Virginia Houston
Artist
Virginia Houston (B.A.E., and B.A from MUN and M.A.E. from University of Southern Mississippi) is a retired high school art teacher who now follows her passion: painting urban streetscapes, rural scenes and communities in her native province of Newfoundland as well as Nova Scotia.
She also paints what’s in her Oakfield neighbourhood such as the wildlife that she views through her studio window every day such as deer, chickadees, blue jays, crows, pheasants, cardinals, etc. The inspiration for her paintings comes from many sources: including historical events, the decline of the fishery in NL, relocation of outport communities, physical landscape of the Maritimes, as well as still life objects. Painting is appealing for Virginia because it satisfies her mind, connects her to nature and challenges her to keep pushing herself to express the beauty she sees all around her.
Virginia’s book “Timeless Treasures”, a compilation of her work capturing historical Newfoundland vistas, was published in the fall of 2004. Although accomplished in watercolours, oils and acrylics, Virginia’s medium of choice is now water-mixable oils. Her paintings have been presented through many juried art shows and exhibitions for over 30 years in her native province of NL and for the last eighteen years in Nova Scotia.
Her commissions hang in many fine homes, in private and public collections, as well as several offices of the Government of NL and NS; while her limited edition reproductions are found in many Atlantic Canadian galleries. She has won many art contests, and two of her paintings have been featured in the International Richeson 75 Animals, Birds and Wildlife 2013 and 2015 art contest exhibit book.
Virginia was a top ten winner in the International Aqua Fest 2018 Water Media Showcase.
Virginia is a co-op member of the Winding River Art Gallery in Stewiacke, NS, (Past President), Fisherman’s Cove Gallery in Eastern Passage, NS, and Artport Gallery, Halifax Airport. Her paintings are also available at Art Zone Gallery, Halifax, as well as Gallery 97 in Lower Sackville, NS.
