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

Hi Vicky, why did you pursue a creative career?

There’s a short answer and a long answer. The short answer is I love art. I love the process. When I was in college, I considered other majors, e.g., philosophy and architecture, and at the end of the day, I majored in art.

The long answer is it’s hard to make a living as an artist. It takes a resilient soul and a personality strong-as-steel as there will be many rejections. I found a job that was creative. I worked in advertising and marketing to pay the rent and bring home the bacon. It could be said that art was my side job so I earmarked evenings and weekends to do the work. I’m a disciplined person and doing art made me happy. Today, I only work on my art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I find beauty in the strangest places and that beauty worms its way into my psyche. Eventually this attraction is revealed in my work – from the sketchbook to drawings to paintings. It can be as simple as cobwebs threaded along the fence, or a dead branch blown across my lawn, or the beautiful California coastline, or a raging wildfire.

I’m not sure I can answer the other questions about where I am professionally today, challenges and lessons learned. Nature is gritty, dirty and constantly evolving. Seasons change and with each change, I’m renewed, hopeful and positive about the transformation of humanity. That pretty much sums it up.

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.

I should be an ambassador for my home towns. Fun!

I love Los Angeles so I would start with a few of my favorite haunts, such as Hammer Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Hauser & Wirth, The Broad, Hiromi Paper, Walter Maciel Gallery, Anat Ebgi Gallery, Blum & Poe Gallery, Craig Krull Gallery, bG Gallery and many others. For sustenance, I would include meals at my favorite restaurants such as Gangadin Restaurant in Studio City, Sri Siam in North Hollywood, and the Cuban restaurant where I can never remember its name but I do know the location.

In Paso Robles, I would pick my favorite wineries. Austin Hope for outstanding red wines and possibly Parrish Vineyards for its pleasant atmosphere and views. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art is undergoing a new renaissance with remarkable exhibitions in its small space. Sensorio at sunset provides a delightful evening of a stunning light show at night. Libretto Paso wraps up the day with live musical performances from top-notch musicians. And of course, there are fantastic day hikes along the Central Coast, such as San Simeon Bluffs, Cambria and more.

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?
Lovely.

There are four people I count on; they have my back – almost anytime, anyplace.
In no particular order, they are:
Natalia C: Whenever I have work in a solo exhibition, she recruits the gang for the opening reception – friends, family members and more. She’s also instrumental in promoting my work where there are sales. Sweet!

Peggy D: She listens and doesn’t get hooked if I go off the rails or feel disillusioned.

Ellie B: She is very encouraging and she’s got the eyes. She sweetly tells me when she thinks a piece is falling short or isn’t finished. I love how she gently pushes me and she gives me tons of space if I haven’t shown up to the studio for whatever reason. My work is stronger as a result.

Shoebox Art/Kristine S: As an artist, she understands the business side and the pitfalls. She is committed to emerging artists and provides great support.

Website: https://www.vickyhoffman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickyhoffmanart/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzLjdLtAdfvOr82WVoiaBgw

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona 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.