Thank you Arapahoe Community College!

I have retired from teaching at Arapahoe Community College, but not from painting and teaching! 

Thank you to everyone in the ACC Community Education office for your support and friendship during my 15+ years of teaching at ACC.  I have enjoyed knowing and working with every one of you.  It's been a wonderful run with you all.  

Oil Painting Class moved to ROXArts Gallery

 

Thank you ROXArts Gallery(!)  for your warm welcome to my advanced painting class, when we had to find another class location.   My students enjoy painting in the gallery classroom and are continually inspired by the wide variety of styles, media, and subjects of the art works all around the gallery.  They also feel safe, as we wear masks, stay apart while painting, and disinfect the classroom.  

 See my oil paintings at ROXArts Gallery in the Aspen Grove Center, 7301 S Santa Fe Dr at Mineral, Unit 330 (next to Noodles and Starbucks), Littleton, CO 80120    Gallery Phone:  720-724-5730.  Gallery Hours for Nov-Dec:  Mon-Sat 10 am-7 pm;  Sunday 11 am-6 pm.

Arapahoe Community College "Spectrum" Student Art Show Winners

My Oil Painting Students are winners!  Congratulations to Bill Briggs and Lisa Drake, for winning at the recent Arapahoe Community College Student Art Show.  This show featured art students in the Workforce and Community Education Program at ACC. The show was judged by internationally known artist, Dean Buhler.   

Bill Briggs (right) won First Place for his oil painting,  "Lavender Sky."  The judge liked his creative use of color and mood, and his simple, but strong, composition.

Bill has been a regular student in my classes for over 8 years, rarely missing a class or session.  His persistence and determination have made him an inspiration to the class.  This award was long overdue.  Congratulations, Bill! 

 Lisa Drake won Third Place for her painting, "Autumn Leaves."  Although this is a fairly realistic painting, the judge liked the abstract quality in her composition and shapes.

Lisa is a fairly new student to my class, having only attended for a few 6-week sessions. 

This is an analogous color study, a class assignment which allows for only three colors together on the color wheel plus black and white.  She chose red orange, orange, and yellow orange, and varied them with black and white.  Beautiful job, Lisa!  Congratulations!

More Arapahoe Community College Art Show Winners

Congratulations to two more of my oil painting students who won awards at this year's Student Art Show at Arapahoe Community College!   This show featured art students in the Workforce and Community Education Program at ACC and was judged by internationally known artist, Dean Buhler.  

Featured here are two Merit Award Winners, who demonstrated monochromatic color themes in their paintings.  Monochromatic means that they were allowed to choose only one color, plus black and white.  All the colors in the painting had to be mixed from those three colors.


"Georgia's House" by Suzanne Connors.  She chose burnt sienna brown, plus black and white.  This painting shows wonderful depth and contrast and was a great perspective study as well!  Congratulations Sue!

Dennis Perlman's "Monochrome Elephant."  He decided on red with black and white to achieve subtle lavender grays in the elephant and rocks.  It was a bold choice, executed with finesse.  Congratulations Dennis!

Color exercises in my classes are designed to teach students color theory and the wide variety of colors that can be obtained with very limited palettes. Students enjoy learning color theory with this practical, hands on method. 

Help For Students! Critique Group

Hello, Students,

Some of you have been painting and may need some advice before my next class begins on July 25.  Sign up for my critique group on Sat, May 18, from 2-4 at ROX Gallery.  This is a relaxed, non-judgmental time for you to get some ideas to keep you going.  Check out the invitation below (click on the invitation to enlarge).

Remember, you must register - the group is limited to 10 to keep it comfortable. Find more details and register at:  roxartscouncil.org.

Feel free to email me at valoriesnyder@gmail.com if you have questions.  I hope to see you there!

Student Art Show

You're Invited!  The students in my private studio class will exhibit their art on:

Saturday, April 28, 2-6 pm, and

Sunday, April 29, 2-5 pm.

Cliff Austin Studio 

Woodlawn Shopping Center 

1500 W Littleton Blvd at Windermere

Littleton, CO 

The studio is in the Mall, across from the Post Office.

Directions:

         From the main Woodlawn Center Parking Lot:

Enter at the mall entrance (3 doors left of Family Dollar).  Straight down the hall to the end, across from the mall Post Office.

        Or enter from Windermere:

Post Office entrance, street parking on Windermere.

I hope to see you there!

ROX Gallery, Aspen Grove, Littleton

I was pleased by an invitation to join the new ROX Gallery in the Aspen Grove Center.  ROX is a beautiful eclectic gallery with a variety of painting styles, photography, jewelry, and pottery - something for everyone.  Unique, one-of-a-kind art pieces, all created by Colorado artists. 

ROX Gallery with some of the artists. 
My paintings are on the left wall.

Join me at the reception this Friday, Feb 9, 5:30 - 8:00 pm.

Receptions are every Second Friday, a great opportunity to meet the artists.

I also help out about once a week; if you'd like to visit when I'm there, you can email me for my schedule.

If you see an available painting on my website or blog that you would like to view at the gallery, I'm happy to add it to my display for you with no pressure or obligation.   Nothing quite beats seeing the original painting.

7301 South Santa Fe Dr (at Mineral), Littleton, CO 80120

Unit #514, a couple doors to the right of Pottery Barn

Hours:

Winter hours through 3/31:

   Mon-Thurs 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

   Fri-Sat  10:00 am - 9:00 pm

   Sun 11-6 

Regular hours Beginning April 1,

   Mon-Sat 10 am- 9 pm

   Sun  11-6

ROX Gallery, Littleton, CO

I was honored by an invitation to join the ROX Gallery in the Aspen Grove Center, Littleton.  ROX is a beautiful, eclectic gallery with a variety of painting styles, photography, jewelry, and pottery - something for everyone and something new every week!

"Lost in the Music" ©Valorie Snyder

7301 South Santa Fe Dr (at Mineral), 

     Littleton, CO 80120

Unit #514, a couple doors to the right of Pottery  Barn.
    https://www.roxartscouncil.org

Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am- 9 pm

             Sun  11-6

Receptions every Second Friday, 5:30 - 8:00 pm

This painting sold the first week.

Former Students in Stock Show of Denver, Coors Western Art Exhibit

"Near the End of May" © David Grossmann

How exciting to see the art work of two of my former students in prestigious art exhibits at the Stock Show in Denver!  David Grossmann was accepted into the Coors Western Exhibit and Sarah Phippen at the Club Exhibit. Find them at:
  http://www.coorswesternart.com/index.php/david-grossmann  and
 http://www.coorswesternart.com/index.php/sarah-phippen

Sarah and David attended my classes as teens and inspired other students with their enthusiasm and determination to practice.  Successful artists rarely have only one teacher; they continued their training and built on that early foundation.  I'm proud to have been part of that foundation and so proud of them!

The Stock Show runs through Jan 21.  Since Sarah and David are showing their art in different places at the show, find the Coors Exhibit (for David) and inquire at the desk there about the Club Exhibit to arrange to see Sarah's paintings as well.

"It takes a Team"  © Sarah Phippen

Art Gallery Show, Center For the Arts Evergreen

"Bird's Eye View" oils
 ©Valorie Snyder

Two of my paintings were accepted into this juried member show in the Art Center's beautiful new gallery near Evergreen Parkway and County Rd 65.
31880 Rocky Village Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439 
http://evergreenarts.org;  303-674-0056).

Jan 12 - Feb 24, 2018

Open: M-F 10 am-5 pm; Sat 12-5 pm

Opening Reception:  Friday, Jan 12; 4-7pm
Stop in the see the show!

Student Andy Millar Art Show

Stop by South Colorado Blvd in Denver to check out the solo art show of my student,
Andy Millar.  Find it at:

From the Ground Up Coffee Shop
2418  South Colorado Blvd,
Denver.

His show continues until October 31.
Congratulations, Andy!  Beautiful work!

ACC Student Show Winners, 2017

Stacey O'Donnell, Second Place award

Congratulations to my students who won awards in the recent Arapahoe Community College, Community Education Student Art Show.  Stacey O'Donnell won Second Place in Oils, and Randy Akers won the Merit Award.  

Both Stacey and Randy started as beginners and have returned to my classes consistently over the past 8 years.  Their paintings demonstrate how passion for painting, perseverance and practice pay off.

Randy Akers, Merit Award

To all my students who submitted paintings to the show, keep up the good work!  You are all winners!

Oil Painting Class Project

In my Intermediate Oil Painting Classes, students normally work on individual  projects, consistent with their personal artistic goals.

Carol Catt

Sometimes we do a class project from my demonstration to study a specific skill, technique, or painting approach.  

Carolyn Gallegos

These are a few of the oil studies from a project designed to help students paint faster and more freely.  We also emphasized the variety of colors in the shadow of the adobe wall.

Andy Millar

Nancy Hubbard

It's fun to see how each painting is different as it reflects the personality of the artist, although all were painted from the same reference.

New Oil Painting Class

Cliff Austin Fine Art Studio in Littleton

I'm happy to announce my new oil painting class at Cliff Austin's Fine Art Studio in Littleton.  

Classes are ongoing for Intermediate to Advanced students, Tuesdays, 1-4 pm. An email to me is all it takes if you're interested! 

For details, click on the Private Classes tab at the top of this page.

Beginners:  I have classes for you, too, at Arapahoe Community College (non credit - you don't have to enroll in the college). Check out the ACC Painting Classes tab at the top of this blog.  I hope to see you there soon!

One-day Outdoor Painting Workshop 2016

Outdoor Painting Workshop

Saturday, June 11, 2016,  

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

For Class Description and details, click on the Oil Painting Workshops tab at the top of this page.  

To register, simply email me.  I will send you the location, supply list, directions, and tips along with your confirmation.  Class size is limited.

2016 Portraits and Custom Oil Painting Commissions

Plan now to give a very special gift to someone you love.  I'm currently booking portrait and custom oil painting commissions for 2016.  You will want to allow 3-4 months for your painting, depending on my portrait schedule and backlog.  Earlier bookings get priority.

If you have a special occasion, anniversary, birthday, or reunion coming up, an original oil painting is a perfect gift to commemorate your event.

Explore your idea with a simple phone call or email.  No pressure or obligation ever.

Happy New Year!

Some of my artist friends and I have a custom of choosing a single word to summarize our goals for the new year, rather than creating a list of resolutions.  My word for this year is BALANCE. Last year was out of balance, due to my father's hospice and passing, as well as other challenges.  To restore and maintain balance, I need consistent PEP:  Prayer, Exercise, and Painting! Everything else flows out of these when I succeed in making these the priority.

What's your word for the year?

Another Art Student Winner, ACC Community Education Art Show

Congratulations to another one of my students, Rumi Engineer, also a winner in the Arapahoe Community College Community Education Art Show in May.  Rumi won 3rd place in the Painting Division with his lovely blue plate still life shown here.

Student Winner

Congratulations to my student, Brenda Bottini for winning the Second Place Award for Painting in the ACC Community Education Art Show in May.  Brenda writes:

"I enjoy Valorie's class and have taken it six times. Each session I feel more confident and have more fun. She is very helpful and we know to be patient with ourselves as it is a progression of learning and takes time. Well worth the investment to cultivate artistic skills and friends."

Note:  Many students attend my 6-week classes several times.  This allows them to continue from where they left off before, without repeating exercises already completed.  

Outdoor Oil Painting Workshop Dates

Outdoor one-day workshop dates are finalized!  
Dates are:
Saturday, May 16 
or
Saturday, May 30 
Find all the details on the "Oil Painting Workshops" tab at the top of this page. Students always have a great time in these comfortable classes and learn a lot.  Join us!