Meet Trailblazer Lynn Van De Water

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Van De Water.

Lynn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always wanted to be an artist, earliest memory of someone asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up was around Kindergarten. I wanted to paint. I graduated from Colorado College in drawing and painting and went on to The School Of the Art Institute of Chicago in painting and art education. After graduation, I came back to Colorado and taught drawing and painting and AP art history and Kent Denver School for eight years during the 1990s. I married and moved to Salida, Colorado. Where I had my own studio and worked through raising my son, and helping my husband run his contracting business. I taught in many of the schools in town and still teach in my studio.

I had my own gallery in Salida for two years 2015-1017 and found I preferred to work without interruption so I built a studio at my house where I show and teach.

I am represented by the Salida gallery culture-clash (over 15 years) and Acosta Strong Fine Art in Santa Fe. My website is gallervandewater.com.

Has it been a smooth road?
If I would give advice to any age woman is not to listen to any advice that is not supportive and helpful. I kept going no matter what cruelty was told me, but I kept it in my mind like toxic baggage. Remember that what people say to you is more about them than your work.

Find really good teachers, even if you have to go across the world. I one of my favorite painters, friend, and teacher found that no school in the US would teach her how to really paint. She packed up, moved to St. Petersburg to be the first American woman to study at their Academy of Art.

So bravery every day.

Work every day.

Make your work as important as anyone else’s around you. Don’t put your work on the bottom of the to-do list.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I have worked in mixed media acrylic for many years. I carve block prints, print on Japanese paper and adhere the paper to canvas that I paint over with trees, flowers and patterns.

I love flowers, pattern and bright colors arranged in calming meditative compositions.

I just spent the month of June in Italy painting in a master class with my friend, Melissa Hefferlin, who helped return to my true love of oil painting and still lives. I have been working on a new group of work that takes pattern, objects and flowers in a more traditional still life form while holding onto my design strength.

Which women have inspired you in your life?
My Auntie Lynn was my first mentor, she was a painter and maker. All my gifts from her she had sewed painted or needlepoint. Growing up, there were few female artists to emulate, Georgia O’Keefe and Frida Kahlo were two I knew and admired but didn’t completely understand. So much drama, I admired women who got the job done. Agnes Martin, Jennifer Bartlett, Susan Rothenberg, especially because they were such wonderful painters.

Pricing:

• Painting prices start around $500 and go to $4500 depending on size and if framed.

Contact Info:

• Website: galleryvandewater.com
• Phone: 3038084247
• Email: lynnvandeh2o@gmail.com
• Instagram: Lynn Van De Water

Image Credit:
Mark Weidman

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