Meet Vikki Reed

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vikki Reed.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Introduced to painting at a very early age by my mom, I found fascination in color and creation of all kinds. I was lucky in that she gave me access to lots of different mediums and was very encouraging. Painting always felt like home, like the true north. Creating mandalas as a child brought centering and clarity whenever chaos seemed to be getting the upper hand. I created throughout my education and career, and after some college classes with Paul Kuo my “painting dad,” I decided to quit my job to paint full time (1989).

Please tell us about your art.
I am in the third generation of style, and initially, I painted desert landscapes and botanicals, beginning in the nineties with a demure watercolor palette. I craved more and more color and found that the color essentially nourishes me kinesthetically. I believe that color frequency has healing capacity, just as sound frequency does. The desert botanicals took on a warm, vibrant palette. Phase two featured the return of mandala pieces, beginning with seven in the colors of the chakras, then bringing intention into visual form (Forgiveness, Trust, Surrender, Compassion). The mandalas are powerful allies for healing and consciousness expansion. In 2016, two life-changing events brought an end (or a sabbatical) to the mandala series, and to watercolor as my medium. I now paint in acrylic, in a contemporary style, a wide range of subjects, still playing with the color until it feels just right.
All my pieces are created with the intention that they provide nourishment, inspiration, and encouragement to the viewer. All of the mandalas and many of the acrylic pieces have stories that accompany them. I believe that they hold space for the viewer and assist in desired manifestation.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
It can be challenging to be an artist today as the main reason most artists begin creating is the soul requests it. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, accepted as the father of the pre-Raphaelite movement, after deep disillusionment, came to the conclusion that “the only true task for an artist is to paint as a soul, for the soul, and “do all work from thine own heart simply.”

The current state of the 3D world rarely honors work of the soul, but rather emphasizes success in the form of financial gain and power. This challenges the artist to do both the work of the soul and try to achieve what is necessary to earn money and recognition.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work can be seen at Storm Wisdom and online, https://www.facebook.com/HealingChakraMandalas/ on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chakramandalas/?hl=en. You can support my work by following me and purchasing whatever makes your heart sing!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.chakramandalas.net/
• Phone: 602-741-8295
• Email: vikki@vikkireedwatercolors.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chakramandalas/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealingChakraMandalas/?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MandalaOne
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ChakraMandalas/

Image Credit:
Vikki Reed

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