Verna Linney
Victoria, BC Canada, [email protected] or [email protected]
Art-making has always been a part of Verna's life. By the time she reached her teens, she was painting with both oils and watercolours and working 3D with clay. Discouraged from pursuing an artistic career by her parents and academic teachers, she instead became a career educator, all the while continuing to practice her art as time allowed. By the 1980s, from her home studio near Toronto, she was offering portraits in oils, watercolours, hand-pulled prints, and works in stained glass. Her love of experimentation led her to the use of other media, including acrylics, pastels and encaustic, and, with the acrylics, the production of sculptural works on canvas.
Her inspirations come from both the visible world and the world unseen, while her work ranges from purely representational to abstract. She makes use of a wide variety of media and scale, with approaches extending from Renaissance oil technique to an innovative use of varied natural materials to generate striking three dimensional effects.
Verna’s work, formerly shown in major galleries in the Toronto area, has, since her move west, been seen in various show venues in Victoria, Vancouver, Sidney, and Sooke. It is to be found in private, corporate and university collections in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.
Education
PhD Women's Studies, York University (Mary McEwan Memorial Scholarship Award)
M.A. Women's Studies, York University
B.F.A. Visual Art, York University (First Class Distinction)
B.A. Art History, University of Guelph (Dean's Honours List)
B.A. History, McMaster University (Dean's Honours List)
Honours Specialist Certification, Visual Art, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
Honours Specialist Certification, History, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
Special Education, Teaching the Gifted and Talented, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
Mentors, Courses and Workshops (Selected)
Claude Breeze: painting
David Goatley: portraits in oils
Elton Yerex: painting techniques of the masters: oil, egg tempera, fresco
Walter Bachinski: printmaking
Elizabeth Kincaid, Christopher Schink, Alex Powers, Jack Reid: watercolours
Teaching
York University, Toronto, Ontario
Mayfield School for the Arts, Bramalea, Ontario
Georgetown District High School, Georgetown, Ontario
Upper Canada College, Norval Campus, Ontario
Harrison Public School, Georgetown, Ontario
Privately, at Birchlinde Studio, Palgrave, Ontario
Solo and Group Exhibitions (Selected)
Island Illustrators, Celebrate Success, 25 years of the Island Illustrators Society, Cedar Hill Gallery Cafe, 2011
Sea to Sky, solo, Main Floor Gallery, Saanich Municipal Hall, 2011
Victoria Sketch Club Annual Show, Glenlyon Norfolk, Victoria, 2008-2011
CACGV's Victoria International Airport Galleries, six person show, curated by Nancy Slaght, 2011
Island Illustrators, An Illustrated Island Winter, Gallery at the Mac, Victoria, 2010
Victoria Sketch Club at Cedar Hill and CACGV Galleries, Victoria, 2009
Our World, with Kerry Fleetwood and Mary Ann Laing, Cedar Hill Café Gallery, 2009
Island Illustrators Garry Oak Habit, Cedar Hill Gallery, Victoria, 2009.
Considerations, solo, Main Floor gallery, Saanich Municipal Hall, 2008
Moss Street Paint-In. Sponsored by Art Gallery of Victoria, 2006
McMichael Collection Annual Autumn Art Sale. Kleinberg, 1993-1997
Ontario Society of Artists at First Canadian Place. Toronto, 1994-1996
Out From the Garden, solo, Samuel J. Zacks Gallery, York University, Toronto, 1996
A Different Eden: The Genesis Series, solo, curated by Flavio Belli, Joseph D. Carrier Gallery, Toronto, 1996
Six Up, an exhibition of works by six contemporary painters, curated by Stuart Reid and Claude Breeze, Art Gallery of Mississauga, 1995
The Agony and the Ecstasy, with Tina Poplawski, Studio 244, Toronto, 1992, 1994
By All Means Painted, with Petra Nyendick, Winters Gallery, York University, Toronto, 1992
Consider the Lilies, solo, The Gallery, Halton Hills Cultural Centre, Georgetown 1985
Art Through a Woman's Eye, four-woman shoe Tecumseth Gallery, Schomberg, 1985
Intimacy, solo, Tecumseth Gallery, Tottenham, 1985
Fire Lake Festival Artists, Gravenhurst, 1980
Juried Shows (selected)
FCA Vancouver and Victoria, 2005-2010 (numerous shows and awards)
Critters and Creatures. Coast Collective at Essencia, 2010
Sooke Fine Art Show. Sooke, 2008, 2009
Sidney Fine Art Show. Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 2005-2008 (Juror's Choice Award)
Colour and Form Society Open Juried Exhibition, Toronto, 2000 (Best in Show)
Art Gallery of Peel Juried Show of Fine Arts. Brampton 1990-1997
Colour and Form Society, Annual Open Juried Exhibitions. Toronto, 1990-1994 (First Award - 1991)
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Open Juried Exhibitions. Toronto, 1984-1992
The Consilium Show, Scarborough, 1991
Humber Valley Annual Show. Toronto, 1991 (Honourable Mention)
The Etobicoke Art Show. Toronto, 1991 (Honourable Mention)
Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Annual Open, Toronto 1990
Memberships
Island Illustrators Society
Ontario Society of Artists (Life Member)
Art-making has always been a part of Verna's life. By the time she reached her teens, she was painting with both oils and watercolours and working 3D with clay. Discouraged from pursuing an artistic career by her parents and academic teachers, she instead became a career educator, all the while continuing to practice her art as time allowed. By the 1980s, from her home studio near Toronto, she was offering portraits in oils, watercolours, hand-pulled prints, and works in stained glass. Her love of experimentation led her to the use of other media, including acrylics, pastels and encaustic, and, with the acrylics, the production of sculptural works on canvas.
Her inspirations come from both the visible world and the world unseen, while her work ranges from purely representational to abstract. She makes use of a wide variety of media and scale, with approaches extending from Renaissance oil technique to an innovative use of varied natural materials to generate striking three dimensional effects.
Verna’s work, formerly shown in major galleries in the Toronto area, has, since her move west, been seen in various show venues in Victoria, Vancouver, Sidney, and Sooke. It is to be found in private, corporate and university collections in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.
Education
PhD Women's Studies, York University (Mary McEwan Memorial Scholarship Award)
M.A. Women's Studies, York University
B.F.A. Visual Art, York University (First Class Distinction)
B.A. Art History, University of Guelph (Dean's Honours List)
B.A. History, McMaster University (Dean's Honours List)
Honours Specialist Certification, Visual Art, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
Honours Specialist Certification, History, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
Special Education, Teaching the Gifted and Talented, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
Mentors, Courses and Workshops (Selected)
Claude Breeze: painting
David Goatley: portraits in oils
Elton Yerex: painting techniques of the masters: oil, egg tempera, fresco
Walter Bachinski: printmaking
Elizabeth Kincaid, Christopher Schink, Alex Powers, Jack Reid: watercolours
Teaching
York University, Toronto, Ontario
Mayfield School for the Arts, Bramalea, Ontario
Georgetown District High School, Georgetown, Ontario
Upper Canada College, Norval Campus, Ontario
Harrison Public School, Georgetown, Ontario
Privately, at Birchlinde Studio, Palgrave, Ontario
Solo and Group Exhibitions (Selected)
Island Illustrators, Celebrate Success, 25 years of the Island Illustrators Society, Cedar Hill Gallery Cafe, 2011
Sea to Sky, solo, Main Floor Gallery, Saanich Municipal Hall, 2011
Victoria Sketch Club Annual Show, Glenlyon Norfolk, Victoria, 2008-2011
CACGV's Victoria International Airport Galleries, six person show, curated by Nancy Slaght, 2011
Island Illustrators, An Illustrated Island Winter, Gallery at the Mac, Victoria, 2010
Victoria Sketch Club at Cedar Hill and CACGV Galleries, Victoria, 2009
Our World, with Kerry Fleetwood and Mary Ann Laing, Cedar Hill Café Gallery, 2009
Island Illustrators Garry Oak Habit, Cedar Hill Gallery, Victoria, 2009.
Considerations, solo, Main Floor gallery, Saanich Municipal Hall, 2008
Moss Street Paint-In. Sponsored by Art Gallery of Victoria, 2006
McMichael Collection Annual Autumn Art Sale. Kleinberg, 1993-1997
Ontario Society of Artists at First Canadian Place. Toronto, 1994-1996
Out From the Garden, solo, Samuel J. Zacks Gallery, York University, Toronto, 1996
A Different Eden: The Genesis Series, solo, curated by Flavio Belli, Joseph D. Carrier Gallery, Toronto, 1996
Six Up, an exhibition of works by six contemporary painters, curated by Stuart Reid and Claude Breeze, Art Gallery of Mississauga, 1995
The Agony and the Ecstasy, with Tina Poplawski, Studio 244, Toronto, 1992, 1994
By All Means Painted, with Petra Nyendick, Winters Gallery, York University, Toronto, 1992
Consider the Lilies, solo, The Gallery, Halton Hills Cultural Centre, Georgetown 1985
Art Through a Woman's Eye, four-woman shoe Tecumseth Gallery, Schomberg, 1985
Intimacy, solo, Tecumseth Gallery, Tottenham, 1985
Fire Lake Festival Artists, Gravenhurst, 1980
Juried Shows (selected)
FCA Vancouver and Victoria, 2005-2010 (numerous shows and awards)
Critters and Creatures. Coast Collective at Essencia, 2010
Sooke Fine Art Show. Sooke, 2008, 2009
Sidney Fine Art Show. Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 2005-2008 (Juror's Choice Award)
Colour and Form Society Open Juried Exhibition, Toronto, 2000 (Best in Show)
Art Gallery of Peel Juried Show of Fine Arts. Brampton 1990-1997
Colour and Form Society, Annual Open Juried Exhibitions. Toronto, 1990-1994 (First Award - 1991)
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Open Juried Exhibitions. Toronto, 1984-1992
The Consilium Show, Scarborough, 1991
Humber Valley Annual Show. Toronto, 1991 (Honourable Mention)
The Etobicoke Art Show. Toronto, 1991 (Honourable Mention)
Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Annual Open, Toronto 1990
Memberships
Island Illustrators Society
Ontario Society of Artists (Life Member)