VERONICA
GALANTER

My desk is adorned with rows of sketchbooks, with stacks of paintings and sketches in various states of completion tucked under my bed alongside watercolor brushes and charcoal pencils. For as long as I can remember, I have poured my inspirations and processed my feelings through art. The pandemic gave me the time and space to develop my skills, and I now confidently display my work and have sold several pieces. I was thrilled to receive a Scholastic Art & Writing Award for Sabor Boricua, a painting capturing an ice cream vendor on a small street in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

My inspirations remain largely the same as my earliest framed works: urban scenes, still lifes, and regular people at work. I am specifically drawn to portraiture–while the snapshot from a camera can create the perfect image, there is nothing that can replace the human connection preserved in a painting. Every artistic choice, from color palette to brushstroke, weaves the artist’s presence into the image, honoring the subject through time, attention, and care. Art is my way of navigating complex emotions, difficult situations, boredom, and self-doubt. I continue to develop my practice through oil paint, watercolor, oil pastel, and charcoal, as well as digital design, teaching art, and creating greeting cards for friends and family. Using creativity for positive impact is central to my work, and something i plan to continue indefinitely..