Virginia Shawver | Artist Statement

Coeur d’Alene has been home for more than 20 years. That is when I first met Steve Gibbs at his Art Spirit Gallery. Then, the gallery was in a quaint home on East Sherman Avenue. Steve told me of the artist community here and that Coeur d’Alene was a place to grow. For me, that has proven true.

Art has given me a way to express myself through every season of my life. As I have grown and changed, so has my artwork. From painting to printmaking, drawing, sculpture and jewelry, art has allowed me to check out, heal and replenish my soul. Everyday life objects, natural materials, and even junk meant to be discarded find new life in my art, helping my audience to see the old, the odd, and the everyday with a fresh perspective.

My father had his own plane when I was a child. Though only for a short time, it allowed me to see landscapes from a new perspective, kindling a passion for aviation. Aerial representations or abstracts appear in many of my paintings, especially in this body of artwork. These paintings embody my explorer’s spirit. I love vintage maps, traveling with family, discovering new places, and am constantly inspired by nature. I paint to preserve and share these sentimental memories with others.

I primarily paint on board, occasionally on paper or canvas. I begin with charcoal and broad strokes of color, creating layers with pours and drips of oil paint, oil sticks, and various graphite mediums. Using objects, odd tools, paper, rags, and my own hands, I move the paint around making marks and adding shape and texture to my paintings. Using Gamsol and other mediums, I increase the fluidity of the oil paint for a consistency characteristic of watercolors. Finally, a clear coat of varnish brings out the vibrancy of my paintings.