APRIL 2014

As She Sees It

Cape Cod Life  /  April 2014 / ,

Writer: Lilly Lowe

As She Sees It

APRIL 2014

Cape Cod Life  /  April 2014 / ,

Writer: Lilly Lowe

Valerie describes her style as ‘intuitive painting’, or a style similar to Abstract Impressionism. She says her approach is not to ‘copy’ an exact scene—whether a cluster of pink flowers or a French café—but to paint it in a way that conveys how the imagery affected the artist. “Intuitive painting for me is all about feeling the experience of whatever it was I saw,”  Valerie says. “I’m very drawn to that, especially if I can capture it authentically and get it on canvas in a way that feels right.”

Valerie Leri’s home studio glows with beams of sunlight streaming in from several windows.

This artist is passionate about acrylic paints and uses them almost exclusively; she likes how the paints mix and dry quickly. She is drawn to colors as well. In her studio, a sea of blues, greens, and oranges stream from paintings in every corner of the room, jumping from the walls, enticing visitors to look. “Colors can make you really happy,”  Valerie says. “They affect you, so I want to surround people with happy colors.”

The painter lives in Mashpee with her son Matthew and daughter Jessica; she also has three dogs, Layla, Bonnie, and Bentley; and two cats, Bell and Nell. She emphasizes that the pets are very much part of the family. Her oldest son, Chris, lives in Framingham. Valerie’s family is her support system and over the years has served as a source of great inspiration.

Valerie also turns to nature for inspiration, collecting tree bark and other natural items. “I love birch trees, so I collect a lot of birch bark and sometimes incorprate it into the paintings.” The artist gathers these natural treasures on her regular beach walks, or the hikes she and her beloved dogs take on the grounds of the Highfield Hall and Gardens in Falmouth.

Valerie Leri’s home studio glows with beams of sunlight streaming in from several windows.

One of the artist’s latest ventures is her creation of delicate, handcrafted ‘painting’ earrings. Inspired by her twin sister, Dianne, Valerie began creating the jewelry for local shops during the 2012 holiday season. Customers simply choose a specific painting that will become their own wearable work of art. She also sells small paintings of beach scenes. Her custom earrings and paintings are available on her website, rtartworks.com, and at M. Brann & Co. and the Black Crow Gallery in Mashpee Commons.

When she’s not painting, Valerie supplements her income doing transcription work for documentary films and marketing research companies. This allows her to work from home, while leaving time for her to  express her creativity on canvas. Whether she is creating earrings, or working on birch tree or beach paintings, the heart of Valerie’s mission pulses with a commitment to create positive, uplifting artwork.

Valerie Leri’s home studio glows with beams of sunlight streaming in from several windows.

“If people tell me they feel uplifted by my art, or are moved by it, that’s extremely gratifying,” Valerie says. “But at the same time, if there was no one around, I would still be painting, painting, painting—because I feel like I have to. I paint primarily for myself. That’s one of the ways I express myself, but it’s a bonus when someone receives my work and is moved by it in some way.”

Lilly Lowe

Lilly Lowe lives in Boston where she works as a copywriter. She spends her free time with friends, family, the outdoors, and daydreaming about her next trip. She has written several articles for Cape Cod LIFE, Cape Cod HOME and Cape Cod ART in recent years including profiles on local gardeners and a feature on Cape Cod Roller Derby.