We had the good fortune of connecting with Venisha Penland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Venisha, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve had a vivid imagination ever since I was little. However what really sparked my interest was when I was in second grade, my art teacher sent my self portrait out into an art contest and I unknowingly won second place. She informed me that when people saw my artwork, they were overjoyed. I then began an awareness that something I created could bring joy to others so I stuck to it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been told that I have a unique style. Though I’m heavily influenced by anime and manga, my art seems to have a special touch to it. I’m thinking that maybe everything I make has a little piece of me in it. So when people enjoy my work, they are seeing me. I just hope that my work brings people warmth and joy.

As an artist it’s not very easy sometimes. I know I was self taught for majority of my life until I went to college. While in college I wanted to learn proper techniques to only make my work better. However at the time, I was told that my art style was considered low art and not high art. However art can be subjective. Also critiques can be brutal in art school but in the end it does build you up to overcome any odds. You sometimes have to fall apart to build a better foundation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For me, we would need to find the best places to eat. I’m a big foodie so I think experiencing new places to eat can give you a different perspective on enjoying new things and broaden your horizons. Definitely need to try the best ramen spots in the city!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out to all the creatives out there. It can be hard but if you keep at it, anything you make will be an influence to someone in some way. You may not see it now, but someone out there is inspired and motivated by what you do. Keep going because we are all here to support each other no matter what

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/venisha-penland-b3857656?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

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