NEIU Artist Interview: Venus Bougnavong

If you’d like to be a published artist and get featured in upcoming issues of The Independent’s new “ArtistoftheWeek“ Section, please copy these questions into an email and respond to the questions to the best of your ability to this email: [email protected] For whatever reason, if you don’t feel comfortable answering a question please just skip it. Shortly, you will see the interview and your work published in the NEIU’s newspaper and @NeiuArtistoftheWeek on Instagram!

Interview Questions: 

What’s your background and how do you think it has affected your work?

I have always been creative in anything that I do. Outside of work, I am a part-time Nail Tech, and it inspires me to be creative. I have clients that come to me for specific shapes, style, or designs and this has also helped me with critiques in my classes.

What type of art do you create and what motivates you to make it? 

The type of art I create is mostly Digital Illustrations on my iPad. My motivation comes purely from my interest in drawing, but lately I have enjoyed the perspective of people viewing my art. How they feel, react to my work is something I look forward to as an artist. 

What’s the purpose or goal of your work?

The purpose of my work is to make others happy as well as myself. 

Who are your biggest influences? 

My biggest influences are my parents, fiancé, and classmates.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find my inspiration comes from my daily routine, either it may be going to the gym or just making food at home. Inspiration is everywhere.

How do you define success as an artist? 

How I define success as an artist is by making people happy and being able to do what I love. I believe you must give to others as much as you give yourself.

How do you market yourself and your work? 

I market myself by word of mouth and showing my artwork on Instagram. 

What do you believe is the role of an artist in society? 

The role of an artist in society is to not take one so seriously, to make others happy by using their creative gift, or to have the viewers, or listeners of an artist to think more deeply. 

If you could give one piece of advice to another artist trying to navigate their way in the artworld, what would it be?

One piece of advice to another artist is to be passionate in what you are working on, everything else will fall into place.

What are your handles, or contact information so people can check out your work?

Check out my work at @venuscreate on Instagram!