Valerie (Spence) Hounsell
FINE ART
Bio
Valerie Spence Hounsell ASCA
Valerie is a full-time landscape painter residing in South Eastern Ontario, She is an adventurer who enjoys hiking, kayaking, and sharing her experiences through her visual interpretation of the landscape. Working with acrylics on canvas she creates using a unique, somewhat realistic painting style unapologetically exploiting the unique beauty of all seasons. Using colour, contrast, composition, and fine brushwork she creates a colourful and unique perspective of her subject matter.
Artist's Statement
Though I have painted since I was a child, I launched my full-time career as an artist in the fall of 2019 while successfully curating an outdoor art show featuring over 20 exhibitors, including myself.
As a kayak enthusiast, my view from the water as I paddle through the wetlands has been the primary source of inspiration. Granite shores, quiet inlets, and the rushing waters of the glacial melt are my signature subject matter. I imagine the divine aroma of the pine needles on the forest floor, the warmth of the sun on my face, or the soothing sounds of water lapping up onto the shore as I paint. I savour these sensory moments and draw upon them as I portray these memories onto the canvas.
My fascination with water as an agent of geological change is represented in many of my pieces. With each brushstroke I create the suggestion of the landscape adding more detail as I immerse myself in the subject matter.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Gallery Representation
· Grant Berg Gallery, Grande Prairie AB
· Martello Alley and Martello on Brock, Kingston ON
· Cooperative member & exhibitor VAGA Art Gallery, Gananoque ON
· Lakeside Studio Gallery, Bath ON (closed December 2023)
· Katherine Muir-Miller Gallery, Perth ON (closed January 2024)
Exhibitions
2024
· Successful at jury SCA 2024 Open International Online Juried Exhibition
· Successful at jury Before the Summer Show, Gananoque May10-12
· Successful at jury Cline House Annual Juried Show, Jan 25 - Mar 2
2023
· Successful at jury Before the Summer Show, Gananoque May 19-21
· Summer and Grace Gallery H2O show, May 4-28, and JOYII Holiday Small Show Nov - Dec - Jan
· Feature artist Lakeside Studio Gallery, Waterscapes, Aug. 4-27
· Successful at Jury, Kingston Square Foot Show, TETT Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston ON
2022
· Successful at jury 9th Annual Juried Art Show Colborne Art Gallery, September 16 to November 6
· Successful at jury SCA 54th International Open Juried Exhibition, Papermill Gallery Toronto Aug, 4-27
· Successful at Jury, Kingston Square Foot Show, TETT Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston ON
· Participant in the 2nd Annual Small Works Event, Katherine Muir-Miller Gallery
· Solo exhibition at Grant Berg Gallery April 21-May 14, 2022
2021
· Participant by invitation to the Kingston Square Foot Show, TETT Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston ON.
· Successful at jury for the Society of Canadian Artists Open International Online Exhibition 2021
· Solo Exhibition at the Township Office of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, February
2020
· Martello Alley, Kingston ON - Feature Artist October & November 2020
· Solo Exhibition at the Township Office of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, February
· Successful at jury for Kingston School of Art Juried Exhibition
· Successful at jury for the RE:MEMBER Show, hosted by Modern Fuel, Kingston ON
· Exhibitor Arts & Cultural Tour in Southeastern Ontario
2019
· Successfully curated, and participated, in The Artist’s Studio Show, an outdoor art event that included over 20 exhibitors, Lyndhurst ON
· Exhibitor Arts & Cultural Tour in Southeastern Ontario
MEMBERSHIPS
· 2021 to present Associate Member status with the Society of Canadian Artists.
· 2022 Active Status with the Federation of Canadian Artists.
· 2022 Active Status member of the Peace River and Toronto Chapters of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
· 2019-2021 Member Rideau Lakes Artist’s Association - assisted the marketing team with two social media promotions, and redesigned/built a new website using website design software.
PUBLICATIONS
· 2021 Featured artist in The Belleville Local, an online newspaper, February edition
AWARDS
· 2020 3rd Place Award, KSA Juried Exhibition
EDUCATION
Centennial College, Scarborough ON Diploma: Communications with a focus on design and marketing
SOCIAL MEDIA
Website: www.valeriespencehounsell.com
Facebook: The Artist's Studio - Valerie Spence Hounsell
Instagram: @val_spence_hounsell
Email: vhounsell2@gmail.com