Life & Work with Valentina Harper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valentina Harper.

Hi Valentina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Valentina Harper and I was born and raised in Venezuela and moved to the United States in 2003. I lived in Miami for 11 years, and then in 2013, we moved to Nashville, TN. I worked as a Graphic Designer and Web Designer for more than 15 years.

I always did pieces of art during my free time, it was my hobby and my meditation tool. I enjoyed making little art pieces for family and friends but, back then, I never envisioned my art as a full-time career. While living in Miami, I got the opportunity to join small crafts and art shows in my neighborhood. In 2006, I opened my Etsy shop, and in 2009, the decision was almost natural, I stopped working in graphic design and embraced my career as a full-time artist.

Now, I collaborate with companies across a variety of industries to create product lines. My clients and licensing partners include Fox Chapel Publishing, Benartex Fabrics, LANG, Ganz Gifts, DENY Designs, Primitive by Kathy, TeNeues, Andrews McMeel Publishing Sakroots, Demdaco, Hallmark, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, and others.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a freelance artist is an amazing career, but like many other careers, it’s not always easy and colorful. My personal obstacles were and still are, from finding the best companies to license my art to try to keep myself positive even when the time is tough. I am always grateful for my resilient attitude.

Takes many years, hard work, and tons of patience to try to make a name for yourself. As an artist, I have to recognize that it is normal to feel overwhelmed and to have doubts about my work. We always suffer a little bit of impostor syndrome sometimes.

The most important thing I want to learn about my obstacles is to learn when it is time to take a break, but don’t quit.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create ink drawings and patterns. My style is whimsical, detail-oriented, uplifting, and colorful. I feel my art carries inspiration from my home country Venezuela, in every single piece.

I use different techniques in my artwork, but it constantly combines pop colors, embellished motives, and uplifting messages. Black ink is one of the mediums you will always find in all my creations. My love for artworks with little intricate details is a signature of my own drawing style. My goal is to bring a positive and healing message, as a reflection of my own passion to create, share and help others to follow their dreams.

Being a licensed artist has been a really rewarding career. Seeing my designs in stores around the world is definitely exciting. One of my biggest accomplishments has been my collection of coloring books. Right now, I have more than 12 books on the market. My Creative Coloring Series has sold more than 2 million copies and has been translated into several languages!

But definitely, the best part of my job is when I can make a connection with people through my art. The reaction of the people about any of my products, or how much they enjoy having a piece of my art, is so fulfilling.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I am the second of four siblings. I have the good fortune to have a marvelous and very united family, which despite the distance we are always in contact with and we look for ways to be together. My childhood and adolescence were always full of family, reunions at the house, vacations to the beach, and trips to the ranch.

Every Sunday we went to visit my maternal grandparents, and spent the day altogether, eating and talking. Some of my favorite memories are the summer vacations we spent in Barquisimeto with my (paternal and maternal) cousins. Today, half of my siblings and cousins live in different countries around the world.

I had the fortune of growing up in a time when Venezuela was beautiful, full of people generous at heart and in their souls. My friends and I didn’t lose out on the opportunity of spending the weekends in Cata, Choroni, Higuerote, or Rio Chico. Today, all of those friends live in different countries around the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.valentinadesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valentinadesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValentinaRamosArt
• Other: https://valentinaharper.com

Image Credits
Karla MacIntyre (https://www.instagram.com/karlamacintyre/)