Vanessa Temple is Artist of the Month at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center.

Vanessa Temple - Artist of the Month - June 2022

Living in Fall River, Massachusetts, Vanessa’s artistic talent evolved through her talents as a designer, from hair design to many restoration projects, which fanned the flames of her creative heart. Stripping away the old to see what lies beneath, allowed her in-the-moment free-flowing artistic nature to emerge. Vanessa was about to embark on another journey that would reveal the power and glory of a universe she had not yet experienced.

In 2010, Vanessa and her husband Allan decided to move to the Southwest and settle in our wonderful town of Mesquite, Nevada. She became enamored with the vast night sky, WOW! she could see the stars and watch the light change into hues of purple and deep blues as night approached. Perhaps you, too, have had a similar occurrence as you stepped into the song, “America the Beautiful.”

Sitting for hours every evening, a new level of desire awakened within Vanessa, a passion to give a voice to her heart-felt experiences through art. She discovered the Mesquite Fine Arts Center and began to take art classes. Inspired by the open spaces of her new surroundings, Vanessa uses the medium of watercolor to paint her many award-winning paintings. She loves the freedom of the medium and the “happy surprises” of blended colors.

Vanessa’s Bunny Series evolved a few years ago while painting some bunnies for the Easter Season. The first few bunnies were very detailed and realistic. Then the real fun began when she decided to dress these bunnies with accessories and clothing. Each bunny was given a name and an identity. Watching their personalities blossom was exciting and fun all at the same time.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, everyone’s face was covered. Vanessa saw the front-line health care workers struggling to combat this virus. In their honor, she created a few health care bunnies, (Nurse J.B.) and (Doctor Jack Cascino). So many more faces, names and adventures yet to experience.

When Covid lockdowns were lifted, Vanessa created the Pallet and Pour Party fundraisers to help the Mesquite Fine Arts Center recoup some losses and move forward in a positive way. This May we will celebrate our “One Year Anniversary” of our very first PPP fundraiser. Vanessa has enjoyed this project and has achieved her fundraising goal. Meeting so many people from the community has been very rewarding and fun. We paint, we laugh, we wine. We currently offer three PPP’s every month so come and join us, you might just surprise yourself.

Vanessa also teaches an Acrylic Class for beginners each Thursday in the Mesquite Fine Arts Classroom from 10am – 12:30pm.

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