Richland Art Hop: Valli McDougle

Join us for the Richland Area Art Hop. 

RCL's featured artist is Valli McDougle.

About the Artist:
Following many years of work in administrative positions in the political, business and medical fields, I’ve discovered a passion for painting rather late in life, however, younger than Grandma Moses. I never dreamed I would find such joy and satisfaction in doing what I was meant to do. While I drew and painted when I was young, and knitted, quilted and did needlepoint, my adult jobs were demanding and left little time or energy for learning to paint. I was thrilled to have the time in 2000 to begin classes in watercolor and other water-based media after I retired.

I like to paint in series.  “Windows on the World,” my contemporary acrylic paintings are layered texture and pattern, occasionally incorporating line.  I’m drawn to large shapes and am enamored with color, particularly leaning towards a warmer palette. Since 2013, I have experimented with painting fluid acrylics on unprimed canvas, inspired by Helen Frankenthaler and the American Expressionists, and loving both the abstracts and flowers.

“Pastiche,” according to Webster’s dictionary, is “a literary, artistic, or musical composition made up of bits from various sources; potpourri.” This is the title of my series of small collages that incorporate painted tissue papers, transferred images, gold and silver leaf, music, stamps, and found objects, such as watch parts or unusual paper clips. These little 4” square gems are multi-layered and mysterious.

Since 2002, I have been in solo and group exhibitions in San Diego and La Jolla, California; in Denver, Colorado; and in Southwest Michigan. For the past six years, my studio has been open for the many visitors who come to Southwest Michigan for Arts and Eats, a self-guided tour of art studios, boutique farms and restaurants specializing in locally-grown farm products. Many paintings have been juried into national and international exhibitions, some receiving awards.

Currently, I live on Gull Lake in Southwest Michigan, near Kalamazoo -- and yes, there really is a Kalamazoo -- with my husband Tom, a retired United Airlines pilot. We have four adult children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. What entertains us are our two rescue cats -- Raphaela, a Seal Point Siamese, and Buttercup or Buddy, an orange marmalade tabby -- with their individual personalities and comical behavior. And I kayak regularly. Life is good!!

https://www.mcdougle.com/