Meet Valerie Rodriguez | Artist

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

Hi Valerie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I think we all grow up as creative people with deep imaginations. Some of us grow out of it for different reasons – new interests, self doubt, lack of resources. I was lucky to have supportive parents that nurtured my creativity as long as they could, never trying to sway me in a different direction. It’s amazing to look back now as an adult and truly appreciate the way they chose to raise passionate, confident children, never asking us to be anything more than happy. Because of this, choosing a career in art never felt like a risk, but a natural next step to continue doing what I loved.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I like to say that my art is a reflection of the parts of me that I’m most proud of: curiosity, gratitude, exploration, and the desire to stay present. I paint women alone in the outdoors in moments of pause. My current body of work is the product of a tough season in my life–a season I’m now so grateful for. Painting and hiking (and a great therapist) helped me to get back on my feet quickly, and I want that feeling empowerment to come through in my work. While the art and subject matter felt natural, sharing it with others was difficult–and still is, if I’m being honest. I started documenting my work on Instagram with no expectation other than to hold myself accountable. After a year or so, I started to notice a strong community of adventurous and authentic women forming around my work. I think this stems from the authenticity in which I create–painting not as “content” but as art. I truly believe art will attract the right people without the need to sell. It won’t attract everybody, but it’ll attract the right somebody, and that’s all I hope for in my work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Truckee, California, so entertaining guests is always easy. There’s so much natural beauty around me it’s hard to narrow down the places I’d recommend, but I’ll do my best. We’d start on Friday morning visiting Sierra Bakehouse, a wholesale bakery that opens its incredible goods to the public on Fridays. We’d order a coffee next door at Pacific Crest Coffee Company, and peruse the flower and plant shop, Love & Lupines, while we wait. With a galette in one hand, coffee in the other, and my Bernese Mountain Dog dragging me forward, we head toward downtown Truckee. Here we stop in Made & Maker for a watercolor palette and Word After Word for a good book. We order picnic goodies to-go from Truckee Food Shop and continue toward Donner lake. We keep an eye out for an open dock, lay out a blanket and let the pups swim and explore. The rest of the afternoon is spent catching up, painting and reading in the sun, maybe taking the paddle board out for a spin and pleading with my dog not to tip us. We head back to my house for an early dinner before sunset. After dinner, we put on our hiking shoes, grab a bottle of wine, and head toward Martis Fire Lookout to catch the sunset. We take in the panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the peaks and valleys surrounding it. The next day is spent riding bikes along the Truckee River toward Lake Tahoe. We stop at West Shore Market for sandwiches and admire the clarity of the water. We work our way up toward Chambers Landing where we order a cocktail on their deck bar and I complain about how sore our butts are from the ride. (I’m trying to be realistic, here.) We head back to West Shore Cafe for a nice dinner overlooking the lake.
Sunday is a beautiful day so we meet some of our friends to float down the Truckee River. We pump up our inner-tubes, douse ourselves with sunscreen, and step into the cold water. We navigate the rapids clumsily and lift our butts to avoid rocks. We link up with the other tubes and float the next couple of hours without a worry in the world. I recommend stopping for lunch and a Peanut Butter cookie at Red Truck Cafe before she makes the journey home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh man, who *doesn’t* deserve a shoutout in my life?! I think everyone should surround themselves with people who build them up, and I’ve tried to do just that. From parents who gave me the resources and the confidence to get started, to my aunt who showed me that you can monetize a life as an artist, to my friends who share my work with others, to my boyfriend who remembers to pack my paints and sketchbook when I forget. I wouldn’t be who I am without the support of these people in my life.

Instagram: @valeriestyle_art

Image Credits
Allison Keasal, Farr Photo