Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Speck.
Hi Vicki, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
If you had told me I would be painting and selling my artwork five years ago, I might have thought you were a little bit looney. I used to work as an elementary teacher and I always postponed the creative side of my life, until I moved to the US in 2018. I left my life in Santiago, Chile behind to start a new life with my husband.
During the first year, I wasn’t able to work and I spent a lot of my free time going out on hikes and enjoying nature. One day I realized I wanted to connect at a deeper level with nature. I started bringing my watercolors outside with me and started painting the places I visited. Art has allowed me to grow closer to nature because whatever I see in the world, I filter through my lens of me, and record that in my watercolor studies.
Without realizing it, those sketches and color studies were the beginning of my art journey. I started painting and practicing 8 hours a day and slowly started working on bigger projects. I am excited to see what else this journey will bring and I will keep working on pursuing this dream.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most people think being an artist is easy—you just swing a paintbrush or pencil around and make beautiful art. It’s not. It really isn’t. Art isn’t easy. It requires dedication, discipline, but also passion. It takes a lot of courage to pursue a career doing something that one loves to do even if it is difficult and often frustrating. A huge part of it requires being brave because you have to put yourself out there and be vulnerable.
Along the road, I have encountered a lot of joy but also there have been a lot of sad moments in which I have felt discouraged. Sometimes it feels impossible. But in the end, it is always worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My artwork is at the intersection of landscape, natural elements, and abstraction. As a Plein air painter I am interested in capturing the world that surrounds us because I have an urge to be part of it. I am especially intrigued to paint mountains.
I use vibrant watercolors and whimsical linework to capture the serene solitude that people find in mountains. I later transform my creations into wearable art and other goods. I try to give this unique world a voice so that we can protect it.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I think that connecting with other artists is very important. It is a great way to learn skills and also understand how this career path works. Sometimes it can get overwhelming and it is good to know people that have more experience in the field.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.VickiSpeckArt.com
- Instagram: @VickiSpeckArt
- Youtube: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-speck-2b8222237?trk=people-guest_people_search-card
