Adventures in moving as an artist, part two: You never realize how much you’ve adapted all of the steps of your artistic process to your art space until you move and have to re-establish a space for everything. My studio will take some time to fully set up, but in the meantime, the show must go on! So I grabbed an old plywood door, hammered in some nails, and poof! it’s a lovely outdoor spray paint zone 😊 #YouDoWhatYouGottaDo #FauxTaxidermy #ArtisticProcess #ArtProcess #OutdoorSprayBooth #MakeItWork #VeganTaxidermy #valency #ValencyArt #ValencyGenis (at Pattison Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/B14DPRTBbJ_/?igshid=jcmikl10u7xb

The ever-so-glamorous life of an artist!! I apologize for my radio silence, but I just moved myself and my family from the fiery heat of New Mexico to a wonderful lake house surrounded by the tallest trees in Washington state! I grew up in Seattle and have been living all over the world (hubs was in the Air Force) but we’re finally back to our home state (Olympia area) and I am over the moon happy!! Speaking of moons... I had to get reeeeal creative to find a spot to photograph my pieces for the upcoming “La Lune II” show at @HavenGallery in New York, opening August 31st - lots of moving boxes everywhere, but I can make anything work when I need to!! #LaLuneII #MoonArt #fauxtaxidermy #vegantaxidermy #valency #valencygenis #havengallery (at Haven Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1kI0JmBa06/?igshid=pg3sa68e2ixi

I’m so honored to be interviewed this week on @ConventionCrossing podcast! It’s a pretty good listen, if I do say so myself... There are also some great interviews up already with the likes of @missmindyart and @bluangel_13 - you can find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher! Huge thank you to the talented and awesome @yumnoodle ❤️❤️❤️ #ConventionCrossing #ConventionPodcast #ArtistPodcast #ValencyGenis #FauxTaxidermy https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzq2CgiBE8N/?igshid=cply5odx78l9

I have a few new pieces hanging out right now at @HavenGallery in New York for their #Elements group show. This is Aiden Blaise, a fiery boy who will keep you toasty warm 😊🔥❤️ #HavenGallery #NY #FireArt #HotLikeFire #FauxTaxidermy #ElementalArt #Phoenix #RisingFromTheAshes #HotArt #HotArtist (at Haven Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxXoQg2B-NV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17dun4tcdhymk

Oh my goooooodness... My feelings of imposter syndrome are in full effect as I was nominated and am now a finalist in THREE #DesignerToyAwards categories - 😳😭 I’m in total shock. The other finalists are so incredible, it is absolutely a case of just being honored to be a finalist. You can vote for the next week at www.designertoyawards.com (only one of the categories I’m in is fan-voted) - it’s a lot of fun to check out all of the amazing work. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 1st in NYC as part of Five Point Festival’s line up of events ❤️ #DTA #DTAs #FauxTaxidermy #DesignerToys #FivePointFest #ValencyGenis #ImposterSyndrome #Shook https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQAtWZh3Vz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mwsxxpu0jvu8

There are two of my lovely bee-themed-creature-ladies currently in Chicago for @curlytalefineart #JustBee show, opening this Friday, May 3rd from 6-10 pm. This is Beeatrice (of course) - please contact @curlytalefineart for purchase info! #FauxTaxidermy #BeeTaxidermy #BeeArt #ValencyGenis #CurlyTalesFineArt #ChicagoArt (at Curly Tale Fine Art) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwz0rgXB0PE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ih42cyjj1pzx

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I adore the ethereal @alliharvard - one of my sharky-boys lives with her and her beau @jeremyburke and gets to have glamorous high fashion model shoots - all of my other creatures are SO jealous and they all want to live with her now... #FauxTaxidermy #SharkTaxidermy #ANTM #ILoveHerSo #JustAModelAndHerShark #MyFavoriteLadyRightNow #LuckyArt #HappyArtist #ValencyGenis https://www.instagram.com/p/BwvbOvbhGtM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2crduqoruok6

Happy almost bunny day!! TOMORROW at @mothershiptoygallery this guy will be at the #WhatsWithAllTheRabbits show, an ode to the ever popular #BunnyRabbits of the world... Opening runs from 6-10 pm Saturday night, with online sales starting at 7 pm EST at martiantoys.com - I’m excited to see all of the #CuteBunnies!!! #FauxTaxidermy #Taxidermy #Jackalope #TaxidermyJackalope #TaxidermyRabbit #ValencyGenis #MartianToys #MothershipGallery #Escapism #ModernEscapism (at Mothership Art Gallery & Designer Toy Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwdKMaaBRQh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8cuosthia9wa

Nestor had such a lovely time at @toyconuk with @martian_toys and all of the glorious Nessies in the #NessIsMore exhibition! He has sold, but there are some gorgeous one-of-a-kind Nessie-themed sculpts from amazing artists now available online at martiantoys.com ❤️ #FauxTaxidermy #ValencyGenis #Valency #MartianToys #ToyConUK #ToyConUK2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvr6nDlh9wD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1iijsczi9rdca

While we’re on the subject of #cactus, this is a guy I made last year for the #CactusShow at #CactusGallery in LA (sold) - Some skinny #saguaro antlers and a frumpy face... #FauxTaxidermy #VeganTaxidermy #CactusAntlers #ValencyGenis #NewMexicoArt #SaguaroArt #NewMexico (at New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSDWQal5qK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lgnoue9rhdjw

I had some local friends ask if I could make some pieces inspired by the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) that literally grow like weeds here in #NewMexico... I went a little overboard on this guy but I kind of love it... 😂😆😊 #FauxTaxidermy #VeganTaxidemy #Opuntia #NewMexicoArt #OpuntiaArt #PricklyPear #PricklyPearCactus #ValencyGenis #PricklyPearCactusArt #PricklyPearArt #CactusAntlers (at New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvM0ArvFTy-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1728ke5ijz18u

I realized I never posted a full pic of my #TaunTaun!! So here he is in all of his glory 😊❤️ #StarWars #StarWarsArt #TauntaunTaxidermy #FauxTaxidermy #ValencyGenis #Sold https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJ53oElqYt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=he6fzyduqool

If you’re in Philly tonight, be sure to head over to @mothershipartgallery and visit my Yeti at the #WorldWarYeti show!! Online sales for this amazing exhibition start tonight at 7 pm EST over at @martian_toys website 💙💙💙 #YetiArt #Philadelphia #PhiladelphiaArt #MothershipGallery #MothershipArtGallery #MartianToys #ValencyGenis #FauxTaxidermy #YetiTaxidermy (at Mothership Art Gallery & Designer Toy Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtHLprdlqZd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1700j9o5lncpg

When I was asked to make a #yeti for the upcoming #WorldWarYeti show at @mothershipartgallery, I immediately said yes - and then this dude was created and I LOVE HIM if I do say so myself... It’s the first time I’ve ever tried making a yeti head... What do you guys think of my guy York? #MothershipArtGallery #FauxTaxidermy #ValencyGenis #YetiHead (at Mothership Art Gallery & Designer Toy Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8aEhMFVIk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=n939zd1xwo8h

Merry Christmas and happy holidays and all that good stuff! This darling picture was sent to me - I love to see my creatures being festive in happy homes 😍🎅🏼❤️ #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays #FauxTaxidermy #VeganTaxidermy #ValencyGenis https://www.instagram.com/p/BryZQAqlxWU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zgtnawl84xd3

I fear that in making my sweet penguins, their color scheme makes them less photogenic... but they are darling (albeit a bit judgey-faced, right Aldolfo?) in person, and the snowy bow is removable in case you want to match their wardrobe to the current season... Aldolfo is available now at @distinction_gallery - link is in my profile 😊❤️ #DistinctionGallery #FauxTaxidermy #ValencyGenis #Penguin #Penguins #PenguinArt #PenguinTaxidermy #Aldolfo #HandSculpted #AnimalHead #AnimalHeads (at Distinction Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOGc1mFitm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=191flsetayb0z

Tooooonight! I’ll be in #Escondido for the opening of my show “Animal Masquerade” at @Distinction_Gallery from 6-10 pm - live music, BK Cellars wine & Stone Brewing beer - please stop by and say hi if you’re in the area 😊❤️ There are still a few great pieces left, like Aurora here - link is in my profile for purchase availability. #FauxTaxidermy #ValencyGenis #FauxTaxidermyQueen #DistinctionGallery #Dodoish #Vultureish #Escondido #EscondidoArt (at Distinction Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrJNgoGlLjv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bo6cpnwbltr3