Welcoming Deborah Velasquez!
A getting-to-know-you Q&A with Deborah Velasquez, the latest addition to our roster of stellar talent at Wain’s World!
Ask the Artist
Deborah’s vibrant work is inspired by flora, plants, stems, and the magic found in forests, along with her love of gouache, watercolor, and printmaking.
Do you have a ritual for creating art?
I never paint without wearing jewelry, it makes me feel dressed, powerful, and ready to create.
Do you have a favorite tool to make art with?
I purchased vintage brushes and calligraphy pens on Etsy from the estate of an 80-year-old artist. I love feeling a connection to history when I draw with them.
Who inspires you?
American illustrator and children’s book author Virginia Lee Burton. She created Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel and won the Caldecott Medal for The Little House.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I am a Master Gardener (from University of Connecticut). I love gardening!
What is your favorite book?
I love I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
What would you bring to a desert island?
Electricity so I could listen to Nina Simone’s music.
What is your mantra?
I have two mantras. I always tell people to take a chance and live life without regret – words my mother also lived by. And share your knowledge, mentor others.