June's Honeycomb Cafe artist discovers, and develops, numerous knacks

I can accept that there are people with enviable talent in this world. And I don’t (usually) begrudge them their gifts. But when they’re masters of multiples – within the same discipline – I feel the universe is messing with us.

It seems that way with artist Andrea Vavra. She draws and paints. She creates lifelike portraits and pop art comics. She invents whimsical abstracts and is commissioned for detailed sports images. She even makes art from melted crayon and upright pianos, for crying out loud. Honestly, it’s like a dermatologist who dabbles in hip replacement. Or an Olympic gymnast who is also a scratch golfer.

Double-dipping from the talent pool aside, Vavra happens to be as sweet as she is skilled. So it’s hard to not be happy for her breadth of brilliance. She’s also worked very hard, pushing herself to take risks and practicing tirelessly toward further refinement. Even her vacation bolsters her vocation: a recent four-month backpacking tour of 15 countries with husband James sent her home “energized and full of inspiration to create more ART!”

Vavra is the latest artist to display at the Honeycomb Café in Daniel Island, as part of the restaurant’s ongoing local art series. During the month of June, the varied works of Vavra will be available for viewing – and for sale – to patrons and island visitors. And though not a speck of her inordinate oodles of talent rubbed off on me during the course of our interview, I was, nonetheless, tickled to find such a joyful soul in this local artist.

Jennifer Johnston: When did you move from Mexico to the U.S., and did you move directly to Charleston? What brought you to this area?

Andrea Vavra: I used to travel often to the U.S. until I moved to Charleston the summer of 2009. The reason why I came was to improve my English and to learn more about the American culture. I was an Au Pair (International live-in nanny) for a local family, then I met my now husband and the rest is history. Plus I couldn’t help it but to fall in love with beautiful Charleston. I love being an artist on Daniel Island because we have such a beautiful community and being involved in the Daniel Island Art Guild has helped me to share my work and to connect with many artists and learn from them.

JJ: Are you completely self-taught as an artist, or have you undertaken any formal training? What was the first medium you fell in love with?

AV: Yes, I am a completely self-taught artist. I only had the regular art classes at school, although I was very lucky to have a fabulous teacher in fourth grade that taught me to understand volume, proportions, and the importance of shade. The first medium I fell in love with was charcoal, because it was fun to play with the intensity and also challenging to keep my work clean.

JJ: Have you pursued any other vocation, or is art your sole career? Does it ever feel like true work - a grind - particularly when you’ve been commissioned to create specific pieces?

AV: I’ve always dream of being an artist and at the moment art is my sole career, with the support of my husband. He is with me in every art show and he always brings a smile to my face. A lot of people think that being an artist is easy and stress-free, and it is in a sense, but it also has its challenges because you never know for sure if you are going to sell a painting or if you are going to have a successful show. Even when you go into an art competition, you have to be aware that art is subjective and not always the best one (from your point of view or judgment) is going to win. I love being commissioned to create art, because that means people trust me with something very special to them and even though there are times when their expectations differ from my realization, it can always be fixed and we both end up happy.

JJ: I understand you recently traveled through South America, Europe, and the U.S. What was the intention of the trip, and did it follow its purpose?

AV: My husband and I love to travel and explore the world; we come alive, our senses are heightened and the freedom that comes over us is unrivaled to anything else we do. We stay in great shape to take on any adventure that comes our way. The people we encounter always present us with many unintended blessings. We are always amazed with the graciousness of people all over the world; it restores our faith in humanity each time we put ourselves out there.

JJ: How did your travels inspire your present and future work? Is it almost overwhelming to be presented with such an abundance of inspiration?

AV: The world is surrounded by art! I saw a lot of great artwork and, yes, it was quite overwhelming, especially in Italy. I was inspired to see all the masters’ work and now I want to keep working hard to improve my technique and make my brush strokes smoother.

JJ: Your work is incredibly varied. How do you explain your comfort with so many different tools, styles, and mediums? Can you share your favorites (or at least your of-the-moment favorites)?

AV: I love to try everything! It’s really hard for me to just do one thing. I enjoy seeing art from other people because there is always something new that I can incorporate into my work. I also like to challenge myself to reproduce work from my favorite artists and that is a great learning method. Right now I am fascinated with melting crayons over a canvas that I have already painted with acrylic.

JJ: Where is your studio located, and where do you sell your work? Can you share a few of the types of pieces for which you’ve been commissioned?

AV: My home is my studio - there is art and art supplies everywhere! It is so much easier to have it all right there because you never know when inspiration is going to hit you. I mainly do commission work and also sell at art shows and festivals in the area. My favorite commission was a portrait for a Cirque du Soleil performer from the show “Alegria.”

JJ: What can folks expect to see at your Honeycomb show, and will the pieces be for sale?

AV: Yes, my artwork will be available for purchase and you can expect to see a variety of my work, from traditional Charleston scenes to melted crayon art and some Mexican-inspired paintings. Learn more about the artist and view recent works at andreavavraart.wix.com/andreavavraart or the Andrea Vavra Art Facebook page.