A pinch of joy, a cup
of love, & the
reflections of
everyday experience
is not only the
recipe for
Connie’s creations;
it is her life’s formula.






"There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day,
when we seem to see beyond the usual.
Such are the moments of our greatest happiness.
Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom.
If one could but recall this vision by some sort of sign.
It was in this hope that the arts were invented.
Sign-posts on the way to what may be.
Sign-posts toward greater knowledge."

-Robert Henri   (The Art Spirit)        
Who is this emerging
"Conn-Artist?"
Connie's portrait by Ruth Goldsborogh


Curriculum Vitae - "Course of Life"

Art, Humor, Loving Family & Friends,
Having Fun, Discovering, Traveling & Chocolate
(in no particular order)!

Even though this self-taught artist has seemed to re-create her life yet again;
the above list has always loomed large in her life--

"Life is not a Spectator Sport! You have to MAKE your life happen!"
---says this so-called "Conn-Artist."  And so she has.  From figuring out how to
apply paint to canvas-- to get her art, "out there" for others to view, this artist is
well on her way.

Born in Buffalo, New York - she is old enough to have seen the Beatles perform
in 1964 and young enough to see McCartney (her favorite!) 40 years later and
have a ball dancing the night away!

In 2003, after a 17-year stellar Real Estate career in Rochester, Michigan where
she sold her way into the Top 1% of Real Estate Sales in the country;
Constance Vlahoulis and her husband Bill, relocated to the Asheville area. After
umpteen visits to Western North Carolina see her Mom, Step-father (who gave her
the "Conn-Artist" moniker), Sisters & Aunt & Uncle;  "It started to feel like we
were leaving home when driving away from the mountains instead of
going home to Michigan when we would visit, " explained Connie. So a
major life change was underway.

Now firmly settled in the South, Connie feels blessed to be "really home."
"And finally, I returned to my creative roots and my first love which is ART."  

Before the move she studied Pastel Painting with August Gloss of Romeo,
Michigan and attended workshop training with Doug Dawson.  After winning
several art awards she began selling her work in Hendersonville at The Art
Market Off 7th.  

She served as membership chairperson her first year with The Art League of
Henderson County. She then instituted and worked towards having an
additional,  "night meeting" group to help other artists who could not attend day
meetings. Connie is also a member of the Western North Carolina Plein Air
Painters.

Her Folk Art has been represented by Wickwire Fine Art/Folk Art Gallery on
Main Street in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She has occasionally
demonstrated Collage-Art at the new Arts & Heritage Gallery in The Historic
Grove Arcade in Asheville.

Connie & her favorite "muse," (her Mom!), Barbara Hipwell attended
workshop study with fabulous Plein Air oil painter Sarah Sneeden.  
Mom now has her own page on this website;  Barbara Hipwell Fine Art.

Connie has also served on committee as a charter member of the brand new
Appalachian Pastel Society. Her pastel of "Hazy Summer Sunset View from
Jump Off Rock" was accepted at the groups first juried show.

Travel has always been a muse for Connie. A recent trip to Greece inspired,
"Life-Lines," which is featured on the Commissions page. Other trips to Asia
helped with the creation of collage work and other mixed-media images used for
the "Passages" show a few months back and for her one-of-kind photo note
cards available at the studio.   

Constance Vlahoulis' art-passion is evident on Wednesday "Open Studio" where
area artists gather to work and share experience. We have so much fun!
The OPEN STUDIO is considered a "godsend" to area artists who rely on
Connie's aMUSEing nature... Artists have been moved to tears to find this
venture open to them. It is truly one-of-a-kind.

On-going painting classes given by top-notch area artists are held weekly that
provide further growth and inspiration. The Conn-Artist STUDIOS have become
a favorite stop during Hendersonville's 1st Fridays Gallery Strolls. A myriad of
different monthly studio shows have been offered that the public has enjoyed
and neighborhood news outlets have taken notice!

Connie has recently completed some consulting work to help artists develop
marketing plans including websites. (visit fabulous artist:  www.JoanMurphy.com )
In May, a group of 14 Henderson County Art Galleries joined together to help
promote arts in the community and in their studio/galleries. The Conn-Artist
Studios & Art Gallery is happily in the mix with Connie working on the brand new
website for the group: The Gallery Guild of Henderson County- Best Art
Destinations in Western North Carolina  was created...and already
making a positive difference.
Connie and Ann Oliver, another Gallery Guild member, served as judges for the
"Art on Main" August 2008 show.

Traveling around North Carolina is her current interest with camera and
sketchbook in tow.... Oh--and Bill and new doggie Zack come along too!

+ Sometimes I've
believed as many as
six impossible things
before breakfast.  

-Lewis Carroll
Constance Vlahoulis,
Pastel Portrait
by Ruth Goldsborough