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Artist’s Statement
An inspiration taken further, art uplifts and sings to the soul.
It brings joy and sense of achievement when done. It makes the artist unaware of time, it transforms her into an altered reality that is focused on the beauty of the creation. It is a statement that is read with the heart.
I started with drawing, and watercolours seemed a natural progression. As I got into watercolours, I wanted to experiment with new media which then led me to oils and acrylics. Each medium has something that I love about it and I go in spurts as the passion takes me working with different media. I find inspiration in colours, in nature, and most of all in people.
I love to experiment with abstract paintings to bring out freedom, colour and movement.
I enjoy painting faces that convey an emotion…it seems to bring life out to the spectator. I am also inspired by architecture, working in the architectural field . Most of the architecture that I paint has a sentimental nostalgic value going back to my childhood in
My abstracts are a beautiful interaction of colour and shape that comes straight from the soul. It speaks differently to others and mirrors their own life experiences, making it the most intimate artform.
I feel that I am constantly growing and changing in my creative endeavors.
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BIOGRAPHY
Vera was born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to Canada as a young teenager with her parents. Her love of drawing and her "nostalgic" love of beautiful buildings led her to a choice of career in architecture. She studied at the Shool of Architecture Uof T and while there was exposed to various forms of art like photography, colour and coordination design study, silk screening, drawing.
She worked for almost 40 years in consulting engineering drawing mostly architectural drawings, first by hand and later on the computer.
Photography was an art form that she kept working at, taking various college courses and developing her own black and white photography.
As her children grew up and there was more spare time, she started dabling in watercolour and discovered a new passion in painting! She took several watercolour courses with professional artists.. . Later she wanted to explore painting in different media and took Oil painting at the Varley gallery in Markham. Oil is fabulous for mixing colour, but takes so long to dry. After trying out some acrylic paints she knew that acrylic was her medium, she just loved the bright colours and textures of the acrylic medium. Many workshops with experienced artists developed her techniques further.
Sep 2008. - Markham 48 Studio Tour
Nov 2008 - Markham Show and Sale on Main St. (Markham Arts Council)
Apr. 2009 - Gheco Gallery on Main St. Markham
Jun 2009 - Markham Art She and Sale on Main St. Markham (Markham Arts Council)
Jun 2009 - Unionville Festival (MAC)
Sep 2009 - Markham Studio Tour
Nov 2009 - Markham Art She and Sale on Main St. Markham (Markham Arts Council)
Apr 2010 - Heintzman House Spring Art Show
Jun 2010. - Markham Art Show Unionville - (MAC) - won the People's choice award + article on my BIO in the "Arts in Motion" publication
Jun 2010 - 2 pieces hanging in Markham Municipal Offices until Oct
Aug 2010 - Summer Show - RHGA - Mill Pond Gallery
Oct. 2010 - 2 artist show at Mill Pond
Nov. 2010 - Holiday Show - Mill Pond gallery - RHGA
Dec 2010 - Participated in the "Art and Soul" Holiday Food Drive - painted a canvas
Mar 2011 - Mill Pond Gallery - 2 artist show
Mar 2011 - MAC Art Show and Sale in Markville Mall
Mar 2011 - Markham Group of Artists "Breaking Boundaries" Juried Show - Art Sqare Gallery -Toronto
Apr 2011 - Heintzman House Invitational Art Show
Aug 2011 - Georgina Splash Festival Art Show (juried entry)
Dec 2011 - Markham Art Collective Art Show at the Markham Theatre
Jan - Feb 2012 - RHGA - Art Show at the Markham Theatre
March 17,18, 2012 - Mill Pond Art Gallery - 2 artist show
Apr 2012 - Heintzman House Invitational Art Show - Thornhill
Apr 3-5, 2013 - MAC Art Show at McKay House, Unionville
Apr 2014 - Heintzman House Invitational Art Show - Thornhill
Jun 2014 - McKay House Group Show - Unionville
Jul 2014 - Mill Pond Gallery Group Show
Jun 2015 - McKay House Group Show - Unionville
Jul 2015 - McKay House Show - 2 artists - Unionville
Oct 2015 - McKay House Group Show - Unionville
Nov 2015 - Open Juried Show North York at the Mill Pond Gallery
Sep 21-25, 2016 - MAC Fall Art Show at the McKay House Unionville
Apr16-May1, 2016. - Columbus Centre - Joseph Carrier Gallery - 7 artists Show
Oct 2016 - Willowdale Group of Artists Fall Show - North York Civic Centre
Nov 4, 2016 - MAC Art Show at Crystal Fountain exhibiting artist
Nov 4,5, 2016 - Bold Expressions Juried Show at the Blood and Ossington Wonder Art Gallery
Apr 2017 - MAC Art Show at the McKay House - Unionville
May 2017 - RHGA Paint the Town art show juried show
Oct 2017 - Paint the Town art exhibit at the Flat Theatre
Nov 25 -Dec 3, 2017 - Small Treasures Show at Mill Pond Gallery
Apr 2018 - RHGA Anual juried show - Mill Pond
Dec 2018 - RHGA Small Treasures Show - Mill Pond Gallery
Dec 2018 - MGA group art show - Cornell Community Centre
Jan 24-Feb 8,2019 - ART SQUARE gallery show
Jan 30-Feb 28, 2019 - Cover Notes Cafe show
March 30, 2019 - Mill Pond Gallery - 2 artists show (with Paula Boss)
May 18, 2019 - RHGA - Spring Fling Group show at the Mill Pond gallery
May 25, 2019 - MGA juried Show at the McKay House in Unionville
Sep 7, 2019 - Doors Open Markham show with MGA group
Sep 28-Oct 6, 2019 - RHGA Group Show at the Mill Pond Art Gallery
Aug 30 - Oct 30 - Single artist show at Citro Restaurant on Yonge St.
Nov 16-24, 2019- Mil Pond Gallery group show
Dec 1, 2019 - Mill Pond Gallery group show
Feb. 2020 - Richmond Hill Performance Arts Centre - group show
Apr 15-19,2020. - KcKay Gallery Unionville - Reflections of Spring Show - with 4 other artists
Aug 2020 - Group Show - virtual - RHGA
Sep 2020 - Juried open show with Markham Group of artists - virtual
Mar 2021 - Virtual show - RHGA group show
Apr 2021 - Markham GA - juried show -virtual
Apr 2022 - Juried show at RHGA - Mill Pond Gallery
Apr -May 2022 - Juried show with Markham Group of artists