Let's start with the basic intro - what is your name?
Victoria Hunter McKenzie, or aka VH McKenzie.
Tell us about yourself. Are you married, have children?
I'm married, a working mother of 2 girls now in their young teens. By day I work as a computer graphics artist/designer for ABC News in NYC. We live downtown in the East Village of Manhattan.
What sort of items do you have in your shop?
Right now I have original drawings, paintings and collages in my shop and a large quantity of prints of much of my work. I'm only offering some of my originals for sale but have prints available for virtually all of my work.
How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been pursuing art since my last years of college (far too long ago!) where I discovered a love for drawing and painting. Since my graduation from Brown University, where I pursued a more academic career with a degree in History, I've also attended Parsons School of Design here in NYC. I've also studied privately with abstract expressionist painter Beverly Brodsky. I credit Ms. Brodsky with really mentoring me and pushing my skills forward. Without her encouragement I never would have considered commiting so much of my time and passion to art -- she was a godsend.
Where do you get your inspiration from for your work?
More recently, within the past decade I suppose, I've found much of my inspiration from my travels to the caribbean. My husband was born and raised on the island of Jamaica and we return annually to visit family and friends. One look at the bulk of my work and you will see the island's influences everywhere. There is so much natural beauty in Jamaica, both in the landscape and in her people, yet there is also great hardship. I think I tend to see the melancholy of such a naturally beautiful place.
How long have you had your Etsy shop?
I believe I first opened an account on Etsy in the late fall of 2008 but didn't actually get my shop opened and running until the late spring of 2009. I've been selling for just over a year. I chose Etsy after much consideration. I was familiar with all of the wonderful success stories I'd seen on Martha Stewart's show, for one, which gave the impression of a cadre of professional, skilled artistans selling their wares directly to the public. I thought it was a beautifully designed site, much more appealing than Ebay, for example, and I liked the fact that it was dedicated to handmade items. It seemed the best fit to sell art work.
Do you have any upcoming projects that you want to share with us?
As far as upcoming projects, I'm looking for ways to expand what I offer while still staying true to my art work. I'm thinking of expanding to offer greeting or note cards with my work. I'm also considering a line of work that appeals to children -- such as an alphabet series with tropical illustrations, for example.
Follow these links to see Victoria's work for yourself:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vhmckenzie
http://vhmckenzie.blogspot.com/
Here are a few of my favorites:
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