Valerie Freeman - American Artist

Painting via Mediterranean Crystal Cruise

val — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:01:29 +0000

Artist Anne Trusty and I are going on an amazing inspirational journey in Grand style on board the most beautiful ship at sea, the Crystal Serenity

I always wanted to sail the Greek Islands and dreams do come true. Hopefully I will return with several painted panels, many sketches and photographs.

BON VOYAGE

PS… if you would like to join us or reserve a future cruise, please contact me.

Ventura/Ojai Arts Early Summer Tour

val — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:00:26 +0000

THE HEART OF THE ARTIST
Explore the arts in Ventura and Ojai June 4,5, and 6 hosted by Emily Thiroux and Ron Threatt.
I will have an open studio from 11am - 5pm on Saturday June 5th.
Call 310 200-3027 for directions.

*Friday Afternoon in Ventura, Champagne reception meet the artists
*Friday Night in Ventura, WAV, Working Artists in Ventura, Bell Arts Factory, Stoneworks Studio

*Saturday in Ojai, visit artists studios Sandy Wolk, me and Teal Rowe, Ojai Art Center, Firehouse Pottery

*Sunday Morning Brunch at My Florist restaurant in Ventura, 1-4pm Coil Basket Class with Emily

For complete weekend tour and registration call Emily Thiroux for more information 661-428-3610

Ojai Center for the Arts

val — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:10:10 +0000

“INspirations” Paintings & Photography March 6-31, 2010 Reception Sunday, March 7, 1-3pm 113 South Montgomery Street, Ojai, CA 93023 “BlossOming Muse” © 2010 Digital Photograph, 20″ x 16″, A single explosion of vibrational beauty was blossoming on the hillside terrace at Glen Muse. Ojai Center for the Arts, will host a series of my paintings and photography in their Fireplace Room for the month of March. On exhibit in the Main Gallery will be paintings by Santa Barbara Artist Laurie MacMillan. On exhibit will be photographs taken during Glen Muse Open House this past Thanksgiving during the Yuletide Madrigali performance. “Madrigali Muse” is a photograph captured outside looking in, at the event. “There was something very mesmerizing and intriguing viewing the event from outside through a curtain of antique leaded glass.” On March 13, Monica Ros School is having their big fundraiser “Evening Bash”. Jim Cherry and I donated “BlossOming Muse” for the Fine Art Auction. Please visit the website to bid and buy tickets! (link to come shortly) Ojai Valley Museum, 130 W. Ojai Ave. “Awesome Art” Ojai High Schools Annual Exhibit, March 4 - April 11, Reception Thursday, March 11, 4-6pm Join us and meet new Museum Director Michele Ellis Pracy. My art will be on exhibit for being one of the three judges.

“Agave Silver Mist Trio”, Digital Photographs

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Plein Air Painting with Dave Zaboski

val — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:40:26 +0000

Wow, we had so much fun Plein Air painting in the backyard today. Dave Zaboski was intrigued with my panorama size seascape of Will Roger’s State Beach, so we did a raw canvas trade and he took on the challenge of doing his first largest Plein Air oil painting in an afternoon. When asked how he was doing “I’m cranking” was his reply, and so he happily was and his gorgeous painting emerged.

When Dave said he was going to paint the Buddha on the wall, I decided to do the same. I’ve painted several masonite panel studies of the grove of oaks beyond the Buddha and painting the Buddha would be refreshing. Reverend Karen Wylie from Symphony of Life, gave an excellent sermon today, or better yet, spirit spoke about allowing and having faith in Spirit. And so, I let spirit move through me for painting, allowing the landscape and Buddha to merge through color. The painting now resides in the Meditation room of attorney, Ken Knabe in Cleveland, Ohio.

And my favorite photos of the afternoon has to be these two…
Buddha with Amazing Grace…

Dave Zaboski is a Divine artist and illustrator. Keep an eye for his new illustrative children’s book written by Deepak Chopra that will be available this New Year!

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Leonardo Da Vinci visits Monica Ros

val — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:50:10 +0000

Renaissance week, Oct 8th, 2009 at Monica Ros School in Ojai…. “Excusee?!” Are youa da Lisa? Youa very beautiful” “No!!”, “Shes ova dere”! “Oh no, dats a photo, I need da real livin Mona Lisa, in da breathin flesh…”

“MaMa Mia!! Ver isda Mona Lisa? Hava yua see her?” “Noa!!” “Dis isa verry bigga dilema…I musta findher toa paint her portrait…if youa see her, pleasea, sendha toa me. OK? Graze…”

And so, Leonardo searched the play yard asking all the queens, knights, peasants, philosphers, scientists, bakers, hat makers, etc…

Searched the classrooms and begged for assistance to paint the Mona Lisa on the hand ball court wall in an afternoon and if he didn’t find her, he just might have to do a painting of himself…. Oh my goodness, 9 years to paint the Mona Lisa and at Monica Ros, to do it in an afternoon would take a miracle.

And a miracle it was… The children poised to be the Mona Lisa and they were fascinated. Everyone worked very fast, like little bees on honey with their little brushes…. Smocks on gowns and armor, there were so many assistants at times, Leonardo had to stay in the wings to oversee.
He noticed how the children painted with their wrests & taught them how to paint from their legs, using their entire bodies to make energetic strokes!

Bravo!! They were & are magnificent!!!

OJAI STUDIO ART DETOUR

val — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:01:09 +0000

I love Ojai! What a beautiful loving community that is abundant with friendliness, spirituality and creativity.

Janis has opened her door for my artwork and gifts to be available for the 2009 Ojai Studio Art Detour. The Studio Detour is a collection of over 50 artists at 28 different locations in Ojai. The Ojai Studio Art Tour is simultaneous. Please visit Janis Art Garden Gallery & Workshop, October 10th-11th from 10am-5pm with an Artist Reception on October 10th from 6pm-9pm at STUDIO 201 #109 N. Blanch Street, Downtown Ojai.

You may be wondering, what is the difference between the Tour & Detour?

For some reason or another, artists that live in Ojai & are not part of the “Studio Art Tour”, have come together & created a free “Studio Detour”. Being new to Ojai, the jury process is long and limited to become part of the “Studio Tour” for this year. I gratefully support all artists on all tours and am very excited to share my artwork and collection of gifts from my online cafepress/freemanart gift shop with the community.

Included on the Detour is Steven Curry Impressionistic Oils, Sue Halstenberg soul centered paintings, Gino Hollander Figurative & abstract mixed media on canvas, Sandy Wolk Ceramic sculptures, Kerry Crank Landscapes in Oils, Sooz Glazebrook Ceramics & Paintings, Rick Monzon Oil Paintings, David Whipple Goldsmith Jewelry, Tony MaFrica Ceramics of Spirit, Ray Harding Fine Art, Frank Massarella soulful Ojai clay, Ingrid Boulting Spiritual Fine Arts, Larry Carnes Master Potter, Nancy Horwick Oil Paintings, Ali-Sun Trees Visionary paintings, Kate Hoffman Contemporary Impressionism, Ojai House Local Ojai Artists and many other talented artists.

Saint John’s Health Center Artwall

val — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:05:58 +0000

Saint John’s Health Center Artwall is a unique way of bringing art into a healing environment at the Howard Keck Diagnostic and Treatment Center. A large 17 foot tall digital wall made up of 16 50-inch” monitors, has rotating exhibitions of local artists.
“Art carries a therapeutic message that can greatly enhance the healing environment,” said Marla Koosed, Saint John’s Art Program curator. “Instead of presenting art in a traditional manner, we want to engage visitors in a sensory experience that evokes a soothing, therapeutic setting.”

And now featured on their home page for the “Spirit of Place” exhibit, is “Alice Hopping”, Chinese brush painting. Alice, short for “Alice in Wonderland”, which is the truth, born several years ago on the inspirational Malibu private ranch that inspires the painted pond series, became a special character of the menagerie of animals. For some, they think she is a horse, a dog, etc…but she is a donkey & filled with lots of spirit.
The newborns are always so much fun to study and paint. Also included in the exhibit is “Myth” sleeping, my little Mythy Myth(dog), who mythsteriously disappeared into the desert only to live up to his name.

A digital image from my first video “The Spirit of Art” taken at Point Dume Beach Malibu of my footprint in the sand, sandwiched between the footprint of wind in the sand is sandwiched between the brush paintings on the Media Wall. This image reflects our connection and freedom with the earth, our vulnerability of life, essence and preciousness of time and the magnificent art of God.

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To Shed

val — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:01:56 +0000

“Artworks on exhibit at Ojai Art Center”

val — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:06:00 +0000

“Hot Summer Days - Hot Summer Nights”

Opening reception Sunday, July 19th from 1pm-3pm at the Ojai Art Center.

Wow… lots of color, emotion, personal expression with a wide range of subject matter & techniques awaits you. That is just a glimpse of what I noticed when dropping off my artworks & the artists were still streaming in with art. This is going to be a very exciting show. The exhibit is unjuried with each member exhibiting up to 3 pieces…I thought it was juried, so I brought in a diverse range of pieces “Summer Chill” which I painted for the exhibit, “Time Out” a digital print & “Hot Tin Roof” a large spiritual painting. Hope to see you there & if you can’t make it for the reception, the exhibit runs til September 2nd.

While your in Ojai, you must visit Janis Hansen, owner of the amazing Art Garden Gallery. Her passion for the arts thrives with an intriguing collection of works from talented local artists & craftsman. On exhibit is my first Ojai plein air oil painting on board from “Meditation Mount”.

Also at Art Garden Gallery, Ojai are several of my Buddha with nature spiritual digital photographs.

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Commendation from Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

val — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:32:58 +0000

What a wonderful surprise to open the mail and receive a card commending me for my contribution of Art in the Antelope Valley from Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Mike Antonovich and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Although it is a great honor to be commended, it was only possible by the group effort of many people involved. I would like to take this opportunity to share this commencement and thank all of the participating artists, AV College Art Gallery staff, AV Press and volunteers who have contributed and assisted in bringing outstanding art exhibitions to enrich the Antelope Valley Community.

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