Redecorate Your Life With Art You Love
My Story
What is your favorite childhood memory? Many of my favorite memories are about color. I remember golden September mornings, walking to school on the very first day. The sky was azure blue, the air cool and crisp with glorious fall colors just beginning to turn. In my bag was a brand new box of Crayola Crayons® in 64 bright colors, fresh and unbroken, ready for creative expression. It was a day full of promise and adventure. Since then color has always captivated and inspired me. My first “serious” painting was an acrylic painting class in high school. I painted Maroon Bells, bold and colorful (trust me, you don’t want to see it!). That was the moment when I knew I wanted to paint for the rest of my life. That discovery was over 40 years ago. Although I tried other media, I long ago settled on oils as the perfect fit for me. I’m still painting and still captivated by color. Deep jewel tones; soft pastels; rich, warm earth tones; hundreds of skin tones, and variations of gray.
Style
Sparkling light and rich color are the focus of Valorie Snyder’s “Contemporary Realism” style. This style embraces both classic realism and a soft impressionism. Valorie’s paintings combine rich classic traditions with contemporary subjects, to speak to today’s audience. Her inspiration comes from her apprenticeship to Jesus, which creates a desire to bring hope and encouragement to others through her work.
Artist’s Statement
“My goal is to capture a fleeting moment and preserve it for all time. It may be the momentary expression of a child or light dancing through trees in a landscape. I love to depict people in ways that tell a story and draw the viewer into the painting to think about your own story. That story often conveys a universal truth that connects us all.”
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Valorie began her classical training at Atelier Richards in Amarillo, Texas, one of a few studio schools in the U.S. devoted to teaching classical old master techniques. She continued with private classes under Dawn Whitelaw, Joshua Fallik, Deborah Bays, Kristin Olsen, and at the Art Students League of Denver with Kim English, and Ron Hicks.
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Valorie has exhibited her work in numerous galleries and shows nationally and in Colorado, including The Academic Artists Association National Juried Exhibition in Springfield, Massachusetts, Buell Theater and Boettcher Hall in Denver. She has been featured in solo shows at the Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton, Goodson Center in Centennial, Miner’s Alley Playhouse in Golden, and the Belmar Museum in Lakewood, Colorado. Her work may be found in private collections throughout the United States
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Among her many awards was a commission by movie producer George A. Johnson to create the opening title sequence art for his movie, “Homeless For the Holidays.” The project included 7 portraits of characters in the movie and other art, 2010.
The Rocky Mountain District Kiwanis Foundation selected one of Valorie’s paintings for an edition of prints and note cards to benefit The Children’s Hospital in Denver, 1994 -1997.
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Valorie owned and directed a teaching studio for over 20 years. The studio enrolled over 70 students each semester, ages 8 to adult, and employed 3 to 5 additional artist/instructors. She created a curriculum incorporating right brain training and old master techniques, which produced dramatic improvement in students’ drawing skills.
She has taught drawing and oil painting at Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO, for over 12 years.
She conducts private workshops in plein air and studio painting.
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Oil Painters of America
Portrait Society of America
Plein Air Painters of Colorado (PAAC)
Center for the Arts at Evergreen, Colorado
Colorado Artists Guild (President 2009)
Lakewood Arts Council
Art Students League of Denver
Heritage Art Guild
Littleton (CO) Cultural Arts Committee
Roxborough Arts Council, Colorado