December 2017 blog

Beverly's cats, watercolor, 9x12" 

 Beautiful Family,  oil on canvas, 24x30"

Merry Christmas,
Happy Holidays
 and a Happy New Year!


Three commissions I have been working on.
Beautiful family is still a work in progress.



The interview is online! http://www.indianavoicejournal.com/2017/12/linda-simone-interviews-artist-vera-von.html?m=0

Our Lady of Vladimir, watercolor on wood, 11x14"

November 2017

I hope my American friends and family had a Happy Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving news is that my friend, poet, fellow watercolorist, Linda Simone, did interview me about my tree paintings and that the interview is going to be published in the Nov-Dec 2017 issue of the Indiana Voice Journal. The journal is online at:

https:www.indianavoicejournal.com//
IVJ is on Facebook as Indiana Voice

As of this event, I am putting the tree paintings on my website (www.verasart.com). My portrait paintings were also in my mind when I was answering Linda's questions. Thank you, Linda! Thank you, Indiana Voice Journal, this is a huge encouragement!

Gloria's Garden is a watercolor, I just finished. It was a piece I had fun painting.

Gloria's Garden, watercolor, 9x12"

These pen drawings are of trees in New Zealand. The trees in Albert Park were just awesome. Together with the mountains, hills and lakes of the South Island, these trees were my favorite part of New Zealand.

Snake Tree in Albert Park, pen, 6x8"

Miracle Trees, Albert Park, Auckland, NZ, pen, 6x7"

Rosalie's Mother, Oil on canvas, 18x24"

Rosalie's mother's portrait was a commission for artist, Rosalie Laxton, who was a true patron for me giving me four portraits to paint. Rosalie was an artist herself and a woman I admired for her great attitude and courage. She passed away this fall.

Rosalie, Oil on canvas, 18x24", 2014 started by Rosalie L. and finished by Vera Smith

I am grateful to have had Rosalie in my life as well as the other very dear friends who left this year.

Dog days July 2017

We experienced very high temperatures this July in San Antonio, we had dog days really!

For a few of months, people have started referring to me as the cat lady, not the crazy cat lady, mind. (I am told I don't have enough cats to qualify for the special addition.) It has been impressed upon me that we live in a dog loving world and in spite of that fact, I will continue to dote upon my feline friends. However, I love my dogs and am willing to make some concessions.
After I had been asked repeatedly about dog portraits, I drew and painted three during the last month.

First meet Izzy, a beautiful Belgian Shepherd.

"Izzy," graphite

Then two best friends.

"Dog Pyramid", watercolor and pastel

Last of all: Faith a chihuahua.

"Faith", watercolor
and marker

 Last of all, that is what I thought, but then Bruce came along and needed a portrait as well.

"Bruce", graphite and pastel

My last painting was done by me and Sandy Gray and we imagined instead of researched it.

(Huey, Dewey, Louie Cats" watercolor

Have a safe summer! Stay out of the heat!

April, May and June 2017

While listening to Marcel Proust and Emile Zola's novels, I have been drawing and painting my commissions over the last few months.
The Brother with his Baby Sister are direct descendants of Mary Cassatt's brother Alexander. I found it quite an honor to portray Mary's relatives.

Brother with baby sister, graphite 16x20"

The Virgin of Guadalupe is very popular in San Antonio. This is the first time I painted her image.

Virgen of Guadalupe, watercolor on wood

Sham in his darker summer and lighter winter coat. I enjoyed painting this portrait. It started when the trees were bare and I kept thinking, I need to paint those black trees with a building. There was very little time to paint and before I knew it, spring had come and the trees were leafing out. Looking through the photographs I had taken of Sham, I found the right one with lots of bare branches.  I felt confident that Sham's owner would understand, so I began without consulting her. (It is the first time I took such a chance on a commission.) As it turned out, she likes it, too!

Sham, oil on canvas, 18x24"

In June and July, my art will be exhibited at the Courtyard Cafe at 7600 Eckhert Rd in San Antonio (till July 31st). The reception will be on June 23rd from 4 till 6pm. It will be followed by BillyRay Sheppard Jazz duo from 7 till 10pm. The Courtyard Cafe has gluten free and vegetarian options.
I hope some of my local supporters can make it.

Have a great summer!

Feb/March 2017

The exhibit at Viva Vegeria closed at the end of February. It went very well: 12 originals were sold! The documentary at the art opening was fascinating, introducing us to women many of whom we had never heard about. Thank you to my family and friends who came despite the weather! Thank you, Fred for your support of artists!

In March, my art is at Twin Sisters Bakery and Café in Alamo Heights and Four Kings in Universal City. Whimsical cats are on display in Twin Sisters and landscapes in oil and watercolor in Four Kings.

Mission Conception Cat, watercolor, 11x18"

Orange Eyes or Connections, watercolor, 9x12"

Mission Espada Cat, watercolor, 11x15"

West Elm in the Quarry gives me space for a pop-up table on weekends. Due to the high volume of commissions, I will be there only one day every other weekend; the next one will probably be Saturday, March 18th from 11 till 3.
 The Say Sí exhibit is going on till the 24th. I have the pencil portrait of Belle in it. It is just great to see so many small scale works together.

Belle, graphite, 7.5x10"

Proust's À la Recherche du Temps Perdu is what I am listening to right now, and it got me motivated to look through my old work. Yesterday, I was asked how I got started with my whimsical cats.

When I was a teenager, I told all my secrets to my kitty Murik (Moerik), and I did a drawing of her.

Murik, First Whimsical Cat

In 2006,  I pulled out the old drawing for inspiration,  added color, and a landscape to the new version. I have been experimenting with the old model ever since, giving the little kid in me all the freedom it wants.

Sold at Twin Sisters so far:

the Orange Alamo Cat, watercolor, 8x9"

Blossoms Tortoise Cat, Thistle Alamo Cat and Siamese Cherry Blossoms, watercolor, 2x3"
Of the three, Blossoms Tortoise and Thistle Alamo sold.

Andy, the Warhol Cat, watercolor, 3x5"
the warhol cats are inspired by Andy Warhol's cats drawings

January 2017

This month I have mostly been busy with icons, my exhibit at Viva Vegeria and my portrait commissions. I also interviewed a San Antonio established artist, Steven DaLuz (stevendaluz.com). It was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the interview.
 I found time to finish An Evening at Caddo Lake. It is such a magic, peaceful place, I hope to be able to go there again.

Evening at Caddo Lake, 18x20", oil on canvas

Viva Vegeria in San Antonio is showcasing my art, especially the icons, and showing a documentary about women in history, some well known, others much less, on Saturday, Feb 4th from 6:30 till 9:30 with snacks and a cash bar. There will be a drawing for a free icon, I am painting one just for the occasion. See the event calendar of Viva Vegeria on Facebook.

My first 2017 icon White Lady of Vladimir.

White Lady of Vladimir, 5x7"watercolor on paper

Some  other icons from the exhibit:
I find Russian Icon is not well named, the Virgin Mary looks Chinese to me now and reminds me a a Persian miniature. I didn't see that when I painted it two years ago!

Russian Icon, 5x7",watercolor on paper

Our Lady of Vladimir Modern got the name because I didn't treat the clothing of the child traditionally (with folds). The child looks much older as well, but that, as far as the facial features are concerned, is in keeping with the tradition, not when it comes to the size, however.

Our Lady of Vladimir Modern, 5x7", watercolor on paper

The Korsun Mother of God is painted on wood. That is the way I first started painting icons, when I was a teenager and I still like the way the transparent colors look on the wood, especially on birch, pine and bass. The only problem is that I don't treat the wood and over time the wood can damage the painting. I have had a few icons painted like that for over 30 years, only in one the image is severely damaged. I am looking into experimenting with coating the wood first.

Korsun Mother of God, 3x5", watercolor

Sending you blessings and protection! Have a great month! I hope to see some of my local supporters on February 4th.