Cathy VanVoorhis is a native of Michigan with an eye for the rustic beauty of her home state.
“This is a very beautiful state,” VanVoorhis said. “We are fortunate to still have wetlands, forests, Great Lake shorelines, and family farms and orchards.”
VanVoorhis’ exhibit, “Land & Water: Seasons of Color,” will be held in the Daughtrey Gallery in the Sage Center for the Arts at Hillsdale College from Feb. 25 through March 16, 2012.
Some of her current work includes a 10-foot wide painting for Art Prize, an art competition in Grand Rapids, Mich. This painting, “A Walk Along the Beach,” will be displayed at the Waters Building, downtown Grand Rapids this fall. She did several smaller, practice paintings before beginning on such a huge project and also admits that it was very challenging to adjust her painting style and color to a the larger surface.
VanVoorhis’ inspiration is not derived solely from Michigan, but all nature. VanVoorhis’ paintings, with their rich colors and serene landscapes, give an inside look into the way she sees her surroundings.
VanVoorhis experimented with many different types of art in college. She began with a Bachelor of Arts from Albion College.
“My experience of being an artist is richer because of the breadth of study at a liberal arts college,” VanVoorhis said.
VanVoorhis also spent some time studying abroad her sophomore year. She originally went to France as a French major and was not very informed about art history. While she was in France, she visited many art museums.
“When I was in Paris, looking at Picasso and Matisse paintings, I had the revelation that I must be an artist,” VanVoorhis said.
After graduating Albion College, she took a detour from the fine arts track to earn her masters from Michigan State because of her fascination with art history. After her M.A., She says she returned to her “first love of painting” when she attended the University of Michigan for a M.F.A. More recently, VanVoorhis attended Washtenaw Community College to earn a certificate in graphic design. Her expertise is not limited to art, however, as she also has a Master’s in Philosophy. When asked about the connection between her art degree and her philosophy degree, she says,
“At the time, I just loved both subjects. It seemed like two different directions, making things and reading/thinking about great questions. Now I would connect the two subjects as the same desire for meaning in life,” VanVoorhis said.
VanVoorhis is no stranger to Hillsdale College either. She had an exhibit here in 1993. Since then,
“The colors have gotten richer and more complex,” VanVoorhis said.
Professor of Art Sam Knecht agrees with this statement about VanVoorhis’ use of color.
“The spirited technique she uses involves synthesizing broad patterns of tone and color gleaned from her subjects,” Knecht says.
Her paintings are crafted with a rich and complex palate that makes a muse of nature for all who look at them. Most of her work is oil, but she also dabbles occasionally in watercolor.
“Oil paint has many advantages: richness of color, slower drying time which allows blending, and ease of revising your work,” VanVoorhis says.
Her work exudes a passion often lacking in landscapes. She said she was inspired in the art museums of France.
“I remember thinking that what they were doing was so important that it was worth devoting my life to, even if I could only travel a small distance down this same path,” she said.
For more information, you can visit her website at: www.cathyvanvoorhis.com.
hbrinks@hillsdale.edu
