ARTIST BIO
Hi, I'm Vera Anderson. Welcome to my website!
At an early age, I showed a proclivity for drawing and was blessed to have parents who encouraged and fostered my artistic abilities. I grew up in the Midwest and spent many afternoons looking at masterpieces of the world re-known Art Institute of Chicago. As a student and lover of art, I was intrigued by the gestural figurative work of Degas and the bold colors of Van Gogh. I would sit on the front steps beside the bronze lions and sketch to my hearts content, the blur of humanity going by.
School would take me away from the Illinois to the University of Denver where I completed a BFA in graphic design in the mid 1990's. I left Colorado for a brief stint in Calgary and upon returning to Colorado, I applied for a job with United Airlines. After meeting my now husband (who was posing as a passenger to meet me) we began a world travel adventure that lasted 15 years! I fulfilled a life long dream to visit far and distant lands, from the frozen-in-time medieval city of Florence, to the savannas of Uganda the likes of which have been captured on our beloved Nikon.
I left United in 2015 to pursue and create art on a full time basis and I'm having a fabulous time!
ARTIST STATEMENT
I'm learning some new things in my art endeavor, as a person who chooses to create. I have to do the work of an artist, one who almost died. My Friend's Mother said a prayer over my hands
in spanish and set me on a course to explore art creation.
The journey and goal is not only creating beautiful final work but learning the process of conceiving, composing, and producing, which is sometimes wrought with vulnerability and failure. Creative capability is an amazing gift from God and can be used to uplift and lead people to ask questions of themselves.
My first question as an artist is: am I creating because I can and should? And why? My second question is in regards to my viewer, would they notice the beauty around them in my capture of it?
I'm in love with art and the questions, the problems that lead to solutions, hammered out each time I sit down in front of a blank canvas. The elements and principles I seek to keep intact while playing with expressive brushstrokes, bold colors, and inventive compositions. The finished product is a window into my inner world, formed by extensive travel, a brush with death, and other life experiences, in a summation which I choose to share outwardly.
Our human experience can be magnificent through creating and viewing: a perfect, yet imperfect symbiotic exchange of love and gratefulness in living!
EDUCATION
University of Denver BFA, 1996
The Lois Gibson Institute of Forensic Art Houston, TX 2014
Lawson Forensics Course Sharpsburg, GA 2014
Samantha Steinberg Forensic Composite Course Miami, FL 2015
certifications
certified art restorer 2022
AWARDS, Grants, and exhibitions
Jacques Art Center, Best in Show, 2023
Art of possibilities, second place 2022
parkview Fine Arts Festival, Third Place 2019
Trinity Art Show, Honorable Mention 2018
Parkview Fine Arts Festival, Third Place and
Honorable Mention, 2018
Parkview Fine Arts Festival, Second Place, 2017
The Grove Center for Arts and Media Grant Recipient 2016
Jacques Art Center Exhibition 2023
Lsu school of veterinary medicine international
animals in art show 2022
tri lakes center for the arts member show 2021-2022
Palmer lake art group small works show 2021
art of possibilities international art exhibition 2020,2022
Parkview fine art exhibition 2017,2018, 2019,2022
be extraordinare international art exhibition 2021
trinity national art exhibition 2018
How do you see god? exhibition 2020,2022
las laguna gallery art exhibition 2020
TEACHING POSITIONS
Traylor Academy Lakewood, CO
Private Lessons
ART STUDENTS LEAGUE of DENVER
GALLERIES AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Dr. Sara Muller Markey
MEMBERSHIPS
Palmer Lake Art Group
Tri Lakes art guild
Vera Nan Anderson
