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Virginia Simons

"Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

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Welcome!

“In the creative state a person is taken out of themself.” E. M. Forster

Welcome to my website, I am pleased to share my art with you.

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I am an emerging Westlake artist. After a forty-year career as a therapist for children and families, and raising a family, I have concentrated on a long-time passion of developing artistic skills in watercolor, oils and collage. My work reflects my fascination with the non-verbal, from facial expressions to gestures and movement of figures in space, the sun’s shadows, night skies and nature. The unpretentious faces of children capture my compassion for them and the untold stories they show without words being spoken.

Here is a sneak peek into my world of art. You can view my full portfolio by clicking the button above or visit my Instagram account.

Colorado Sunrise
Grandma’s Ditch Lillies
Grandpa’s Farm
Dance in Beauty
Generational Pride
Left Ashore
Ohio Wildflowers
Shells at Fort Morgan Beach
Storm Passing
Whimsical Glass Vase With Flowers
Where Am I?

Virginia's Background

"I have had deep appreciation in this form of expression since my first art class in 2 grade, but did not pursue formal art classes until adulthood."

  • 1973-75: Memphis Academy of Art night classes in watercolor with Fred Rawlinson, Steve Yee, and Dolph Smith.

  • 1976-78: Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art night classes in watercolor, figure, and still life.

  • 1997: Firelands Association for Visual Arts: Beginning watercolor

  • 2012-2015: Dine’ College art classes in design, drawing, photography, acrylic, and oils with Karen Willeto and Don Whitesinger, Navajo Reservation, Tsaile, AZ. Award first prize in design for Spinning Dancers. 2013.

  • 2015-2017: Workshops, classes, and figure painting at Cliffside Artists Collaborative, Hinkley, Ohio: Director Sara Kass. Workshops by Bob Moyer (3), Cathy Welner (2), Dave Cordas, Yuki Hall (3 day), Fealing Lin ( 3 days), Mel Stabin,( 3 days), Qiang Huang (3 days) Figure classes for two years, oils with Pat Rohrbacher (2).

  • 2017 Workshop with Fred Graff, Medina, OH

  • 2017 to present: ongoing student with Patricia Sigmier.

  • 2019 accepted for Kellwood Contemporary Art Show , Baton Rouge La.

  • 2020 to present: Member, Westshore Art Association

  • 2022 to present: Member, Aquarelle, Rocky River, OH

  • 2022 to present: Member, Ohio Watercolor Society 

  • 2022: Westshore Art Association Show, First Prize – Semi-professional

  • 2023: Ilustration for book jacket: Complex and Traumatic Loss by Froma Walsh

  • 2023: Juried show, Ohio Watercolor Society, Mansfield, OH

  • 2023: Westshore Art Association Show, First Prize, Semi-professional Collage.

  • 2024: Westshore Art Association Show, First Prize,Semi-professional watercolor.

  • 2024: Westshore Art Association Show, Second Prize, Semi-professional Collage.

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