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 has also been 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 Arts & Heritage Gallery in The Historic Grove
Arcade in Asheville. This summer Connie is now represented by the Mountain
Made Gallery in the heart of the Grove Arcade. Connie is also represented by
The Design Gallery in charming Burnsville, NC, about 35 miles North of
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. Connie recently
won ribbons for second place in two categories of the Silver Arts Show
(Henderson County 2011); "Aw Pears" (Oil Painting) and "Hilton Head Beauty
Parade" (Photography).

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 for area artists and art lovers.  Neighborhood news outlets have
taken notice! The Conn-Artist Studios is the ONLY Art Gallery listed in the
Hendersonville BIG BOOK for 2011-2012.

Connie has recently completed some consulting work to help artists develop
marketing plans including websites. See the HELP for Artists page.

In May 2008, 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.  The group elected Connie as "fearless
leader" (aka the "Prez" ;-) for 2009-2010 & it looks like BEYOND ;-)

Connie recently was one of the judges for 2009, "Chalk It Up!"  Seemingly,
always, "the girl who can't say no" she also served as the Manager for, "Come
To Asheville" at 1000 Markets (alas-bought out by Bonanza).

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

+ Sometimes I've six
impossible things
before breakfast.  

-Lewis Carroll
Constance Vlahoulis,
Pastel Portrait
by Ruth Goldsborough
Make that HEAVY on the Sense of Humor part
come to think of it ;-)

--to the left is a detail of the large Momma & Cub
Bears painted for Charity (Boys and Girls Club
of Henderson County plus Downtown
Hendersonville, NC, Inc).

For now BEARS are on the first (Home) page.

If the Cub's nose appears to look like STONE
you are CORRECT!  Painted on the nose is the
top of the iconic Chimney Rock Park complete
with the always flying American Flag!