Valerie Vescovi is an award-winning American painter who has taken part in several exhibitions throughout Florida. She has developed her own neo-cubist style and her abstraction, which features musicians and dancers, could be referred to as ‘rhythmic cubism’. Vescovi’s works paint a diverse and complete story by the means of high contrast and the bold use of line.
When did you want to be an artist?
An old friend of mine recently said to me, you’ve been an artist since I’ve known you, I replied, I have been an artist since I’ve known me too. Always drawing as a kid, compulsively, until I got paints then I started painting compulsively. But I knew it was my career path when I got older and started hanging out with artists who made their living by brush alone.
Can you talk about your artistic influences and other artists you are most inspired by?
My parents gave me a really good oil paint set for my 12th b’day and literally just let me go wild with it. Even painting on the wall when I ran out of canvas. I think playing and experimenting creatively is huge in developing a style.
My older sister put a couple of paintings in an art exhibit in her high school and they were sold. She then told me I was now a professional artist.
I think Van Gogh was very influential to me as a child since we had a book of his works in the house. Later I became enamored with DaDa, the Surrealists, Picasso, and my all-time favorite Georges Braque. I really can’t think of an artist I don’t like, I love all artists and their amazing works.
Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with others?
I usually work alone but love being around other artists, just talking with them and brainstorming inspires me a lot. I have done street shows, I’ve been in galleries, I’ve hung paintings in restaurants and bars. I’ve painted in restaurants and bars, the street.
I’ve joined artists groups over the years and I really enjoy being around artists and art lovers but I do like working solo especially since I talk to my paintings while I’m working on them and may appear to be crazy to some.
Can you tell us about a project you’re currently working on?
I am working on a commissioned painting for a client, it’s of my cubist style dancers. I love to paint from life and then later abstract or deconstruct it in what I refer to as my Rhythmic Cubist style.
I worked and hung out in a lot of nightclubs during my youth. Today, I still draw much of my subject matter from those nights in Miami.
During the pandemic, I experimented with expressionist abstract, action painting, which I hadn’t explored yet. I love to paint that style but will have to rent studio space to really get into it, I work in my home currently and don’t want to feel the restriction of any kind, that type of painting is too free.
What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t an artist?
I can’t imagine not being an artist. I was born this way. Maybe an author of suspense novels, stories with a lot of convoluted plot twists.
Have you found any other artists on Singulart whose work you admire?
I love the art I have seen on SINGULART. There is so much amazing art out there and so many talented artists. They all inspire me.
What advice could you give to young artists starting out?
Believe in yourself, don’t listen to criticism, paint or create what makes you happy, what you love.
Experiment with different mediums and methods even after you find your niche, it helps you grow and stay fresh.
And one more thing, never ever give up!!!
