Meet Veronica Longoria | Artist & Digital Media Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Veronica Longoria and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Veronica, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
One of the most important things I’ve done as a parent was to never give up on the dreams I had before I became a mother. Doing so required a certain amount of faith or hope in what I had not seen or accomplished. Life’s negative circumstances gets us caught up in our limitations, so we create our own barriers, but if we can learn to see past all of that, it’s possible to become limitless. Having a daughter as an adolescent came with its own set of challenges, but I was determined, and never allowed any of life’s setbacks to become the reason why I couldn’t accomplish my goals. My daughter was able to ignite a fire within me, and became my biggest motivation for success. I wanted to show her that dreams were worth pursuing, even when times got tough, and we had to stay committed to work toward the life we envision for ourselves. Today, I’m proud to see my influence pay off, as my daughter starts her first semester at May’s Business School at Texas A&M on a scholarship from the Houston Livestock & Rodeo.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art can be bold, expressive, and emotional because it has served as a form of therapy, helping me escape certain realities or face them head on. In a current painting series, I explore the seven stages of grief painted as formal women’s dresses. For example, shock, anger, and depression are all emotions or stages one experiences while healing from trauma. While much of the content in my work can be dark, the overall message is overcoming negative emotions with something beautiful, empowering and self-liberating. When completed, I hope to exhibit the dress series in its entirety to benefit organizations aiding children healing from trauma. Having the ability to overcome any challenges required a certain amount of vision. It takes faith to have vision. Vision is what sees potential on the other side of hardship. Has it been easy? Hell no. Fearlessness came when I had nothing else to lose. But I’ve learned that pain is usually temporary and is essential for our growth. If we learn to channel it the right way, we can use it for good instead of destructive. I want people know that I am committed to quality and taking things to new levels. I love challenging ideas or projects because it stimulates the creativity in my mind, and adds to my portfolio, which then leads to more work. It’s a win-win.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being an artist, I’d have to drop a little culture and show them some of the best art spots in the city. First, I’d take them to my art studio at the Silos in Sawyer Yards. There, they’d be able to see my work space as well as hundreds of other local artists specializing in different art forms. For instagram worthy photos, I’d take them to the amazing murals in Art Alley, Graffiti Park, and the Harrisburg Art Museum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
No one deserves more of a shoutout for my success than the invisible entity in which I believe all good gifts comes from. The gifts that can’t be taught…faith, endurance, and understanding. In the past, I may have accredited it to my hard work, or to the world and the beautiful things it produces. While I can acknowledge that my talent has been cultivated by the world and by the amazing people in it, I believe that certain talents and characteristics are simply a gift, and cannot be taught. To have vision for the things unseen, and hope for the things to come, I can only thank the Divine & Supreme Being for that.

Website: www.vrocstudios.com
Instagram: instagram.com/v.roc_studios
Linkedin: linkedin.com/veronica-longoria
Facebook: facebook.com/vrocstudios
Other: www.veronicalongoria.com

Image Credits
1. Erik Paul 2. Erik Paul 3 -8 Veronica Longoria