Meet Wendy Vogt, self taught artist from Alpharetta GA.
I first met Wendy 10 years ago as I visited her shop in Downtown Alpharetta Sis and Moons where local artists and makers unite and where you can find curated new and vintage items. Since then it has been my “go to” place for inspiration and where I have “artist dates” with myself. I’ve had the pleasure of attending paint workshops with Wendy in her art studio at The Treehouse. We have collaborated in selling my hat designs at the shop, and have been dreaming up an art retreat in Montana for the past several years. I’m proud to announce that Wendy and I will lead our first art retreat this fall in Paradise Valley, Montana! Through Plein Air painting with oils, Wendy will lead the daily art classes among the beautiful landscapes of Paradise Valley, Montana.
Wendy is a trained landscape artist and has always been intrigued by human anatomy-especially faces. Most of her portrait work is done in oil using mainly black and white to capture and immortalize my subjects. She has expanded her mixed media technique with acrylics that she uses to produce a 3-D effect on the canvas.
We sat down with Wendy and asked her a few up close and personal questions so that our community can get to know her better.
What inspires you as an artist?
Wendy: My Inspiration is found by surrounding myself with inspiring pieces and people daily through a brick and mortar shop Sis and Moons that I Co-own. I love traveling and find my “zen” on the water or on a mountain. A lot of my work depicts places that I have traveled. I also have a strong faith and some of my favorite scriptures from the Bible have made their way onto the canvas. These have been some of my profound works because it keeps me grounded spiritually.
How long have your been painting?
Wendy: I have been painting since 2013. We opened the Treehouse Studios in memory of our cousin Brian who co owned the treehouse studio in California. His death had a tremendous impact on all of us and after his transition we picked up the baton that he passed to us.
What’s your ideal day and how do you share your gifts with others?
Wendy: My ideal day is waking up and having the capability to be constantly surrounded by my tribe, my family and my community in downtown Alpharetta. I share my gifts with aspiring artists at my studio through weekly workshops and help promote artists and their work at my shop Sis and Moons. If there’s someone out there whom will benefit from my art, my ideas, and my experience then it’s worth being vulnerable to make this connection. The way I look at it is that if there’s something I can give back and offer, even if it’s in a small way, and that’s a gift. I often refer back to this quote for inspiration and love to share it with other artists: “Work while you have light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.”
– Henri Frederick Amiel
Where have you lived?
Wendy: I grew up in a northwest suburb outside of Chicago and in my mid 20’s moved to Cozumel Mexico for 18 years. I moved back to the states in 2012 and live in Alpharetta ga.
What has influenced your art?
Wendy: What is influencing my art is the profound connectivity I have to myself. I have learned in a noisy world that the quiet place is the canvas. It is where the most authentic part of me resides.
Whats on your playlist?
Wendy: My playlist essentials:
Old U2, Dave Matthews Band, Gipsy Kings, Bob Segar, John Denver, Mumford and Sons, Lumineers, Neil Young, John Prine, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Ryan Bingham, Clapton
*Anything with a good guitar riff and I’m ready to go.
