More about Vaigale Duers
Biography:
I was born in Germany, during the end of WWII. My family and I came to the United States in 1949. Both my Mother and Grandmother nurtured my natural curiosity in the world around me however, my Grandmother encouraged me. She lived with us and was my caregiver while both my parents worked. She taught me to notice the beauty in the natural world, from flowers to rainbows, and to take the time to see what most people took for granted. I was encouraged
to read at an early age (3 years). I grew up with the wonderful museums in Chicago, which were always a special treat on Sundays with Mom and Dad. My favorite was the Art Institute! Especially, any glass exhibits! To me, glass was the doorway to another world of beauty and wonder. I loved to draw and would spend hours practicing and coloring flowers from the garden.
When I started Loyola University, my Dad wanted me to be a dentist, so I majored in Biology. I quickly realized that being a dentist was not MY goal. I eventually switched majors and got my BS in Psychology. Needing to make a living, I took additional accounting classes and eventually became an accountant for a Big 8 firm in Chicago.
Upon my first husband's retirement, we relocated to Florida, and I majored in golf. A chance encounter at a friend's house, got me interested in taking art classes! My first watercolor class was in 1988. I eventually chose pastels as my medium of choice, and many of my works are in private collections throughout the states and internationally.
In 2006, I discovered glass! Namely, lamp working. Being able to melt a glass rod in a 2000 degree flame and manipulating it to a form that I am visualizing is absolutely mesmerizing! I knew I found what I wanted to do! It became my passion. Any form of glass work intrigues me, be it making beads for jewelry, sculpting flowers, fusing a plate, or a glass painting.
Exhibits and Fine Art Awards:
EXHIBITS: Artist Workshop Members Show, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. -1988 - 2005
Sugar Mill Country Club, Annual Members Show, New Smyrna Beach, Fl.
Art & Frame Gallery, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. - 1995 - 1998
Galleria de Vetro, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. - 2006-2008
The Hub on Canal, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. -2013 - 2019
High Tide Gallery, St. Augustine, Fl. - 2020 - present
AWARDS: Artist's Workshop, Honorable Mention, 1988 – 2002
Artist's Workshop, Artist to Artist Award, 2003
Artist's Workshop, Honorable Mention, 2004
Artist's Workshop, Artist to Artist Award, 2005
I was born in Germany, during the end of WWII. My family and I came to the United States in 1949. Both my Mother and Grandmother nurtured my natural curiosity in the world around me however, my Grandmother encouraged me. She lived with us and was my caregiver while both my parents worked. She taught me to notice the beauty in the natural world, from flowers to rainbows, and to take the time to see what most people took for granted. I was encouraged
to read at an early age (3 years). I grew up with the wonderful museums in Chicago, which were always a special treat on Sundays with Mom and Dad. My favorite was the Art Institute! Especially, any glass exhibits! To me, glass was the doorway to another world of beauty and wonder. I loved to draw and would spend hours practicing and coloring flowers from the garden.
When I started Loyola University, my Dad wanted me to be a dentist, so I majored in Biology. I quickly realized that being a dentist was not MY goal. I eventually switched majors and got my BS in Psychology. Needing to make a living, I took additional accounting classes and eventually became an accountant for a Big 8 firm in Chicago.
Upon my first husband's retirement, we relocated to Florida, and I majored in golf. A chance encounter at a friend's house, got me interested in taking art classes! My first watercolor class was in 1988. I eventually chose pastels as my medium of choice, and many of my works are in private collections throughout the states and internationally.
In 2006, I discovered glass! Namely, lamp working. Being able to melt a glass rod in a 2000 degree flame and manipulating it to a form that I am visualizing is absolutely mesmerizing! I knew I found what I wanted to do! It became my passion. Any form of glass work intrigues me, be it making beads for jewelry, sculpting flowers, fusing a plate, or a glass painting.
Exhibits and Fine Art Awards:
EXHIBITS: Artist Workshop Members Show, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. -1988 - 2005
Sugar Mill Country Club, Annual Members Show, New Smyrna Beach, Fl.
Art & Frame Gallery, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. - 1995 - 1998
Galleria de Vetro, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. - 2006-2008
The Hub on Canal, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. -2013 - 2019
High Tide Gallery, St. Augustine, Fl. - 2020 - present
AWARDS: Artist's Workshop, Honorable Mention, 1988 – 2002
Artist's Workshop, Artist to Artist Award, 2003
Artist's Workshop, Honorable Mention, 2004
Artist's Workshop, Artist to Artist Award, 2005