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

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The first thing to know about me is that I love art with all my heart and soul. And, I have always loved art ever since I was a little child, and as far as I can remember. I feel in my case, it was more of a “born this way” kind of thing, where I was born with a natural talent / gift. The fact that I do originate from a family of artists and art lovers did have a lot to do with my decision of pursuing this artistic path. Thus, between genetic leanings and love for the arts, I pursued this love and attended the Corcoran College of Art and Design George Washington University (where I am a “Notable Alumni”) and stayed with this career path ever since. I got to where I am professionally through many sleepless nights and lots of hard work and creation. I say to be an artist, you have to almost be a juggler, you have to keep on juggling things from one thing to another while keeping focus on what you are doing so nothing falls and tumbles down. Hence, the answer for “Was it easy? ” is “No” – the road and life of an artist is no easy feat. There are definitely lots of ups and downs within the road, but the point is to keep on going. Yes, I did overcome many challenges. I had to do a lot of growing up so to speak and almost guide myself emotionally to go beyond the disappointments and look for the positive in things along being grateful for what I have and the people who support and admire my art and myself. As of late, meditation has been a great solace for me to retreat within myself along with connecting me to my soul, body and brain which I have found to be so healing and nourishing, Meditation has helped me sail in uncharted waters. I have learned so many lessons throughout the path, one of the most important lessons is to be kind to your fellow human being and to help out. I believe in a way, in this lies the secret of the circle of life, doing good and kind things without expecting anything in return will and does make our world a wonderful one full of love and meaning. What I want people to know about my story is that I am a survivor, I have survived many difficult moments in my life such as facing a terrible illness to a loved one, building myself multiple times over and over again and staying strong without diverting from the road that I was destined to be on.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA has so much to offer visually and almost in every corner one looks, there is so much natural beauty and awesomeness. For me, the natural landscape of the Californian LA Hollywood hills is unbeatable. It is like being in heaven. I personally love the geography and terrain of what LA offers. Thus, a simple walk on the beach from Santa Monica beach to walk in the park, Palisades Park while sipping on a fresh lemon squeezed lemonade is simply satisfactory. A drive while listening to calming jazzy tunes over Pacific Palisades curvy roads that overlook scenic and panoramic views is always refreshing and breathtaking. I am also an avid lover of mid-century architecture and modern houses, so these rides which cover a number of historic architecture are so pleasing to the eyes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people around me to thank for their love and encouragement in my art journey and road to success. Yet, there is a lot of growth that has occurred within me throughout this success journey and within my life that I do owe to books and dead authors, poets and artists who I don’t know personally. Nevertheless, their work from literary to visual ones had touched my soul and propelled me to persevere and go forth. In regards to the people I know personally, my son and daughter have always been so in awe of the artwork I create. They are in a way my biggest cheerleaders, cheering me on and telling me how much they admire my artwork. They have their favorite paintings that they keep in their rooms where they don’t allow me to sell or even put on sale. My husband has also been a great assistant to me throughout my art career. Same thing, he is a great mentor for me especially in times of doubt whether to carry on through this journey or make a detour. In general, my close family are some of my biggest art fans. In regards to writers and poets and even artists, there were a number of literary pieces by strong writers and poets that have touched me personally and shaped who I am, along with changing my outlook on how to approach the long winding road. My favorite poet of all time is Langston Hughes, especially his poem “Mother to Son”. Langston Hughes’s poetry that embodies hope speaks to me like no other. I find poet Mary Oliver’s poem, “Wild Geese,” to be one of my favorite poems and it is very inspiring to me. I also find inspiration in Maya Angelou’s poetry. One of my favorite poems is “I Keep Six Honest Serving-Men” from “The Elephant Child” by Rudyard Kipling. These poems and poets have also struck a chord as well: Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and the works of Gibran Khalil Gibran. I also love this poem by Emily Dickinson, “Hope is a thing with feathers”, and Charles Bukowski’s poetry since it captures a sense of rawness that I admire. When it comes to artists, as an avid art history lover, I have read a lot on Monet and his Biography. I feel that he and I are kindred spirits in the arts. People don’t know but Claude Monet had struggled a lot early on and had to face many difficult decisions throughout his life. It was not always fun and games in Monet’s world and the road that led him to his beautiful garden and iconic house in Giverny was not paved in roses so to speak. I especially like Monet since he is a testament that a difficult life, hard work and much perseverance in an art career can eventually lead to your Zen of a garden in metaphorical terms.

Website: www.vianborchert.com

Instagram: @vianborchert

Twitter: ViansArtCorner

Facebook: Vian Borchert Fine Arts

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdB4RoTyxEA

Other: Vian Borchert’s original paintings are available at “1stDibs” and “Artsy” marketplaces with auctions at these links: “1stDibs” link: https://www.1stdibs.com/creators/vian-borchert/art/ “Artsy” link: https://www.artsy.net/artist/vian-borchert/works-for-sale

Image Credits
Image credits: Vian Borchert, Oliver Borchert

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