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Focal Point: Victoria Ekelund
Visit Victoria Ekelund's Canvoo Focal Point on the web

True Americana depicted with realism and charm, and told with a little bit of spunk and bravado. Fabulous use of angles, color, symbolic icons, and perspective. Fun!

- Informed Collector

Artworks by Victoria Ekelund:


See More Artworks >>

Other Web Pages with info about Victoria Ekelund

Victoria Ekelund's Main Artist Website

Victoria's Blog

Overview:

"Great art is the outward expression of an inner life of the artist and will result in his personal vision of the world." Edward Hopper

I am a professional impressionist oil painter as well as a landscape painter who will work from your photographs to create that special something for you to cherish be it a favorite place, person or pet. Just a few things I specialize in are still life paintings as well as landscape paintings. I do many shows in Denver CO where you can check out my paintings.

I paint because I am drawn to it like a moth to the light. Painting is fundamental to my understanding and expressing life as I see it. Both nature and people stimulate me. I love the beauty of life; there isn't enough time to put down everything that excites me. It could be an object, it could be the light, or the expression or fleeting impression of a moment caught in time.

When I create a piece of art, I first block in large basic shapes. Then I look for where I want movement within the piece, where I want my viewer to go. I try to keep that movement in mind as the painting progresses. Drawing the viewer in and keeping them involved in the scene is key; to "walk into the scene" and lead them to novel discoveries, both visual and personal; to give the viewer a chance to see a different perspective of something very commonplace.

Biography

As a gardener, Victoria endeavors to impart the essence of nature in her work. Victoria strivesfor that same essence of the individual's nature when painting the figure.

Victoria was born into a military family and was fortunate enough to move to Europe as a young child spending her formative years there and being profoundly affected by the sense of history and culture that surrounded the everyday. Her mother loved to travel and therefore the family traveled often from wherever the home base was at the time. She was fortunate to have world class art museums available for soaking up the wonder of color, composition and subject matter. Some early influences included Albrecht Durer, Michelangelo, Rodin and Vincent Van Gogh. Rodin an Michelangelo were such an early influence that Victoria sold her first, and only sculpture at the high school Art Show in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Victoria attended the Colorado Institute of Art, graduating in Advertising Design. That background in graphic design is still in evidence in her paintings today with her strong sense of composition, shapes and color.

On and off over the years while working and raising a family she attended the Art Students League of Denver studying under some of Denver's finest artists. Drawing, printmaking and then oil paints. For 9 years her studio was the dining room table or a corner of the living room with her drafting table. Having had 2 reconstruction surgeries of her right shoulder left her unable to hold her arm up at an easel and she had to paint sitting down or not at all. Painting at an easel is still a challenge but one that is surmountable most of the time.

Victoria has been in many local and national juried exhibitions, winning from Honorable Mentions to Artists Choice and Best of Show awards.

Victoria enjoys being outdoors and painting. She feel fortunate to be a part of the Plein Aire Artists of Colorado (PAAC). There is nothing better than being outdoors doing what you love best with others that share the same passion.

Professional Organizations: Oil Painters of America, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, American Impressionist Society

Group Exhibits: Denver Plein Air Art Festival, Abend Gallery Minature Show, Angler Fine Art Gallery, Art Student's League of Denver, Cultural Arts Center of Estes Park, Denver Botanic Gardens, Foothills Art Center, Gallery 821, Gallery Nine, Lakewood Cultural Center, Republic Plaza, RL Foster Gallery, Patron's Art Gallery

One Person Shows: Littleton Museum, Littleton CO (2011); Providence Art Gallery, Denver, CO (2004); Blake Gallery, Denver, CO (1994)

Other Web Pages Victoria Ekelund Recommends
(These pages are not necessarily about Victoria Ekelund)

Denver Art Schools - The Art Institute of Colorado

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado

Gallery 1261

Granville Redmond - California Impressionism

Karen Kaysen: American Realist Painter

Museum of Contemporary Art - Denver, CO

Oil Paintings by Donna Schaffer, Fine Artist in Healdsburg, California

Plein Aire Artists of Colorado