Victoria Hart's Artist Bio
Yes, that's me. I admit it.
Victoria is a 4.3 honors graduate of Lakewood High School (LHS) in Lakewood, OH, and majored in Art, Vocational Commercial Art, Communications, and English. At LHS she won many art awards, including Certificate and Place awards from the Scholastic Art Competition, the Ohio State Board of Education Award of Distinction (in Commercial Art), and the Kiwanis Academic Excellence Award (in Commercial Art). In her graduating year of 1977, Victoria was presented with a college grant, which she graciously declined. She opted to immediately apply her talents in both fine and commercial art to the workplace, where she gained valuable on-the-job training. To upgrade her art education over the years, she’s taken additional classes such as portraiture and cartooning. Victoria is most creative when her talents are challenged, and prefers to be self-taught in many art forms, including computer (generated/enhanced) art.
In December 1979, she started her own freelance art business, Graphics To Go, which later evolved into Art By Hart. She still enjoys working as a freelance artist today, and names prestigious clients such as American Greetings, K & M Toys International, The Cleveland and Olmsted Falls Police Departments, the Cleveland Arcade, Ameritech Publishing Inc., Smucker's, ADT Security, Artco Printing, D.L. Mahjer Wallpaper, Character Matters, Game Plan Creative, Knock Knock Cartoons Animation, and Big Productions Balloon Design. Victoria’s versatility attracts freelance assignments that are widely ranged, from designing crisp company logos, soft plush toys, dolls, promo characters, cardboard playhouses, giftware, and even an international greeting card line. She’s also painted murals and furniture. Every creation displays her unique concepts and identifiable style.
Ten years later, in February 1989, Victoria submitted several greeting card and other art samples to Creatif Licensing in New York, who had also represented the well known licensed artist Mary Engelbreit. Creatif signed her on immediately and became her exclusive licensing representative. She created whimsical licensed characters and designs for the retail gift market, and secured exclusive contracts from various vendors around the world. Working with companies such as Marcel Schurman, Glitterwrap, Scandecor, Richloom Fabrics, Different Looks, Matrix, and Golden Harvest Products, Victoria enjoyed success in this lucrative venue for the next ten years. Many of her designs became best sellers and managed to stay in the top ranks during this period, which was quite an achievement to hold over the competition.
From time to time, she takes on other creative work in the 9 to 5 retail world, where she can be more social and learn other business practices. Victoria has worked as an Art Director at Custom Card, as a Juvenile and Humorous Card Planner at American Greetings, as a Sales Associate and Artist Informant at A Show Of Hands, as a Manager-in-training at The Creative Block, as a Visual Merchandiser at Forever 21, and as a Frame Designer, Fitter, and Sales Associate at Frames Unlimited. Until recently, she's held status as a contracted calligrapher for Paper Trails Of Rocky River.
Just prior to her recent focus on realistic animal portraits, Victoria’s meandering artistic path led to her most unique creations to date: enigmatic images on paper called Conundrum Collages. These intriguing collages combine wordplay, texture, and curious trinkets, and were showcased in eclectic restaurants, home décor shops, outdoor art festivals, and art galleries in the USA. Victoria has donated select pieces to charity and other establishments. Several private collections of Conundrum Collages exist.
In December 1979, she started her own freelance art business, Graphics To Go, which later evolved into Art By Hart. She still enjoys working as a freelance artist today, and names prestigious clients such as American Greetings, K & M Toys International, The Cleveland and Olmsted Falls Police Departments, the Cleveland Arcade, Ameritech Publishing Inc., Smucker's, ADT Security, Artco Printing, D.L. Mahjer Wallpaper, Character Matters, Game Plan Creative, Knock Knock Cartoons Animation, and Big Productions Balloon Design. Victoria’s versatility attracts freelance assignments that are widely ranged, from designing crisp company logos, soft plush toys, dolls, promo characters, cardboard playhouses, giftware, and even an international greeting card line. She’s also painted murals and furniture. Every creation displays her unique concepts and identifiable style.
Ten years later, in February 1989, Victoria submitted several greeting card and other art samples to Creatif Licensing in New York, who had also represented the well known licensed artist Mary Engelbreit. Creatif signed her on immediately and became her exclusive licensing representative. She created whimsical licensed characters and designs for the retail gift market, and secured exclusive contracts from various vendors around the world. Working with companies such as Marcel Schurman, Glitterwrap, Scandecor, Richloom Fabrics, Different Looks, Matrix, and Golden Harvest Products, Victoria enjoyed success in this lucrative venue for the next ten years. Many of her designs became best sellers and managed to stay in the top ranks during this period, which was quite an achievement to hold over the competition.
From time to time, she takes on other creative work in the 9 to 5 retail world, where she can be more social and learn other business practices. Victoria has worked as an Art Director at Custom Card, as a Juvenile and Humorous Card Planner at American Greetings, as a Sales Associate and Artist Informant at A Show Of Hands, as a Manager-in-training at The Creative Block, as a Visual Merchandiser at Forever 21, and as a Frame Designer, Fitter, and Sales Associate at Frames Unlimited. Until recently, she's held status as a contracted calligrapher for Paper Trails Of Rocky River.
Just prior to her recent focus on realistic animal portraits, Victoria’s meandering artistic path led to her most unique creations to date: enigmatic images on paper called Conundrum Collages. These intriguing collages combine wordplay, texture, and curious trinkets, and were showcased in eclectic restaurants, home décor shops, outdoor art festivals, and art galleries in the USA. Victoria has donated select pieces to charity and other establishments. Several private collections of Conundrum Collages exist.