“I am most proud of how my Daddy lived to see my passion become a reality.”

Artist Faye Vander Veer captures moments with engaging narratives in her impressionist paintings. She conveys her memories and emotional responses to events in her figurative works. Faye’s father made her an easel when she was ten years old, marking the beginning of her life in painting. Over the years, he continued to support and encourage her to place greater value on her art. Faye paints in a studio with three glass walls that allow her to see tall pine trees, blooming hydrangeas, and visiting birds. When not making art, she spends her free time observing nature, journaling, and reading poetry.

In this interview, Faye discusses her inspirations and how she transforms her observations of everyday life into paintings.

What’s your home life like? What are your special interests?

I have always loved being surrounded by nature and derive a great sense of peace by just being quiet and observing the outdoors. After retiring from a 30-year career in the government, my husband and I added a glass wall art studio to the back of our house. The backyard is completely private with lush green trees and large flowering azaleas and camellias. I spend a great amount of time in contemplation and observation. While finding peace through nature, I am not a “landscape painter.” My main interest is in observing people in the act of living their day-to-day lives and creating my “story” about them through paint.

What are you most proud of—whether in art or another part of your life?

While I am very proud of my two daughters and grandchildren, I am most proud, professionally, of how my love of painting has evolved over the years and how my Daddy, who started me on this journey by making my first easel and giving me a set of oil paints when I was only ten, lived to see my passion become a reality.

Do you have any studio rituals that help you get into a creative flow?

Sitting quietly in my studio, whether with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the afternoon, looking through my reference photographs, observing nature, and listening to music (old blues, jazz, or Chopin’s nocturnes) usually stirs my mind, giving rise to new ideas of paintings yet to be created.

How do you structure your day?

I particularly love rainy days and know I want to be at the easel whenever the sky is gray. Of course, I paint when it’s not raining, too. There’s just something so meditative and contemplative about listening to rain. I could spend hours at the canvas getting lost in the narrative of the painting. I “communicate” with my painting a lot and ask it frequently, “What do you need?” I am always wondering about the people in my paintings—where were they before they walked into the frame of my camera? What’s their story? What’s their conversation about?

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

I am a consummate “people watcher” and am always looking for opportunities to take candid photos of people in the act of living their everyday lives. Whether traveling abroad or here at home, I always have a camera at hand. I have taken more photographs than I could ever count, wondering, “How would that look as a painting?” I like to think that I am the only person at that particular time and place who was inspired to take that photograph. It is always about the light and the “mystery.” Once I sign a painting, or even before, I am always asking, “What do I want to paint next?” So, sitting in my studio, listening to soft music and looking for something to “speak to me” through my thousands of reference photographs, is like a visit with old friends.

Tell us about your evolution as an artist.

From the age of three, I was always drawing and painting. My father made my first easel when I was 10 and gave me a set of oil paints and canvas. I painted sporadically, but once I retired in 2000, I began painting full-time until my husband died in 2016. During those 16 years, I participated in juried outdoor Fine Art shows. At my first show, I sold 33 oil paintings. I called my daddy to tell him. He said, “You’re selling them too cheap!” I raised my prices over the years and continued to sell. Daddy kept saying, “Raise your prices.” My favorite show was Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. They only accept two-dimensional art there, and people definitely visit the show looking for Fine Art.

After participating in art shows for a while and achieving some success, I decided to give a painting away at every show. I selected the painting ahead of time, displayed it with the others, and the first person who walked up and told me they liked that particular painting, I would remove it from the display and hand it to them! The joy I received over the years about their reaction fills my heart!

I cannot imagine myself “not painting.” I am convinced my love for painting is embedded in my DNA. I am so grateful to UGallery for representing my work and for being so generous in offering me this opportunity to share my painting journey.

How do you decide when an artwork is finished?

That’s a tricky question. When I think it is done, I walk into another room. When I walk back into my studio, I look at the painting and ask, “Would I like that if I thought someone else had painted it?” Then I’ll ask, “Would one more stroke make it a better painting?” If the answer to the first question is “yes” and the answer to the second question is “no.” I leave it alone and sign it.;

What is the most interesting observation someone has made about your work?

During the last seven years of my “art show experience,” I kept a journal of comments people made about my paintings. In reviewing those comments, the ones I heard most often are: “You paint life, your paintings are so interesting. I can imagine the stories in these people. You have the courage to paint what others would not paint - wonderful!”

“When I look at your paintings, I could almost cry, there’s so much emotion in them."

“I really love your work. They’re so alive. I feel like I’m standing inside the paintings, but no one can see me.”

"Your paintings are evocative. I love your contrast between light and dark."

But the comment that I think about often was at one of my first outdoor shows. A homeless man walked into my booth early on a Sunday morning before the show opened in Portsmouth, VA. He walked around, looking at every painting, then stopped in front of my painting of two trees in a wheat field. He then looked at me and said, “You put a lot of love into your paintings, don’t you?” I was so touched, I couldn’t believe it. I answered softly, “Yes, I do.” He then said, “I could just lie down right under that tree.” That was over 25 years ago, and I can still hear his gentle, loving voice to this day.

Is there an artwork from another artist that has had a significant impact on you?

A resounding YES! John Singer Sargent! To be able to see through his eyes would be the most wondrous gift. His complete mastery of brushstrokes, his strong contrasts of lights and darks, his subject matter, and his unwavering dedication to his craft all overwhelm me with awe and inspiration.

What’s your favorite museum?

Of course, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris is at the top of my list because of so many of the Impressionist paintings, but having just recently returned from seeing the “Sargent in Paris” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, I would definitely put that as a tie.

Is there anything else you’d like to share to help viewers better understand your work?

Yes! Because my paintings are all from my own experiences, I feel as though each one has a part of my soul and will eventually find its rightful owner. That is why I posted “My Painting Philosophy” at every show. I never TRY to sell a painting. I paint what interests me, and the person who is supposed to have it will eventually show up. I tell clients, "If for any reason you get this painting home and it doesn’t work for you, I will give you a full refund, no questions asked." I have only had one painting returned, and the lady who returned it kept it for over a year. How it found its rightful owner six months later is unbelievable and a story unto itself!

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If you enjoyed this article about Faye Vander Veers's life and artwork, we recommend reading about our interviews with impressionist artists Andres Lopez and Suren Nersisyan.