Branches & Bark - 20 x 10 Painting

Valri Ary was born in 1963 in Canada, where she lived, studied and worked until her late 20's, at which point she moved to the United States with her 2 sons. As a child, Valri found immense joy in painting and drawing. This activity grew into a serious hobby, and she made her first sale in 4th grade. As a single parent, Valri's desire to be a full time, self-represented artist was put on the back burner so she could provide a home and education for her children. To keep her finger in the artistic pie she accepted commission work and painted windows during the holiday season. Valri's son's would often accompany her to paint windows in the evenings, it was not only helpful but a bonding experience the three still share today. When Valri was in her mid 30's she able to return to painting to build up a body of work. She also started to teach kid's art classes on the weekends and then was asked to teach an adult class, she converted her family room into a classroom. Valri spent time in Barbados and took artists back to the island for a painting tours. She has taught for the school board in Melbourne, FL in the adult education program. All of which helped her build up her portfolio. As an admirer of the sea and beaches, Valri loves to spend time outdoors and in the water. Most of her earlier watercolors were inspired directly from her time living on a sailboat in Southern California and then on land on the east coast of Florida. As her art has matured she has become less realistic and more expressive. Valri can be found experimenting with many different techniques, and uses various materials to achieve the desired effect. Valri refers to herself as a 'medium traveler' and has experimented with acrylics, pastels, watercolor, inks and oil, but acrylic and ink are her preferred mediums. Being a self-taught artist gives her the freedom to express herself with acrylics and various mixed media applications, her work has evolved through her own life experiences, the good and the bad. She strives to improve her craft with every new expressive abstract she paints.