We recently connected with Vickie VanHurley and have shared our conversation below.

Vickie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

I earned my first “dollar” after graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I returned to my hometown of Flint, Michigan after graduating with an Associates Degree in Fashion Illustration and Advertising Art. I decided to spend the three months before continuing my education at Albion College at home. While shopping with my parents at a mall in Grand Blanc, a suburb of Flint, we noticed a women’s boutique, Erté. I was familiar with the name because that was the name of a fashion illustrator I learned about in design school. So, we decided to go in and look around. The boutique offered clothing that would appear in the pages of VOGUE magazine. My mother and I started a conversation with who we assumed to be a sales associate, unfortunately I don’t remember her name.. I explained to her I recognized the name Erté as the Russian-French artist and designer I learned about in design school. She shared with us that she was the owner and that he was the inspiration for the name of her boutique. We continued to chat. I shared with her I was a recent design school graduate with a fashion illustration and advertising art degree. She shared that she was looking for someone to design a postcard/mailer to advertise her boutique. I said I could do that for her. A few days later I returned to the boutique with my portfolio of illustrations and graphic design in hand. I was hired to design a postcard with an original fashion illustration. She sent me home with a dress from the boutique that would fit my mom. I used my mom as the model for my fashion illustration. About a week later I completed the postcard, ready to go to the commercial printer and I received my first payment for my illustration and design!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been drawing my entire life. I remember my maternal grandmother telling me I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. I took art classes as a child at the Flint Institute of Arts Museum School and continued my art instruction in junior high and high school. While in high school I researched art careers. My father was NOT a fan of my decision to pursue art as a career. her only knew of the plight of the “starving artist.” I discovered commercial art/graphic design. I shared this information with my parents. I explained how a career in commercial art/graphic design could provide a stable income. After earning my high school diploma, I headed to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh to learn how to support myself as an artist! Although, graphic design doesn’t focus on drawing/illustration, it cultivated my love for art even more. I continued to draw and used illustration in my graphic design as often as I could.

When I draw, I’m translated to a different place, it’s an indescribable feeling. It takes me to a place of peace, satisfaction, and excitement! I especially enjoy the moment when a piece starts to materialize beyond my preliminary sketch. I refer to it as “it’s coming alive. The human face has always been my subject matter of choice. I believe it’s because of the emotion, information it communicates and its beauty and authenticity. My creative tools of choice are graphite pencil, colored pencil, and ballpoint ink pen. I love the drama the graphite pencil adds to my subject. I also love the vibrant color of both colored pencil and ballpoint ink pen as it brings bold personality to each subject.
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I am an artist, educator, and designer. I have several decades of experience with each. I have shared my work with the public sporadically throughout those decades. However, it was a reaction from a viewer in November 2022 that reignited my commitment to return my artwork to the public. While participating in an exhibit, a young lady paused in front of my artwork and began to cry. She apologized for crying and states “I can’t help myself because your work is so beautiful!” I immediately embraced the young lady and thanked her for the utmost compliment. It was that moment that I made a renewed commitment to share my artwork with the world! Since November 2022, I have participated in the juried Uptown Art Expo in Altimonte Springs, FL, Celebration Art Walk, Celebration FL, A Perfect Union Art Gallery, Ocoee, FL, and Aspire Penthouse Art Gallery, Orlando, FL.

In addition to showing my original artwork, I have limited edition posters as well as notecards for sale. I believe a creative environment produced through wall art, books, posters, notecards can influence creativity. Creativity is the key to problem-solving as life is comprised of solving problems. I have recently launched an update of my book The Doodle Diary. The Doodle Diary promotes the activity of doodling. This paperback book is a portable place to doodle any and everywhere. Those who doodle can experience less stress, develop more innovative ideas, gain more focus in meetings and lectures, and improve drawing skills.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, to emphasize the importance of creativity as a life and career skill, to return art as a core curriculum in education. An overwhelming number of school districts across the United States have removed creative courses (art, music). According to savethemusic.org, approximately 7,000 schools don’t have music programs. The National Endowment for the Arts report approximately 3,000 high schools don’t have art classes. We, as a nation are experiencing the “fall out” of the missing creative curriculum in schools. Employers are reporting a lack of “soft skills” in applicants and new hires. Soft skills are those needed for effective communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. According to goskills.com the top 5 most lacking soft skills are: 1. Critical thinking/problem-solving
2. Attention to detail
3. Communication
4. Leadership
5. Teamwork

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

As an artist, I have built and continue to grow my artist social media audience by attending live events in the community. I have increased my artist social media followers by engaging with people and including a QR code with a direct link to my social media profile page. Meeting people in person proves you’re real. I believe it makes it easier for people to connect on social media. It removes the doubt, answers the question if you’re a real person producing real artistic content. I also have printed cards with my social media information, my contact information as well as artwork to hand out when I’m out in the community

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vickievanhurleyart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myartistlife923

Image Credits
All artwork, art product photos credit: Vickie VanHurley Personal photo credit: D’Aundra Newell