What is the best thing that I love about my work? I like to put my heart, soul and my inner child in every painting I do for myself or for my clients. I am a woman who needs to create something new every day. I believe in the power of self expression, I like to paint, play classical compositions on my violin and write thoughts that are whispering in my ears.

What is my idea of perfect happiness? I think happiness is living the present with inner peace, and peace with the people are in our life, that is the challenge when you are an artist because we like to think in the past and future, we over think sometimes. Being an artist is such a great creative way to live but there is a lot of loneliness in this process.

What is my greatest fear?  Loosing the people I love and those close to me.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I have so many ideas I would like to express I do not have time to make all of these ideas reality. Well, I am not sure but sometimes I do not like that I want to do to many things and projects and there is not enough time to make them happens.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? I admire my friends because they are an enormous support in my art career. They listen to my feelings about everything, My art projects and thoughts about life and my creative process. An artist wouldn’t be able to create if we do not have people around us to listen, understand and support our ideas. I am an immigrant from South America, I do not have any family members here in the United States, so I do appreciate having a few great friends in my life and meeting wonderful people in my creative journey! There are many artists, musicians, poets that I admire and inspired me. Lita Cabellut, is a spanish painter, she says: I am more than a painter, I am a storyteller. Marta Gómez is a Colombian singer and songwriter, I admire this artist for her message with different topics like motherhood and family in our society. Zaz, she is a French singer-songwriter, her lyrics have a meaningful message.

What is my greatest extravagance? Artists by nature are not extravagant people. I am the same. But if I have to choose I would say When I can I like to travel to see my family and childhood friends in Ecuador. I am proud of my culture and heritage and love to reconnect to give me additional inspiration for future projects. I am not an extravagant person

On what occasion would I lie? Honesty is the best policy but sometimes the truth can be difficult to tell.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?  I like everything in my work. I am a full time visual artist, There is two things are necessary to create but we have to manage it very well. The solitude, I paint for many hours myself, and I love it but sometimes I feel isolated. Perfectionism is so important to finish a piece of art and be content with it, in many occasions it is a lonely process. Having to finish several projects at the same time is stressful and I want each one to be perfect.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Every day, I am happy making a living with my art and helping inspire other people to paint and create. Inspiration and living a positive life can change the world.

If I could, what would I change about myself? My art is what I am. I am constantly changing. New ideas and viewpoints make me grow as a person both intellectually and professionally. Just growing and willing to be a better person and artist. Fears and doubts are part of life and part of this process. I do not want to change who I am or what I do. I am content with my life and make every day a new challenge

What is my greatest achievement in work? Being able to Live my dream. I have an art studio gallery where I do my work and I display them with more art and craft work by talented local artists. To make a living as an artist is a great achievement .

Where would I most like to live? I love where I live, Saint Petersburg, Florida is a wonderful city with a great community. I like to visit other countries and have the experience to do an art exhibitions. Some of my favorites countries would be, Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Italy

What is my most treasured possession? My treasures are the people I love.

What is my most marked characteristic? I use different techniques such as oil, acrylic, and pastels are the means to construct surrealism, magic realism, reflexive and spiritual worlds. I trace spaces with shapes and colors in which the strength of the sea, the richness of earth and human beings are revealed in subtle ways with special emphasis on the force and sensibility of women. I love to paint in anything, I have being doing commissioned work such as portraits, seascapes, landscapes, art on furniture, bikes, surfboards, murals. I get very inspired by a new challenge. Some of my inspirations come from my customers ideas.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? Downtown St. Petersburg Florida and St. Petersburg Beach. My studio gallery is located at St Pete Beach, walking at the beach or watching sunsets is very inspirational. I live in St Petersburg, not too far from downtown so I really enjoy the Art walks, shops, restaurants, the waterfront and the community in general.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? I like Ceviche, this is a Spanish-Latin tapas bar restaurant with great Latin and spanish music. I love dancing Latin music and a great sangría

What books influenced my life and how?
Letter to a young poet by Rainer Maria Rilke,
One Hundred Years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez
Dear Theo, the autobiography of Vincent van Gogh
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry

Who are my favorite writers?
Pablo Neruda, Rainer Maria Rilke, Sylvia Plath, Isabel Allende, Gabriela Mistral, Octavio Paz and Eduardo Galeano.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? I am a musician, I play violin, it is difficult to decide, there is too many beautiful pieces. I love music, but if I have to pick one I will say Adagio for strings by Samuel Barber, very deep music composed for strings orchestra or Tumbalalaika

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My grandmother and my mother. I also admire some wonderful women like Anne Frank, Sabina Spielrein, Malala Yousafzai, Irena Sendler, Frida Kahlo, Eva Duarte Perón, Manuela Sáez, Helen Keller, Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?  The Soul Keeper, great film about Sabina Spielrein and Carl Gustav Jung

What role plays art in my life and work? It is my passion, my life, my strength and weakness. My reason to get up every day.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? I am a lucky person because I’ve had and I have wonderful people in my life. They know that they are my partners in crime! I started my art career in the USA. with a great partner in crime doing art festivals and art markets around Florida before I opened my art studio gallery, He was a great and a wonderful support.

Whom would I like to work with in 2017? I am open to meet great souls to do art, music or any community projects to make this world a inspired and a better place to live

Which people in my profession would I love to meet in 2017? I would like to meet more artists, musicians, poets and female film makers.

What project, in 2017, am I looking forward to work on? I will be part of the International Exquisite Corpse Games in Saint Petersburg, Florida in November at the Museum of Fine art

Where can you see me or my work in 2017? My studio gallery is located at St Pete Beach, Florida. I create most of my artwork at there. People can see the progress of my paintings and my original art.  I have been doing different art exhibitions in The Tampa Bay Area for the past 9 years, I like to post on social media these art events

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?  When you love what you do for living and you do it with passion, you inspire other people to find their authentic self. You never retire doing What you love., I learned this form my grandmother

Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story? Maria Valencia

How can you contact me?
My website is www.gabrielavalenciafineart.com
Facebook @Gabriela Valencia Artist
Instagram @GabrielaArtist
Pinterest @Gabriela Valencia Art Studio & Gallery
Youtube @ Gabriela Valencia Artist