Wonda Granville

I trust what I'm doing and work in a spirit of excellence. When you work in a spirit of excellence and do your absolute best, you really can't go that far wrong. I focus on capturing not just the image but the essence of the person, because everybody has a story and we often wear those stories on our faces. My success comes from being true to myself and using my talent as a statement and validation of my purpose, rather than focusing on commercialism. I also draw as a way to preserve people, to keep them alive and remember them always. I had a really good friend, Michelle, that died at a young age of cancer, and all of this is in an effort to tell someone's story and to keep them relevant.

The best advice I received was to trust what you're doing. When you work in a spirit of excellence and do your absolute best, you really can't go that far wrong. This guidance has shaped how I approach my art and my career, keeping me focused on quality and authenticity rather than just commercial success.

Be true to yourself. Don't use your talent with a focus on commercialism. Use it as a statement and a validation of your purpose. I think art is a discipline, and an artist should focus on your discipline like a virtuoso is on an instrument of sorts. There's a lot of unknowns in the art business for new and emerging artists - we don't know how to look for venues, how to present ourselves at venues, what to focus on. A lot of the rules in the art world, I found them by trial and error, and now I teach classes to help other people, youth artists emerging, try and find their way too. I'm still learning at that myself.

There's a lot of unknowns in the art business for new artists, emerging artists, and even sometimes seasoned artists. We don't know how to make it in the business. The business is full of artists - some have talent, and in my opinion, some don't. I'm not the person who thinks all artists are talented. I think art is a discipline, and an artist should focus on your discipline like a virtuoso is on an instrument of sorts. There's a lot of things that we don't know how to do, like how to look for venues, how to present ourselves at venues, what to focus on. A lot of the rules in the art world, I found them by trial and error. Now I teach classes to help other people, youth artists emerging, and all these people try and find their way too. I'm still learning at that.

I believe in working in a spirit of excellence. In my art, I try not just to draw the image but capture the essence of the person. My whole motto is that everybody has a story, and we often wear those stories on our faces. It's a wonderful thing when you can capture somebody the way they are and who they are in an image. I draw as a way to preserve people, to keep them alive and remember them always. My focus is on telling stories through my art, and there's always a story behind what I create. In my personal life, I like for my house to be a refuge, a sanctuary where I have all my favorite things and feel good being here. I entertain my friends and enjoy creating a welcoming space.