Valorie Vogel
HOW THE LEGEND BEGAN
Originally from California, Valorie has lived in Florida since 1969 and currently resides in Clearwater with husband Duane. See their wedding album here.
Being born into an artistic family, you’d assume I was encouraged to explore my creative curiosity. Instead, the feedback I got from them was that my art was no good.
In 1978, I decided, no matter what, I would surrender to that deep longing to paint my vision of paradise for the world. After all, I am inspired by my love of nature, color and “happily-ever-after” stories.
“Painting the river of beauty that flows through me is my obsession. I’ll leave my mark on this world with artwork that elevates spirits and sets imaginations on fire.”
VALORIE’S ART GALLERY
ESTABLISHED IN 1978
At age 24 Valorie began her journey as a self-taught artist.
Valorie with a painting in front of Valorie’s Art Gallery located in Sunny Days Plaza, Homosassa, FL, inspired by visit to Egypt in 1990.
She loves ancient Egypt and painted Tutankhamen’s Mask in 1979. Here you can see the finished painting of King Tutankhamen.
Valorie’s Art Gallery showcased her work from 1978-2000
Over a 48 year span, her creations number well over 7,000 in the realm of oil painting, mixed-media, acrylics, water-colors, murals, commercial signs, stained-glass, etched glass, fused glass, jewelry, holiday window paintings and residential blue-prints— she designed the house she’s lived in for 35 years. In 2000 she moved the studio from Sunny Days Plaza to her home in Homosassa. In 2023, she moved her art studio to their Clearwater home where she lives with husband Duane.
Milan Art Institute Mastery Graduate
Painting in her Clearwater studio, Valorie begins her journey through the Milan Art Institute Mastery Program in 2020 and graduates in 2023.
HOLIDAY WINDOW PAINTING
Valorie carried on her father’s fifty-year legacy of window painting by decorating 1551 window jobs from 2004-2022.
See the Holiday Window Album here. She founded Facebook group, “Holiday Window Paintings that Pop”
EXHIBITIONS
Valorie has shown her oil paintings and stained glass in several art exhibitions; winning many ribbons and awards since she started painting in 1978.
Here’s she is, at an art show from the early 1980s.
See some of the paintings here in ARCHIVES.
CHILDHOOD STORIES
As a kid, I loved to “make stuff” but materials were limited or nonexistent so I developed a resourceful ability to substitute and problem-solve.
Daddy said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
When I was about eight, Dad gave me a lever-filler fountain pen, but no ink so I had to make my own.
I soaked green crepe-paper party-streamers in water and squeezed out the ink, drop by drop, staining my fingers green.
Then I pumped it into the fountain pen and did my homework!
My family calls me Gale—which is my middle name. Here I am at age 5 with younger brother, Vance.
MAKING GREEN INK
SNEAKING INTO DAD’S ART STUDIO
As a pre-teen my skin was sallow and I felt ugly because, all the girls were wearing blush on their faces. I wanted to glow, like them, but, Dad said I didn’t need any make-up. I didn’t believe him.
So, I snuck into his art studio before school and rubbed oil paint from a tube of Alizarin Crimson onto my pale cheeks.
I got the rosy cheeks I wanted, but was too scared to do it again for fear of getting caught!
Harvesting pink sauerkraut in the Homosassa kitchen
MAKING CONCOCTIONS
Home alone one night with my brother, Vance, we experimented in the kitchen. I filled a cup with a squirt of this and a sprinkle of that from stuff like dish soap, hot sauce, soy sauce, baking soda, peanut butter, spices, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup…. Vance wouldn’t taste it and neither would I!
Later, this practice evolved into edible concoctions and now, I invent a multitude of recipes and formulas. I cook everything from scratch and make yogurt, sauerkraut, sunflower seed milk, mayonnaise, green drinks, flourless cakes, pumpkin soup….
That’s why some call me,“Kitchen Witch.”
Now that you know me, I’d be delighted if you’d subscribe.