban American, that is one project that I am truly proud of! Not only because it won an award, but illustrating this folktale from my heritage came from the heart and made my family shed a tear or two. It is now available on Amazon as hard copy and ebook in English and Spanish as well as many local libraries.

I realized many people loved my illustrations and I decided to continue creating pieces and use Etsy as a shop platform to provide prints. My art work varies from watercolors, to gouache, acrylic, and oil paintings. Besides whimsical and fantasy art, my most common themes are animals and nature, bringing awareness to endangered species and environmental issues. Born and raised in South Florida, I have an attachment to the ecosystems here especially having grown up near the Everglades. I spend a lot of time diving the reef tract in the waters off Miami and exploring Biscayne National Park. Witnessing the coral reefs declining through the years has inspired my ‘art-ivism’.

I love collaborating with others as well, recently contributing illustrations to the Islandia Journal, a Miami periodical. Creating an art piece for New Zealand/LA-based singer songwriter, Anderson Rocio, for her upcoming single. I also accept commissions from clients where I offer various mediums and sizes.

I will admit I’m having difficulty with social media platforms such as Instagram where growing a following and exposure has dropped due to the algorithms. I have tried other outlets to reach people but all in all, small business owners and artists have to work hard on their marketing strategies to be seen. I’m trying to not let that discourage me and will continue working hard and creating inspirational pieces.

My next goal is to attend local art festivals to meet people and sell my art in person. I think that is crucial to building and networking with fans of art and conservation. A face to a name and in-person connections furthers motivation and reminds me of why I love creating.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think the amount of time it takes and how it can be draining. Which is a reason why we price our work the way we do. There are many times people will question your prices or ghost you once you tell them your rates. The details and heart poured over our work is very valuable. That is something I’ve come to learn and even start valuing myself. Handmade creations are truly special, with stories behind those hands, hearts, and mind. These are things you cannot acquire at Amazon. As creatives, there is a time we suffer from imposter syndrome, questioning the value of what we do, and why we even do it. There are times it’s not going well and we want to give up. But when we receive an inquiry about purchasing or wanting a commission, it is such an uplifting feeling. The realization that someone out there sees your work for what it is and wants to bring it home is amazing.
Art is therapeutic for me, even if I don’t sell, I will continue creating because it is a calling. I cannot explain it but just like the Disney movie ‘Soul’, you get in a zone and it whisks you away. There will always be heart in our creations no matter what.

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

Besides wanting to create art work as a full time job, my goal is to engage adults and children on environmental issues through my art. Even if it’s heart breaking or uplifting or showing the possibility of a bright future, I want to communicate that through art in hopes that it can send a feeling. People protect what they love. If I can only instill a little bit of curiosity towards something they can learn about and in turn love, maybe we will have more stewards of our earth.

Contact Info:

• Website: cabreraillustrations.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/veroarts
• Twitter: twitter.com/VeronicaCabs
• Youtube: Cabrera Illustrations — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf-x1BmOMnIq8v7DYxmoTaQ