Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Hamende.
Vicki, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Even at a young age I have always had an artistic flare and an interest in art. But, once high school ended and it was time for college, I didn’t consider the option as an artist for a profession. My first semester away from home was really hard for me but I found comfort in a drawing class. I can honestly say, that had it not been for that class and some special people I might have tuck tail and run back home. I continued with my current major but also took some basic art and design classes at Texas State University. After graduating with a degree in Retail Management, I focused mainly on my children and husband’s business. With two major moves across the state, we relocated to the DFW area in 2010. When the time presented itself, I started a venture to figure out what I wanted to do when I “grow up”.
Between my job and family responsibilities, I began dabbling in painting, including some murals and custom projects. In 2012, a DIY Christmas project introduced me to pyrography. I made many of my family members cutting boards that I decorated by using an inexpensive craft burner. The enjoyment from this project prompted me to learn more about wood burning and before long it soon became an enjoyable past time. I started experimenting with the combination of wood burning and oil painting. In 2013 I started my business, Wonderwall Designs. I created a Facebook and Etsy page to sell my designs and made to order family trees. Quickly, many people took notice of my work and encouraged me to find additional places to promote my art. My first public art show was in the summer of 2014 in Salado, Texas. It was more than I ever expected. I was being called an Artist. Though I am still exploring and developing my personal style, I am no longer in search of what I am going to be when I “grow up”.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an artist is not an easy job. I left the security and benefits of a “real” job to do what I am doing. This was a scary step to take. I have a family to help take care of. Luckily, I do have the support of my family and of course my Husband’s paycheck. Being an artist has allowed me to do what I enjoy, help contribute to the family budget, and be MOM. My children are still young so I do not travel very far for shows. So far I have stayed in Texas but I do plan to travel more as my children get older.
Not every month of the year is a profitable month in Texas. Only six months out of the year are show months in Texas (generally March-May and September-November). Many people do not realize what a financial investment artist make in order to participate in shows. The saying “You have to spend money to make money” holds true. There are application fees, booth fees, travel fees, and of course the investment of the booth set up. Like most artist, I started with an EZ up tent and used grid panels for my display. About a year ago I was fortunate to get a good deal on used Pro Panels. I recently purchased my first Trim Line Canopy. I am pretty excited about my new tent. Most artist upgrade a little at a time. Finding the right show is a challenge too. What is profitable show for one artist might not be the right show for another. I generally look for FINE ART shows that a panel of judges jury you in. I was recently told that by your fourth or fifth year doing art shows you start to have it figured out. Show by show and year by year I am figuring it out.
Not only do I have the support of my Husband and Children, my parents have been very helpful in the success of my business. My DAD started helping me make most of my canvases about a year ago… These are all hand made out of Birch and Pine. I can do it myself but let’s face it, my Dad can make them better, straighter, and more importantly faster. This helps decrease my production time. Even with his help, most of my pieces are a two to three week process from start to finish. I can’t make pieces fast enough. My MOM graciously helps me at almost every show. She works a full time job and lives near Austin, yet she is always there for me. If she is not at my side helping me at the show she is watching the kids (Hubby works nights). I could do this by myself but it wouldn’t be easy. I am so BLESSED to have my family.
Please tell us about Wonderwall Designs.
Wonderwall Designs is artistic creations by me (Vicki Hamende). My art is a combination of non-traditional wood burning (pyrography) and oil painting. I build my own canvas out of Birch wood. My designs are burned into the wood. I refer to my technique as non-traditional because I gouge the wood with the burner giving the piece depth and texture. This makes the piece interesting to the touch as well as sight. Each piece is enhanced with oil paint; some include additional media depending on the piece. Most of the time, I hand rub the oil paints onto the wood in order to work the paint into the grain allowing the natural beauty of the wood grain to show through. Generally, there will be areas of each piece that are burned only, areas of only paint, and sometimes I will layer the paint over the burned spots to combine the color and texture.
I have dabbled in painting, but have only delved into pyrography in recent years. I feel the paint and wood burning accent each other quite well. I haven’t seen the combination of the two mediums to this extent anywhere else, and many others have told me like wise. My pieces are all one of a kind. There is no way to replicate a piece even if I wanted to. I have no intentions of making prints.
The majority of my work has focused on TREES. I enjoy creating trees. I see so much when I look at a tree. No two trees are ever alike. There is not a right or wrong look to a tree. They are beautiful in any season. They represent LIFE, GROWTH, CHANGE, PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE. I feel that trees are a great analogy to human life.
In addition to my fine art pieces that I sell at shows, I also take orders for Custom Family Trees. These are made the same way as other piece. I have six different designs of my own creation that I offer. Many of my trees can represent five generations of more. Each tree made is as unique as the family I am making them for. With every marriage and birth, hearts can be added to the trees to represent the new family members. My Custom Family Trees are HEIRLOOMS is the making.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I remember watching Bob Ross on PBS as a child and I would try to create the same “happy little trees” as he did with whatever I could find around the house. Growing up in a small school there was never an art class offered, but I do remember vividly special art projects that were completed in class. Some of my favorite were from my sixth grade year. I was so fond of those pieces, not because the end product was a master piece but for the way they made me feel; enjoyment and happiness. I actually held on to those projects for over twenty years.
Contact Info:
- Address: Cedar Hill, TX
- Website: www.wonderwalldesigns.com
- Phone: 512-657-625
- Email: VRH@WONDERWALLDESIGNS.COM
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wonderwalldesignsbyvicki/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
