About the Artist

is a contemporary artist whose vibrant, nature-inspired paintings reflect a lifelong passion for creativity and the natural world. Raised in the scenic beauty of upstate New York near Saratoga Springs, Valerie was drawn to art from an early age. Though an exceptional aptitude in math and science led her to a long and fulfilling career in medicine, art remained a quiet but constant love in the background.

Following an unexpected end to her medical career due to illness and injury, Valerie embraced this pivotal moment as an opportunity to return to her creative roots. She trained at the Milan Art Institute, where she honed her skills in drawing, mixed media, acrylics, and oils through intensive and disciplined study.

Valerie’s process is rooted in a dynamic layering technique, beginning with expressive underpaintings of inks, acrylic washes, soluble graphite, spray paint, stencils, and markers. She gradually refines these bold foundations with layers of transparent and opaque acrylics, finishing with richly luminous oil paints to achieve depth and a sense of movement. Her style evolves from abstraction to realism, capturing the essence of her subject with emotional resonance. “I’ve been told my paintings feel like a contemporary take on Monet,” she says.

Working from her airy second-story studio overlooking a lush canopy of trees and a Monarch butterfly waystation, Valerie draws daily inspiration from the vibrant ecosystems just outside her window. Her artwork celebrates the beauty and resilience of nature, and she remains deeply committed to conservation efforts. She plans to write and illustrate a children’s book about Monarch butterflies and their endangered milkweed habitat.