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

Hi Victoria, how do you think about risk?
I am by nature a shy person and putting my art out into the world was, and is, huge for me. Engaging with the public – painting in public in an open studio! – is way beyond my comfort zone. Exposing my heart and soul to strangers’ scrutiny is a daily risk for me.

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 work intuitively with oil paint and elemental substances such as wax and sand, building up, and then scratching through layers and layers of “history”” until the image reveals itself. To me, my paintings feel ancient, as though contain all of history, allowing us to peek at the past through erosion of the present- each layer partially visible through the next. I find things like rusted rail cars, crumbling stone walls, the mottled bark of a sycamore tree- even peeling paint- become microcosms of beauty that inspire my paintings. The textured surface is as essential to the painting as color or shape. My open studio gives me the opportunity to meet and interact with people who come to visit Asheville’s vibrant River Arts District.

I am supported by the community of artists that belong to our District Association. It’s incredibly helpful to be surrounded by your fellow artists – to talk out your ideas and get their feedback.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first place to visit is the River Arts District – you could definitely spend a couple of days there. There are over 250 artists of all media working in their open studios in repurposed mills and defunct manufacturing buildings. Downtown Asheville has many world class galleries and the Asheville Art Museum. We have several James Beard award winning chefs – Asheville is recognized as a foodie town. Try Curate! Also beer! There are tons of breweries. I always recommend La Zoom tours – so much fun.

The Grove park is a wonderful place to watch the sunset and have a cocktail.
A big draw in Asheville is nature. There are many glorious hikes.
Don’t miss a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway or a float down the French Broad River.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so grateful for the support of and community of our River Arts District Association. We all support and promote each other. Two particular artists that have helped me to realize my art dreams and success are Mark Bettis and Joyce Thornburg. My sister, photographer Melissa Ann Pinney, has been a font of encouragement.

Website: www.victoriapinney.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/victoria_pinney

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.