Read the
St Croix Valley Press feature article about Virginia here
Born in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, the oldest of three children, Virginia relocated to Minnesota and now lives in Mahtomedi.
If you ask her how she started to paint she talks about her childhood and how she would recreate the neighborhood houses on paper, or draw people and flowers. School never gave the opportunity for formal training, but art stayed a strong interest in her life.
It wasn't until her fourth child was born that she met another artist who assured her that she could paint portraits if she really tried. Remembering that, she signed up for classes with a local instructor who taught the basics of drawing the human body. Later, while working full-time at the College of St. Catherine, she enrolled in classes part-time and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art. Celine Charpentier, an instructor and friend was responsible for mentoring her through these years.
Virginia has worked in acrylics, pastels, oils, and watercolor. Most of her paintings are of people, flowers, or nature. She creates her floral paintings from her interest and love of gardening.
Virginia's long time interest in photography captures images to paint at a later time. Ireland, Scotland, and Italy are her favorite locations to tour outside of the United States, providing inspiration for her future paintings.
She has participated in the White Bear Lake "Fair in the Fields", Marine on the St. Croix, and Afton art shows. Recent paintings can be seen on her website: www.reflectionsofpeace.com
Virginia believes that her work expresses the beauty she sees in God's creations.