Looking to the Past and Future

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Dear friends,

Happy Holidays!

I am writing to thank you all for your friendship and support over the years. It means so much to me to have so many great people in my life–I couldn’t continue this challenging yet so rewarding adventure (also known as Life and Art) without you all.

2012 was exciting and varied in so many ways, and looking back I am thinking about all the things that I have been so fortunate to experience. One of them is teaching, meeting with and helping wonderful artists develop their abilities in their own unique voice.

I am continuing to teach out of my Vancouver studio on Saturdays in 2013 (see below), and the occasional workshop in various places in BC. The other thing I love to do (besides painting, of course) is travel. This summer I was fortunate to attend my first solo exhibition at Galerie de Bellefeuille in Montreal in June, visit dear friends briefly, then hop over to Europe for a two-week stay in Berlin. There I had a wonderful experience exploring the many fascinating layers of this vibrant city, making new friends, and looking at the great art of the past and a good cross-section of contemporary art in Berlin’s many museums.

I capped off my trip with a short visit to an artist friend in Milan, then a week in Tuscany, where I was invited to co-teach at Studio Borgo. I recommend this wonderful workshop where you can brush up on your technical skills in Tom Ruggio’s lovely classical atelier and take little day-trips to do plein air drawing and painting. Tom is very personable and knows the area and art history very well. If you want to go back to the basics and really strength your drawing and painting skills, Tom is an excellent teacher and has chosen a breathtaking setting. For more information: http://studioborgoart.com/. Please say hello to Tom for me if you are corresponding with him.

The past year I was also invited to teach at Vancouver Island School of Art, a wonderful contemporary art institution in Victoria, and the Vancouver Art Guild, both places at which I felt very welcome and have been asked to return soon.

Upcoming WORKSHOPS

In 2013, I am teaching my Loosen Up! workshop again on Saturday mornings, January 19-February 23, 10am-1pm, at my studio at #322b-1000 Parker Street in east Vancouver near Venables and Clark streets. The class is for artists who want to move away from tight renderring to a more painterly way of handling their materials. This is a 6-session class, with a supportive group exchange and warm-up exercises to get people thinking about ways to approach their work differently. I encourage participants to sign up to at least 4 sessions if they can, for better continuity within the group. Sessions are $50 each, or all six for $275. Please let me know if you would like to attend a workshop.

Other activities coming up in 2013:

Loose Brushwork with Oil Paint Demo, January 12, 2013 at Granville Island Opus Art Supplies Store, Vancouver

Painting Jumpstart Workshop, South Delta Artist Guild May 10, 11, and 12, 2013

Toronto Exhibition 2013 If you are in Toronto in May, I hope you can join me at Bau-Xi Gallery, opening May 18 and running through June 1.

with warm thoughts, and good wishes for a Merry Christmas!

Val