Virginia
also studied watercolour painting with renowned Newfoundland artist, Ed
Roche; took additional training through Memorial’s Art extension
program; studied with Jim Morris and Margaret Ryan in Southern
Mississippi; and continues to hone her skills through dozens of
workshops with noted artists in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and
beyond. Although accomplished in watercolours, oils and acrylics,
Virginia’s medium of choice is acrylic.
Ms.
Houston taught elementary school, including art, for 22 years; followed
by eight years of teaching high school Art in St. John's. She also
taught Art in the Memorial University extension program, as well as at
the Salmonier Correctional Institute in Newfoundland. She has also
worked with the ArtsSmart program (NL) in many schools including those
in St. John's, Outer Cove, Mount Pearl, and St. Mary's Bay. Upon
retiring from public education, Virginia opened her own School of Art
for adults and children in 1995.
Virginia's work has been presented through many juried art shows and
exhibitions for over 22 years in her native province. Her commissions,
spanning some twenty years of work, hang in many fine homes, in private
and public collections, as well as several offices of the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador as well as the Giovernment of Nova Scotia;
while her "limited edition" prints are found in galleries in
St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, Halifax and Toronto. Her
paintings have been critiqued on many occasions in the St. John's
Telegram, NTV Herald and the Southern Shore Post.
The subject matter of Virginia's main body of work revolves around rural
landscapes and sunsets as well as urban life, including street scenes,
city architecture and still life. The inspiration for her paintings
comes from many sources: including historical events, the decline of the
fishery, the relocation of outport peoples, the physical landscape of
Newfoundland and the people who live there. Beginning in 2006, Virginia
will begin to paint rural and urban vistas throughout the Maritimes.
Her first book, a compilation of her work capturing historical
Newfoundland vistas, entitled Timeless Treasures: Historical
Newfoundland in Art, was published in the fall of 2004. It contains 30
paintings, several which are also available as Limited Edition Prints of
well-known Newfoundland architecture and villages. These books are
available either as an Address Book or in a Guest Book format. Virginia
is currently (2007) working on a new Art guidebook for teachers, parents
and other supervisors of children from Grades 3 to 6. It will contain
lessons in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. Its purpose is
to supplement Art programs in the schools or will work as a program
in itself for children who have no programs in their schools.
