Portfolio Sample
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Valerie Walsh
310 -455-3322 |
Web site: www.valeriegallerie.com
“My art is all about houses and buildings. I spend most of my days painting my signature "Houscapes" portraits of private homes and Landmark buildings. In between I create dimensional paintings and illustrations and I am learning the art of Automaton so that my houses will wink their shuttered eyes and smile with the opening of a door all by using a crank. I am a San Diego girl but I live in the beautiful town of Topanga now. It's a State Park so it's a special place, easy to be an artist here and I have stayed for 28 years. I live with my husband John Hartmann. He's an amazing and inspirational person, he gets me and gives me the freedom to be me. We also have a dog "Rat" for 12 years, he's a Queensland Heeler who is able to run free and be a dog. Topanga offers a unique atmosphere to artists, writers and musicians and has a rich history that is captured in the book The Topanga Story. I am proud to be included in the artists section and I am a member of the Topanga Historical Society which affords me access to amazing historical properties here. My goal is to paint as many of the old properties here that I can. One of the most rewarding gifts I receive is when a past patron or collector tells me how glad they are that I captured a slice of their home life and how meaningful it is to them.
I have made art for lots of great companies and people like Microsoft, Friendly House, Fred Segal Fun Style, Justin Vineyards and Geffen Records. I have done poster, prints, greeting cards, puzzles, calendars, advertising and artwork for products. I love to try new things and come up with great ideas.”
When did you first decide to become an illustrator?
“I knew I was an artist from early on but I met an artist when I was 19 by the name of Michael Bedard. He was successful, taught me so much and I assisted him on many projects. I got a publishing deal at 21 with Luna Art, this small salon of artists included Michael Bedard, Seigbert Reinhard and James Paul Brown. My first large painting sold at Art Expo New York and it was thrilling. My art was published into posters, prints and limited editions. I learned all about offset and plate lithography and I worked as an assistant to master printer Jeff Wasserman of Wasserman SilkScreen Company for 5 years. I printed and worked with many great musuem quality artists such as Bettye Saar, William Wegman, Joseph Kosuth, Ed Moses and on and on. That was my education. ”
Describe your process for creating an illustration.
“I am old school and I feel like a dinosaur as I am writing this! I airbrush and hand paint all of my art. I sketch out my idea, flesh it out perfectly. Transfer it to tracing paper. Trace the reverse creating a carbon. Transfer to gessoed masonite or airbrush paper or whatever I am painting on. Begin painting.”
What makes an illustration successful?
“Creating something clever in your way that makes people smile, think or feel something.”
If you could be a fun fictional character, who would you be?
“Probably a character I created that is a flying Home.”
