Arts

Art Scoop: Vera Graham Welcomes Her Art That Comes From Within

My first exposure to art occurred when I was about five years old.  I met the boy across the street. Alex was a solitary soul and he drew the characters from the Archie comic books with exact precision. I was entranced and in awe as to how he could do these drawings as he was only seven years old!

As frequently as possible, I would escape from the noise of five siblings to draw with Alex in his quiet basement. Often as a child, my mother would send me to the corner store, which was at least a mile and a half away, to buy her cigarettes. I guess that dates me as a child of the sixties.

During these trips, I would explore the newly built library. I remember reading about the “elements of design” and being totally confused, which probably explains my constant struggle with “composition.”

Higher education was encouraged by my parents, but not free choice. Rather than photography, I took math and science with art options during my four years of university. Looking back, I think my mother wanted to put me in an academic arena to attract an acceptable mate.

Eventually, I married the boy across the street but it was a different street and a different town. My husband’s work took us to Calgary, Alberta, where our daughter Sarah was born.

I soon returned to art, painting small landscapes in oil from photos I took while walking with Sarah up and down the alleys of our neighbourhood.

When Sarah went to school, I joined an art group that put significant weight on marketing their art. Together members organized week-long monthly art shows.

We each had a lot of work to do to prepare for these shows which seemed to happen in rapid succession. I made a decision to switch from oils to acrylic because the medium was fast-drying, making it easier to prepare for these exhibitions.

It was during one such show I sold my first painting, “Walking with Mary Dover.” Over time I continued to use acrylics and after thirty years, I am still discovering different ways to use them.

Later I joined a life drawing group. Tsak was a regular. He showed up very early so he could set up his easel in a specific spot. I admired his drawing skills so I would set up near him to learn.

One night I overheard him welcoming others to paint with him at his studio where he painted from live models. Ever since that evening I painted portraits alongside of him on Wednesdays for thirteen years. All of our models were clothed.

Around this time, I had a house-cleaning job for a retired University Professor of Literature who was also an artist. She had stacks of art magazines and when she chose to part with them, I was the beneficiary.

This was when I started my “Art of Others” binder. If I liked an art image, I would cut it out and paste it into my binder. This book was my “go-to” when I struggled with one of my own pieces. I would open my binder and analyze each image asking, “Why does this piece succeed?”

Today with the internet, my binder seems obsolete, with no shortage of beautiful art images by many, many talented artists right at our fingertips. Yet I still pull out my binder whenever I’m struggling with a piece.

When my husband retired, we moved to Kingsville. Ann Robertson-Segal lived across the street. At that time, she was very active in the art scene.

Anne encouraged me to attend the meetings of the Kingsville Arts and Culture Development Association. It included town representatives and members of the BIA who were renovating the old Carnegie Library into an art gallery.

I was a little shocked to learn that they had never had an artist interested in joining the group and I think they were doubtful of any contribution. To be honest, this group was not like any art group I had ever known. But over the years, more and more artists joined and the group evolved.

Today, it is better known as the Arts Society of Kingsville. I encourage others to join, not just artists and artisans, but art lovers as well.

Once I was settled, I also joined the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Artists, a group that was well organized by a Windsor artist, Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald.

I had never before painted outside in the winter. I struggled with frozen paint brushes when I captured “When Wood was King.” Elizabeth suggested I add alcohol to my rinse water to keep my brushes pliable in the sub-zero weather. She also introduced me to plein air art festivals which have proven to be exciting summer excursions.

The piece entitled “Swallows and Sails” was done at the Finger Lakes Plein Air Art Competition & Festival in Canandaigua, New York.

My journey has been marked by many competitions, submissions and exhibitions. July of 2015 marked my most successful exhibition at Earls Court Gallery in Hamilton, selling thirteen of fifteen paintings displayed.

“Reflected Reeds” was one such sale. This same gallery has yet to invite me back. This caused me to question my abilities as an artist.

When I think long and hard about this, it is most likely because I failed to bring a significant number of new patrons to the venue. In response, I am more committed to my art with less emphasis on marketing. I am welcoming my art that comes from within, simply for the happiness it brings to me. I can only hope there will be a moment of delight in the eyes of those who take a look.

Coming Soon

A two-week exhibition of Vera’s art will be right here in town at the Sissy & Roché Fine Arts Gallery, opening on April 6 and ending on the 17.

This art gallery is showing several two-week displays of art by different local artist-members of the Arts Society of Kingsville, starting March 9 through to the end of July.

The Gallery is located south of the Movati Athletic gym.
Its address is 313 Main St E, Unit 9 in Kingsville, N9Y 1A7.

Email Contacts

Art Society of Kingsville
theartssocietyofkingsville@gmail.com

Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Artists
paintpleinair@gmail.com

All photos provided by Vera Graham

4 Comments

  1. Rachelle Moncur

    I recognize that last piece – it hangs in my house and has always been one of my favourites!

  2. Thank you for sharing your art story – it was very inspiring. Your work is beautiful and so full of motion.
    I will plan to drop in to Sissy & Roche when your show is there.
    All the best – Catherine Bast

  3. Vera your story is wonderful, and your art is unique. Thank you for your kind words about the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Artists and myself. I can’t wait until our group can safely paint together again. May you continue to bring joy to others and yourself through your painting.

  4. Amorelle Gramfort

    Loved learning about your art journey my friend! Have always loved your work and the process in which I see you create your plein air pieces. Your encouragement to a younger artist like me has been greatly appreciated.

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