We had the good fortune of connecting with Yvonne Coleman Burney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yvonne, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Well, I must say that there have been numerous times in my life that I have entertained the thoughts but coming from where I come from and the background that started me on my journey, I learned that I am a fighter, and if you fall on your back and can look up, then you can get up.

Quitting is not an option for me, so you find the courage and strength to keep going I’ve learned that what does not kill you makes you stronger, and failure in life is quitting. When you quit on anything in life especially yourself you will never know your true worth and potential, what you truly are capable of and can do in this life. When life is hard you must strap up with the tools and gifts you have been given and fight even harder. You will always have something coming for you to seek, kill, and destroy that’s just life you must decide what you want in life and what you will do for it.

For me, I would rather fight to the end for my dreams, family, and life. Love, whatever is the driving force that gets me up in the morning then just to lie down give up and do nothing because of fear or self-doubt. I have had those conversations too with myself along my path, but I realized that Art is the one thing I can get up and do all day and all night without a check because am passionate about it I love it that much! When you find something, you love and can do it and feel good whether you earn money or not then that is what you should be doing because that is your soul’s passion. We always have options in life you either press forward through whatever is standing in your way or you quit and give up, it’s your choice to make.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My artwork is collage art using mixed media that consists of paper, found objects, street posters, spray paint, ink, acrylic, etc. Growing up in Los Angeles surrounded by graffiti and torn billboards and elements of what always spoke to me with a story of its own. I am a storyteller having traveled the world serving my country in USAF I have adapted to all sorts of environments. I love the rustic distressed looks in my artwork because it shows remnants of my journey in life. It wasn’t easy getting to this point in life my dream was deferred a million times I knew at 8 years old I wanted to be an artist I did not know what kind I just knew I needed color in my life I needed to create things with my hands.

I was never someone who could draw I can not draw a straight line and was discouraged by so many types of work I saw, because if you could not paint beautiful flowers, horses, and portraits of people then you’re not an artist. Growing up in the fifties and sixties you were said to be a squander a waste of time to be an artist there was no future in it or means to take care of yourself or a family. So, I had a lot of discouragements, and people in my family felt it was a waste for me to pursue it. So, I did the reputable thing and got jobs and worked hard, but my heart and soul always found a hand in the creative side such as photography, graphic design that sort of thing,

After raising my children, marriage, military, working in the medical field, then comes retirement. And now it’s my time to fulfill my dream of being an artist. What I know for sure is age is just a number if you have the passion and desire to do something let nothing hold you back you have one life and you should live it to the fullest. For people who don’t know me, you will in the future because my work and my stories will leave a mark that can’t be erased.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would have to show them the California African American Museum which is a must for visitors to see. Of course, some of the beautiful beaches a brunch at one of my favorites Spaghettinis in Seal Beach.

Some of my friends are Vegan and complain about not finding a place that makes good vegan burgers so without a doubt I would take them to Vurger Guyz in downtown LA on 8th and Grand the best! And we would have to have a vegan hot dog from Earle’s on Crenshaw oh yes!

I must show them the Watts Tower, and Chef Jonathan All day spot in Silverlake, we all like the water so a quick trip to Catalina Island and also a San Pedro boat ride if available and just do other fun stuff of course we would have to take a road trip to the iconic Palm Springs and the tram.

There so much to do and see in LA my age group of friends are not real young and we don’t do a lot of stuff but being in an older crowd we still like to have fun and explore.

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?

The mentorship of Bob Proctor, I will say is what gave me a new lease on life and the person I’ve become today. Before I met Bob and started studying with him years ago, I was just like most of us I had no idea that my way of thinking was the main cause of how my life had been thus far. That little bit of knowledge and the transformation that came with knowing him and learning new things, created a whole new world for me mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I started to believe in myself realizing my abilities were worth more than I had ever given myself credit for that I was somebody already and did not need to focus so much on trying to be somebody of importance I already was. I learned it was up to me to direct my course so that I could rewrite my story and make any ending I wanted that I was that confident, self-assured person and not a person that I was somehow seeking somewhere.

So that is my shoutout to Bob, may he rest in peace, and to myself for believing in myself, and going hard for my dreams and goals in life, accepting, allowing, and understanding that I deserve whatever good comes my way.

Website: artbyycolemanburney.com

Instagram: ycbmixedmedia.artist and art.by.ycb

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artbyycolemanburney/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092356099364

Image Credits
Original Art by Yvonne Coleman Burney

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.