As a member of VAA Houston I have the opportunity to interact professionally with Houston’s multi faceted art community. Art can often be a lonely profession and an organization like VAA has provided me an opportunity to get to know artist not only in my chosen media but to learn, visit and get to know artist in a variety of media endeavors.

VAA has deep roots in the Houston arts community and a new energy which is embracing the current art scene. I found it a welcoming group years ago when I had a full time job, lived outside Houston’s city limits and struggled to create my art in stolen moments. Now that I’m spending all my time and energies on art related matters, I am enjoying email blasts and the website which keeps me connected to other artists and informed about local art events. The field trips to artists’ studios have been profoundly meaningful to me.

My journey as an artist has been enriched by my membership in the Visual Arts Alliance. This outstanding organization has presented me the opportunity to benefit from professional programs and unique volunteer opportunities. As a member and Past Exhibition Chair, I have shared with others artists their expansive visions of our common creative journey of discovery. My artistic endeavors have been enhanced and broadened by my involvement. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to share in the continuing success of the Visual Arts Alliance.

I joined VAA in 2006 and, as a photographer, was happy to find the company of artists from all media that are interested in artistic growth. I began to attend the monthly educational meetings and began volunteering. I was handed the task of finding exhibition venues and professional jurors. This allowed me to get familiar with that segment of the art community which is sometimes a mystery to most artists. Through those projects, I now consider Clint Willour, Jean Caslin, Diane Griffin, Sally Sprout, Keith Carter, Wayne Gilbert, Brian Portman and others friends of mine. Further, because of my relationship with Brookfield Properties (owners of Allen Center, Continental Plaza, Total Plaza, Heritage Plaza), I was offered the opportunity to curate the gallery within the Total Plaza building.

The best part of being in VAA for me has been my volunteer job as Program Chairman. I have been amazed at the willingness of artist, collectors, and gallery owners to have tours, studio visits, demonstrations and talks. This has rewarded me with new artist’s friends and colleagues in the Houston Art community. It has been so much fun.

Every once in a while, a person will encounter an opportunity, and not realize the full extent of it. Spring of 2011, I joined the Visual Arts Alliance with totally no idea of what, if any benefits that I would derive from. At every meeting that I have attended, I have left with an idea that I have incorporated in my work. The members that I have met have not only been serious about their work, but more importantly sharing and supportive at all levels. I would sincerely and strongly recommend that membership in the Visual Arts Alliance will return four times what ever effort that is invested. This is one of those rare encounters where “you get a lot more than you paid for”.

VAA has been a wonderful vehicle for juried competitions. It means a lot to be selected by curator/professional artists. The exhibition locations are impressive, and the selections for honorable mention are justified. It is a great opportunity to meet artists, and see the different media and styles that have been selected to exhibit.

I studied oil painting with Gary Hernandez for five years. Gary is a wealth of information on the process oil painting, especially of the “Old Masters”. I learned a lot from him. His wife, Josie, encouraged me to join the Visual Arts Alliance. I finally joined in 2010 and entered the 28th Juried Open Exhibition with my piece “Playa de la Barceloneta”. I learned that I was juried in when I received a call from Donna Villarreal. She said that it was an honor to get juried in and that brought a smile to my face.

I joined VAA in order to enter the shows initially.  I have been in several fall membership shows.  However my membership has brought me more than just the chance to show my work.  I have met many interesting artists.  I especially enjoy the chance to visit other artist’s studios and meetings where we share our work.  Seeing other artists work helps inspire me to continue my artistic journey.

I have been a VAA member for 1 year. I heard about VAA from a friend artist. As a member, I have been enjoying the VAA great programs and the opportunity to make connections with other artists.

Visual Arts Alliance has impacted my artistic career in a major way.  There is a wonderful scope for new and experienced artists.  The annual and membership juried shows are great to participate in.

I joined VAA in order to a have a connection with other artists, and to be involved in exhibiting my art work.   Through VAA I have been informed on a monthly if not weekly basis about up coming events such as; art shows , galleries and competitions.   There are many more events going on in Houston and surrounding areas that, I know of no other place to receive this information than through the VAA newsletter emails.

I am having an art show at Canal Street Gallery because of the art show the VAA had in May of 2011. My painting “The Green Bell” was seen by some members of Canal Street Gallery, they liked the work enough to invite me to become a member of the Gallery and now I will have a solo show of my work this September 10^th.

The more opportunities an artist has to showcase his/her work the more chances he/she has to  be seen.   So anytime an artist has the chance to belong to a group such as VAA do so.  It can l help you with your goals.

In my experience Visual Art Alliance is an art organization that promotes the growth of an artist in many ways. I speak as a past president, program, publicity and refreshment chairman. Their programs are unique and informative – and their exhibitions challenging and  professional.  Becoming involved through volunteering for a board position or on a committee broadens your knowledge and involvement in the art world.

In the approximately ten years that I have been a member of the Houston Visual Arts Alliance, I have had the opportunity to be included in several of the juried exhibitions. This has offered an invaluable tool for learning to submit work for exhibitions, prepare the work for public display, and discuss my work with people.

Meetings and workshops that offer information on various mediums and techniques are also particularly helpful. It is also valuable to be able to visit the studios of professional artists to observe how they work and organize their work environment.

When I moved back to Houston I wanted to begin a presence in the art world.
I met some VAA members and they took me under the wings.  I entered one of their members contest and was selected as one of the entries for the members exhibition.  The reception gave me another opportunity to met artist in the Houston Community.

I entered my second contest and was also selected for the exhibition.  That painting won Honorable Mention in the show.
My art was exposed to the  many collectors and to hundreds of people that saw the show.

I am forever grateful for the many opportunities I have had by being involved in the VAA.  The greatest gift,however  has been all the lovely artists I have met in the Houston art community.

In 2004, I entered my first Visual Arts Alliance Juried Art Exhibition.  I quickly began involved with the group to meet other artists and learn more about the Houston art community.  It’s been seven years since I joined VAA and I’ve been an active board ever since.  It’s a great group of dedicated and professional artists who strive to make Visual Arts Alliance the best they can.

The Visual Arts Alliance has been a wonderful experience for me.  I have enjoyed the friendship of many artists.  Through them and the programs offered by the V.A.A. I have learned a great deal—about art, art materials and art opportunities.  I guess the most important things I have learned from this organization have been about shows—-how to prepare your work for them and how to produce the shows.  It has enriched my life and my art.