Meet Vanessa Pineda Fox | Abstract Artist and graphic designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Pineda Fox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Seeing and hearing someone who really connects with an artwork of mine, really makes me happy. Over the years, my art practice has had elements to it that seek out the ability to lift someone’s spirits. Wether it’s from my use of color, or the encouraging words and phrases I love to integrate onto the canvas’s surface. I feel like this is what we all need right now, around the world. Especially after the last couple of years dealing with Covid.

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.
Every artist, or at least most of them, would like to make something pleasing to the viewer’s eye. I would love that too! But when I’m creating my art, I’m trying to create a visual that really moves the viewer. With text messages in the art, telling them that “they can soar” or “let it go” or “I’ll follow you anywhere”, I’m creating to add a sense of calm and visual enjoyment for that person. The rich textures and various paint layers invite the viewer to spend some time looking over all the details within the work.

I’m most excited about the possibilities for the future. Who I might encounter either through a gallery, a business who carries my work, or a private buyer. These connections are invigorating, and keep me going, as I seek out new ways to market myself and find homes for my art.

When I first started painting with more frequency, it was the summer of 2019. It felt like I was on a roll, things were happening, but then ah…Covid hit. That shut the world down for a bit. But slowly, things began opening up, and after about a year, and a half, of not going out much, I began to focus more on how to show my paintings to the world. Or at least, the next town over. I’m grateful for a new local gallery, Chroma Fine Art Gallery in Katonah, NY, who invited me to show in their space. It really elevated my confidence and pushed me to experiment with my style.

There’s so much to learn about the art world and how one can actually make a living doing it. Every day I’m learning something new, and it’s extremely fascinating. As an artist you have to wear so many hats. You’re the artist producing the product, the story teller, the business person, the marketing person, the student, and the networker. And in a field where art is subjective, who becomes successful, is anyone’s guess.

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.
Living in Irvington, NY I’m able to enjoy the proximity to the city, which is about 30 minutes south. Irvington is a small town in the Rivertowns, nestled in-between Dobbs Ferry, and Tarrytown, next to the Hudson River. In my town, there are two restaurants by the river, which offer you river views as you eat. First up is Red Hat on the River, serving modern French food. It’s a popular place for any meal of the day, and gives the unique offering of a sunset drink on it’s roof top. Practically next door to Red Hat, is a Greek restaurant called MP Taverna, by Chef Michael Psilakis. Here you can dine on modern Greek fare of grilled meats, fresh fish of the day, or drool worthy fresh feta cheese.

Also nearby is Stone Barns, one of my favorite places to visit. It’s a learning center, and a working farm. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, is the famous restaurant onsite, bringing you farm to table offerings, that will blow your mind, and your wallet as well. Gorgeous walking and horse back riding trails in The Rockefeller State Park Preserves are all around Stone Barns. It has over 1700 acres of rolling hills and carriage roads to enjoy.

Further north, I’d suggest a trip to Cold Spring, which is a very quaint little town. The Main st. goes straight to the river, similar to Irvington. Over the last few years, new restaurants and shops have transformed this town into a real destination spot. You can hike in the morning, then go for a delicious lunch or dinner later in the day after window shopping. Also near by, is Beacon. Another town benefitting from the influx of people bringing fresh restaurant, gallery, and store ideas. The nearby DIA center will satisfy your contemporary art needs.

And finally, for more places to check out, I’d suggest walking along the Old Aqueduct trail that runs about 26.2 miles long, from Yonkers up to Croton on Hudson. The trail varies from shady tree coverings, going through towns and past other points of interest. Lyndhurst Mansion or Utermyer Gardens and Conservancy are great to see for their architectural opulence right next to the river.

There’s really no shortage of outdoor things to do around here. I should really start painting some landscapes!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a huge shoutout to my family, who have always been so encouraging with my art. I’m a graphic designer, who worked in various multi-media agencies after graduating from SVA in NYC. But after a few successful years, I felt drawn to painting more and more. There’s just something about creating a visual with your hands, where it can be absolutely anything. That’s so magical. Without my family’s support, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to even try to become a full-time artist.

Website: VanessaPinedaFox.com

Instagram: @ArtbyVPF

Facebook: Facebook.com/ArtbyVPF

Image Credits
Only for pic of me in pink dress: photo by Rita Baunok 2022