Exploring Life & Business with Armando Pedroso of Blue Vieira Estate ( Blueberry Farm / Art Studio / Cottage

Today we’d like to introduce you to Armando Pedroso.

Hi Armando, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My art career started right after 9/11. I worked at Xerox for 18 years and was laid off in 2021 at the age or 42. After the lay off I had trouble finding what some call a real job but in my mind I kept hearing the work paint. I laughed when I heard the voice and remembered the last time I had painted I was in 5th grade and won best art student, it made me smile.

Then one day I started my job search again in Chicago and saw a lot of home with for sale signs in their yards. The painting voice in my head said, “you can paint a house it is a square and a triangle, try painting them as a child would, use your sales skills learned at Xerox and go door to door at real estate offices and sell them as closing gifts to the agents. Package them in a frame, create a card and put them in a nice bag for the realtor to sign the card and hand the gift to the client at closing.” So I said ” Ok God if this is you, I need to sell 1 house painting in 7 weeks ( not sure where that number came from, lol ). I sold 7 paintings in the first weeks.

For the past 24 years I studied my craft and found a talent I never knew existed and am far more successful and happy since I left the corporate world and listen to the voice of God. I have found personally a freedom was released when listening to the voice within. The voice quietly whispers directions as it guides and teaches me as an artist. The voice comforts, helps and protects the fragile self taught artist ego. The voice that supports and encourages me to take risks without fear or judgment. The voice of God that lovingly leads if you will allow yourself to trust and follow the original Artist.

Since 2021, I have spent thousands of hours in front of a canvas experimenting, spent years participating in outdoor art exhibitions, national / international gallery representation as well as art work featured in television, commercials, and new and magazine print.

In 2018 I purchased a small blueberry farm from the sales of my art, I converted a barn into my art studio and opened and Airbnb cottage rental on the property where I offer guests blueberry pickings and at times art classes when I am not doing an outdoor summer art show.

All this happened from listening to that small voice. I recommend taking the risk and listening to you own!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am a bit of an extremist, once I make up my mind on something I go for it. When I sold my first 7 paintings, again I felt it was a sign from God to go for it so I did.

Although the road was an easy start, as with all businesses there are bumps and bruises along the way. I learned those were put in place to make me grow as a business and as an artist. New styles emerged as sales waned and I grew impatient on growing as a spiritual artist, sometime things were not going as fast as I wanted.

I once took an art class just like the ones you see on tv, where there is a circle of artists painting an object. I was thrilled and once there and process had begun, I made the mistake of looking at my neighbors painting that was perfect and looked at my abstract version of it and I was heart broken. The voice in my head changed to “what are you thinking Armando, your not an artist your are a fake”….I left the class and never painting for a few months. When I returned to painting, I vowed to never take an art class again, but to listen to the voice in my head and heart that teaches me how to paint now.

We’ve been impressed with Blue Vieira Estate ( Blueberry Farm / Art Studio / Cottage, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
After 34 years in Chicago I bought a small blueberry farm in Fennville, Michigan.

Blue Vieira Estate was established in 2018 just prior to COVID. The name Blue Vieira is a mix of the blueberry business and my middle Portuguese name Vieira. The 1894 run down farm came with a barn and cottage. The land was a mess with no grass and chain link fencing everywhere and the only living things on the property were beautiful 100 year old oak and maple trees. So I had to learned quickly to become a gentleman farmer.
Over the past 7 years I planted over 600 trees, bushes and shrubs and now have real grass and a yard.

Blue Vieira Art Studio/Gallery is a totally converted barn that is now my art studio with heat/air and the west side is now full of wall of windows to see the blueberry field, trees and landscaping. The west sun is the best light for painting, not to mention watching the seasons change in real time. The studio is open by appointment anytime. I have an Open House the first weekend in October every year. Over the past few years my abstract realism style of barn paintings with vivid colors have become my signature works although I do all styles from realism, abstract, sculptures and poetry.

Blue Vieira Cottage was established in 2020 during COVID, I renovated the one bedroom cottage, put in a new bathroom, filled it with refurbished antiques, created an outdoor porch off the master bedroom that was previously a pile of rocks, added a fire pit, grill, outdoor furniture and created a peaceful space for people to chill, enjoy the farm and sit under a sky full of stars and city lights. The cottage is an adult only get away meaning no children or pets, just 2 adults looking to get a break from everything…get back to spending quality time with themselves. The Fennville/Saugatuck area of west Michigan hosts 5 star restaurants, best sunsets in the midwest, wineries, brewery’s, antiques, golf, trails….it is magical here.

The brand Blue Vieira was never on my radar 24 years ago, I grew up on a farm in Ohio and swore as a little boy I would never step foot on a farm again. Life had other plans for me. The brand has grown from nothing to the Art Studio where the art, cards, prints and seasonal candles are created, to a five star Blue Vieira Cottage with original art in the rooms, to complementary wine, local gift baskets of treats, fine linen towels and bed sheets, Ghirardelli chocolates on the pillows and fresh blueberry scones in season.

I pride my self on making people feel special, and appreciated. When someone buys one of my paintings I sign the back, “From my soul to yours” as I believe art is a soul connection between the artist and the buyer. I like to personalize the original painting. On the cottage, I want to share my property with others, I want them to have a 5 star stay like I like to experience when I travel. I have found little unexpected touches have the most impact.

I am blessed beyond words and I love to share that with people.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Mr. Pidwell was my 5th grade art teacher from Norton, Ohio. He gave me the best art student award that year, my mom gave me that certificate shortly before she passed I never knew she kept it. I treasure that. I never got to tell Mr. Pidwell thank you for changing my life. If he is alive and reads this article, Thank you Mr. Pidwell.

My friends have been the best support in my art career and now the farm. I would be lost without all their support, gardening and marketing tips!

Pricing:

• Art ranges from $350 to $10,000
• Cottage currrenly $300 a night
• Blueberries market price per year

Contact Info:

• Website: www.armandopedroso.com for art and www.bluevieiracottage.com for cottage
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armandopedrosoart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armando.pedroso.35/