Conversations with Victoria Klotz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Klotz.

Hi Victoria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I feel my story has not yet reached its climax, but I can credit that I am 1/3 of the way there. What story is exciting if the main character got to the finish line without any hardship? You would probably forget the story altogether. My story is a journey of the practice of discipline and priorities. As boring as discipline sounds, it has brought extreme grounding to my life as an artist; mentally and physically.

Six years ago, I ran my life pretty much through organized chaos and was not open-minded enough to think that I could have fun if things were planned. Still to this day I find this to be predictable for an artist. In June of 2015, I started to practice ashtanga yoga 4-5 times a week and the effect I was gaining from the practice was mentally giving me the ability to understand the external vs the internal parts of my life. I gained a mindful understanding of what I needed to do to achieve my goals all while having physical benefits. To this day, I still practice yoga 4-5 times a week.

Previously from 2013-2016, I was working for an industrial design company as a freelance sculpture and painter. By 2017 I realized If I wanted to go farther than selling original artwork at markets on the weekends, I would have to load my arsenal with more skill sets to allow me to sell my work. So, I set on a journey to complete my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. Now I would classify myself as a versatile artist that enjoys mixing my 3 passions—fine art, graphic design, and of course yoga. For my first graphic design job outside of college, I worked alongside a creative director who gave me huge insight into the world of sales and marketing. With relationships kindled, my skills in my toolbox, and my heart set on fire, I went completely freelance in August 2021 saying “It’s either now or never!”

The projects with creativity and originality are my favorite! When I work with a client on branding, it is like making a trophy for their dream. When I create portraits it’s like handing down a historical heirloom to a family lineage. My goal is to provide effective graphic design and create original and custom artwork for my clients. I wouldn’t be an artist without working on my own projects.

I am an oil painter who is completely fascinated with landscape impressionism. When I moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2019 I participated in a Plein Air painting community event in Sunny Slope (Plein Air painting is the act of painting outdoors) and got acquainted with the Arizona Plein Air Painters. This is a community that hosts painting events outdoors to different locations all around Arizona. It feels good to have found a community of artists that adore impressionism oil painting as much and I do. I will be apart of the Sunny Slope Studio Tour on October 23-24th, 10-5pm.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is always difficult for anyone to get out of bed and have the discipline to choose the task that has resistance versus the task that is mindless. Your mind can always autopilot choose which is the priority, but you are the one in control of your mind and what you really want to accomplish each day.

When you are your own boss, it takes courage and discipline to get through the resistance. I had to stop telling myself that I do not have permission to take a risk–that I have permission to work at my aspirations in life! Six years ago I would have just said, if it was meant to happen it will happen, but now I am more in the mindset, I have to make this happen or it won’t happen!

From contracting as an artisan, vending artwork at festivals and markets, going back to school to get my BFA, working under a creative director, to now starting a freelance business, I find that out of all my life experiences, I am at the toughest time in my career. I’m at that point where I have to make it a point every day to plan and prioritize so that my dreams of becoming a “seen” artist is one day a waking reality.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am what you call a jack of all trades. One aspect of my business is offering the service of a graphic design that evokes creativity and originality while incorporating the client’s vision. My goal is to provide effective design for any business or organization. My favorite is when I have the opportunity to brand a business.

The second service I offer is commissioned hand-painted artwork. Upon consultation, have your unique idea become a reality through discussion and design. I can take a photograph of a person or pet and transform it into an original portrait that depicts the essence of them all while having the creativity of showing personality through the background.

Third, and what I am most proud of is the work that I create for me and for the audience who whats to appreciate it. I usually work with the mediums of oil paint, acrylic paint, and chalk pastels creating works that fall in the category of impressionism, surrealism, or realism depending on the subject matter that I paint. The subject matter I like to paint is portraits, animals, landscapes, nature, and yoga. I’m very excited to launch my website for this holiday season with the availability that anyone can purchase my limited edition gicleé prints, along with my original artwork all online. This is expected to launch in the middle of October 2021.

What I am most proud of is my yoga artwork. The paintings feel complete and complex and they have inspired me to start my newest series that is in the works right now. The series is at the very beginning stages and before I start I want to have all elements planned out. I am collecting pregnancy photographs of women in yoga poses. If you are pregnant and are interested in being a part of my project please email me a photograph of you in a yoga pose at victoria.klotz.artist@gmail.com.

The specific meaning behind the works that I create sets me apart from other artists. It would be odd to claim that I have something unique that other artists do not have because I do not know all artists. If I were to choose anything that I would say sets me apart in general, it would be my creativity and determination.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Yes. If an opportunity arises that seems challenging, don’t jump to conclusions and shut yourself down or tell yourself no before the actual opportunity declines. Always take the chance and know that you can be the one getting in the way of your own success. Give yourself permission to take the chance and open yourself to opportunities.

Pricing:

• Graphic design (logo, branding, presentations, mock-ups…etc.) $35 per hour
• Custom social media graphics $35 per hour
• Portrait painting starting at $250 and up
• Illustration $35 per hour
• Original artwork starting at $96 and up

Contact Info:

• Email: victoria.klotz.artist@gmail.com
• Website: www.victoriaklotz.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/victoriaklotz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Klotz.Artist/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJrpxbNwsqKEx-SFaB1hm_g?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/victoria-klotz-9875