Hear Our VSN: Isabella Valentin is Capturing the Mundane & All Its Beauty
Isabella Valetin photographed by Cameron Williams (2022)
There’s something so significant inside of the things many may view as insignificant. The flowering tree you watch grow each day on your walk to work, that first sip of water when you get back inside after a long, summer day or maybe even a nap in between school & work. There are those who call the mundane unnecessary or unneeded and there are those like Isabella Valentin, who see an acute beauty inside of it all. Official VSN had the pleasure of asking Isabella what all this looks like in her eyes, her work, and her VSN as well as getting to dive deeper into what goes on in her mind as she creates her art.
Introduction:
My name is Isabella Valentin and I’m a queer, Chicago-based artist.
A piece created by Isabella (2022)
When did you first realize you want to pursue art & what do you think keeps that drive going:
I didn’t draw for money until recently, and I was too shy to show anyone my art for a very long time. I didn’t grow up with the resources to take it seriously, so I’d draw on assignments in pencil, erasing them before I had to turn it in. Or I’d crumble it up and toss it out so no one could see. People caught on and saw what I was drawing: half were shocked at the content, and half were interested in it. I started passing notes to my friends with my drawings, and it’d make them really happy. At one point I was making DIY coloring books in class for my friends so they’d have something to do during the school day. When more and more people wanted one, I finally started thinking about what my life would look like if I could sell art for a living.
What about your art do you think captivates people the most:
A lot of my art may look inherently sexual, but I’d say almost none of it is. People living their day to day lives is beautiful to me; being able to share that with another person is one of my favorite things. Whether it’s romantic or platonic, vulnerability is the best part of a relationship to me. I figured, “What better way to show that comfort than to be fully open with somebody?”. Nude art doesn’t have to be this obscene, vulgar thing. I actually want to stray away from that, as I feel like the LGBTQ+ is overly sexualized all of the time, especially women liking women.
What’s your favorite medium to work with at the moment:
I’ve always kept a similar style, so pen will always have my heart. I’ve been thinking about branching out and working with more pencil, paint, and other media, but pen/marker is so unforgiving that it challenges me as an artist in the best way.
Art created by Isabella (2022)
When are the times you feel most & least creative:
There’s never a moment where I’m not subconsciously taking in my surroundings and seeing how I could make art out of it. I go outside and see a couple holding hands, or two friends sharing a coffee. Those are the “mundane” moments I like to capture; because while they’re casual activities, they mean the world to me. Of course there’s moments where I draw inspiration from a deeper place, but a lot of the art I make when I’m in pain isn’t shared. It’s like this little sacred thing I keep to myself that helps me heal from traumas and other life experiences. I’m down to explore that more when I feel comfortable sharing!
What general message or meaning do you want people to receive from your work:
I hope to always represent a variety of people. While my drawings focus on people who are more femme, I want everyone to be able to look at something I’ve made and see themselves in it. I’m always growing as an artist, so being able to tap into art with profound meaning is always a possibility, but for the most part it’s just people being people.
If you could be commissioned by anyone in the world who would you want that person to be:
I’d love to be able to collaborate with people in the film industry one day. Making my drawings come to life through animation would be a dream.
Describe your creative process when approaching new work:
I write little ideas in my notes app on my phone all the time. When my space is clean, I’m comfortable, and I have no obligations, it makes for the best art. I’ll either start freestyling on the page or check my notes to see if there’s anything I’m feeling for that time and space.
Another beautiful piece by Bella (2022)
What’s the best part about being an artist:
Knowing that someone has looked at a piece of mine and felt inclined to even tell me they love my work means the most to me. I guess it shows me that I’ve done my job in making someone feel represented in my art.
What’s it like being a physical artist in a very digital world nowadays:
Social media helps many artists succeed and put their work out there, but hurts a lot of artists as well. Seeing the numbers (likes, comments, followers) and comparing yourself will absolutely kill your self esteem as an artist. Knowing that you’d be able to book shows, commissions, and collabs if you just had more eyes on your work. It feeds so much into imposter syndrome, and can make artists feel discouraged, unworthy, and as if they’re not a “real artist”. I’ve felt my fair share in that over the past couple years for sure, but I remind myself that my art isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.
What does a successful art day look like for you:
Drawing as I please and not stressing myself out because I don’t have enough time. I love commission work but listening to my body and only making art when/where I want to will always be the best feeling for me.
Art by Bella (2022)
Who do you represent when you create your work:
My subject is almost always going to be women and I think a lot of that reflects my experience growing up queer. I started drawing when I could first hold a pen, and I always found myself going back to the same thing without fully comprehending why. As I got older and had more of an understanding of who I was, I really leaned into it.
How have your skills developed overtime:
For most of my life I stuck to pen and paper, but now I like to add color to my drawings. Learning how to use different markers has been my go-to, I didn’t know there were so many different kinds!
What are three things your work can’t live without:
My work cannot live without new life experiences, a comfortable space for me to work, and Micron pens!
What would be the ultimate dream goal for your art:
Making art my full-time career is a big dream of mine. I’ve been putting off making shirts, stickers, prints, coloring books, tote bags, etc. even though I get a lot of support from people telling me they’d buy. Honestly I just need to go for it. Getting your art manufactured can be a really expensive process, so I just need to work on saving up enough to make something I can be really proud of.
Would you want your work in a gallery or museum one day:
I would absolutely love to showcase my work. Doing art shows in Chicago is fun for me. Even if someone doesn’t buy my art, it makes me happy seeing them flip through my binder of drawings with a smile.
What makes your work personal to you:
90% of my art has been thrown away and I like that; to this day I make pieces all the time that are just for me. I still find myself drawing on the back of old paperwork, any little note card I can find, or on my hands. Maybe it’s just a habit from when I grew up, but it’s really fun for me that way.
What advice would you give your younger self:
It’s okay to express your interests through art without it being seen as “weird”.
Isabella photographed by Official VSN (2022)