We recently connected with Adeline Halvorson and have shared our conversation below.

Adeline , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I was 19 and just beginning my career is an artist. I had quit my full-time job and was going to paint until I ran out of money but then an opportunity came up for a trip to England so I temporarily went back to work my job for extra money, but still continue to paint. I was putting in as many hours as possible at the job and one day I went into work, and there was no work to do. With no other plans. I took the bus downtown to the mall to kill some time. Set up in the middle of the mall was a group of travelling artists. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. After a few conversations with artists, I met the organizer of the group and he wanted to see my work. Since it was their last day there and it was already noon. I hurried home and brought a few paintings back to show him. He told me if I wanted to be, I was in. There next show was two weeks later in Edmonton, the final one of their spring tour. I told him I would be there. I had no car, no display set up, not enough paintings framed and ready for the show. I didn’t even have an easel! Up until then, I had been doing my pastels by taping a paper to the wall! Back then, a 19-year-old couldn’t get a credit card so I hired my cousin to drive me the five hours to Edmonton and we stayed with my aunt for the week. I built stands for my paintings and bought a cork board to pin my pastel paper too. I worked by propping the corkboard on my knee and holding it with my other hand. Working in public was new, and so were the commissions I was asked to do. It certainly was an educational week. I risked my entire trip to England for that week, and fortunately made enough money back to still take the trip. That fall I join the group and I was on the road for six years, travelling around with the group, as well as arranging, shows on my own. I did pastel portraits of people, horses, and dogs live and from photographs, and there really was no better education I could’ve gotten. after about 4 years I also taught myself to paint in acrylic in the after hours when the mall was closed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Most of my subjects are horses and a lot of them portraits, though very rarely commissions. I would say my Paintings are more about connection than they are about the subject. I want the viewer to be able to feel a connection, either because of memories or connections that they have had with animals, or just because of the expression, and look in the eyes. Since the very start of my career viewers have commented on the life, I get in my paintings, particularly in the eyes. I’ve proud of myself that I have been able to navigate this career as a full-time artist for more than 45 years, weathering a whole lot of ups and downs, and changing course when needed.
Most recently, the pandemic required, a big pivot when galleries closed and shows were canceled. So I took up writing books, something I’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t have the time for. Over the years I’ve bought many art books, and many times have been annoyed by the lack of real instruction. Just lots of pretty pictures with.not much substance. I put everything I know onto those pages, to give as much instruction as I could to the buyers of my books.
Since I work in both acrylic and oil, I cannot only use either medium for the best outcome of the painting I am doing, but I can teach others the benefits and nuances of each.
My favourite subjects are horses, dogs, and portraits of people particularly children. All of this began with the training that I got from my shopping more days.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Writing books as answered in the previous question.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As well as the fact that I love to create, and I would paint, even if it wasn’t my career, I also love being self-employed. Many times that has involved working longer hours than the regular 9 to 5 but I love the fact that I have freedom over my day as well as the path my life takes. I’ve moved many times, and lived in several different provinces and cities. Some moves were for the wrong reasons, but from all of them, I learned and broadened my experience. I love working from my home and have so much more time in my day, without having to commute to a job.
And of course, the response of others to my work has always been very gratifying.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.adelinehalvorson.com and www.artstudioblog.com
• Instagram: @adelinehalvorson
• Facebook: Adeline Halvorson Artworks
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@adelinehalvorson6028

Image Credits
Portrait of me taken by Michelle Grant