5 Questions with Victoria Pacheco


Published on January 23, 2017

The Placer Creates employee art show transforms many of our lobbies into art galleries of sorts. Photography, textiles, painting and other mediums are on display for the public and our employees. We know not everyone can get to all the buildings and wanted to give you a glimpse of the art displayed in Tahoe as well as learn a little more about the artists featured at the Tahoe City Library and Tahoe Administrative Center. We'll start with administrative clerk Victoria Pacheco. Victoria works with Human Services in the Rocklin office and has displayed her art in the show for the last three years. Victoria is also a member of the Art Show Committee and has encouraged many employees to submit their art for our enjoyment. Victoria answers five questions about her creativity and experience with art below.

What is the inspiration behind your art in the show?

"Punk Pig" was inspired by my favorite quote, "The eye is the doorway to the soul." I believe art reflects the soul of both the artist and viewer. Whether one is admiring a painting, listening to a piece of music, cooking, sculpting, sewing, gardening, or any other creative activity, it becomes a personal experience that touches the depths of you without you even realizing it. The art we bring into our lives speaks to us, whispering in friendship how it wants to build or revive memories. "Punk Pig" is a dedication to the experiences I had over the years of rescuing and caring for guinea pigs, and to the years of doing pet portrait commissions for others.

Victoria and Guinea Pig

What do you want the viewers to see, or feel when they view your creation?

I try to paint emotions. I hope my work brings a tear, or a smile, as long as it brings feelings to surface. When I did commissioned work my goal was to make the recipient cry - tears of joy, mind you. When I paint for myself I try to bring out the emotions I feel about the subject through the depth of colors and strength of brush strokes.

Punk pig

How has creating art and/or submitting it into the show made a difference in your life?

Showing art in a venue as big as Placer County has stretched my courage. Previously, I found showing my art to anyone rather intimidating. Even though I have done work for people for years, I'm hyper critical of my abilities to make art worthy of being labeled "good." The last thing I want to hear is someone talking poorly about my work. However, I have learned through having art in the show that most people enjoy the arts and crafts they see. It makes them happy to see it, and they like seeing something handmade. I've learned that my fear of not being "good enough to show" is unfounded and now I look forward to making art for the next year's show.

What is your favorite medium to work in and what medium have you always wanted to try?

From infancy I have been creating (mostly a mess) using everything I could get my hands on. I dabbled with pencils, crayons and water colors as a small child and moved on to house paints, ink pens and whatever was around as I grew older. As a child of the '70s, I was taught macramé, tie dye and pin and string art. When I was old enough to handle a hammer, I built things out of wood bits. Although always, my first love was painting. I was never without pencils, paper and paints. But when I was without canvasses, I did most of my painting on my bedroom walls, much to the chagrin of my parents. That took me all the way into my teens. My entire bedroom was a series of murals by the time I left the nest at 19 years old.

In college I got my Bachelor of Arts degree in studio arts and sculpture. I had taken courses in welding (both gas and arc), pottery, clay sculpting and dance all as part of my degree, in addition to the usual painting and drawing classes. Outside of school, before the ease of the Internet, I read books on how to better my skills in what I knew, and learned about stuff I didn't. Now, I look to YouTube for a variety of information as well as to follow artists from around the world.

At this point in my life, I'm thinking about revisiting clay sculpting. I like the idea of feeling weight and "seeing" with my hands. I'm also beginning to play with the different thickening products for acrylic paints such as modeling paste, sand and crackle paint mixture in order to bring more texture to life.

What creative encouragement do you have for others?

When I was growing up I was told I had to be "perfect" to be an artist. Of course that's not true. I have found anyone can be creative, artsy or craftsy, if you only allow yourself the freedom to be so. No matter what level of experience you may have in your chosen craft, it's in the process of doing it where the joy, and frustration, lives. Regardless of the outcome, there is always someone who will be inspired or awed by your efforts and you may be surprised at how many people honestly admire what you create. Show your efforts off as often as possible. Let the world see your abilities and enjoy them. It will make people smile. It will make people think. It will bring a little more joy to this world.

Victoria Pacheco