We recently connected with Veronica Gagliano Averkamp and have shared our conversation below.
Veronica , sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I’ve had to work alongside of grief, which has been a silent partner in my work for the last six and a half years. I lost my mom to cancer when I was 26 back in 2017, and then four years later my dad passed away as well. These last several years have probably been my most productive years in my art making journey since art school, but there are times of ebb and flow. There are times when the grief is too strong and feels chaotic, and I need mental rest, whereas other times I’m channeling directly from my grief and using it to propel me forward. Sometimes it’s just a whisper, barely noticeable and the waters are calm.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a working artist, creating art for local small shops and galleries, and I am also an art educator for the Racine Art Museum. I love making artwork for clients, and also teaching adults and kids to make art and express themselves through a variety of media. In 2012 I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Drawing & Painting from Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities that come to mind are patience, determination and the ability to handle criticism. There are times even now when a painting isn’t turning out the way I’m envisioning, and I’ve had to pause, reevaluate and start over again. There’s no throwing in the towel, but rather taking a beat and figuring out the best way to proceed. Also, not everyone is going to love what you create and that can be a hard pill to swallow at times. Rejection is a part of the art world and that’s ok. Keeping in mind your purpose and why you’re creating is vital to your identity as an artist.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents were great when it came to supporting and encouraging me. I know of other people that didn’t receive the same support when it came to wanting to study art in college. My parents weren’t artists but that didn’t stop them from taking me to museums and art exhibitions. I’m grateful that they never tried to steer me away from what I wanted to do and helped me along the way. They were so proud when I graduated with my degree, when I started accepting painting commissions from clients, and when I started my full time career at the art museum back in 2015. Now that they’re both gone I think back on those times and it gives me peace.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @fullmoonfarmvintage
