Get to know Valarie!
Valarie Connell is a renowned pyrography artist who resides in the picturesque mountain town of Flagstaff, Az, along with her husband, the acclaimed professional artist, Jason Oberman. Together they share a beautiful creative life with their 3 adorable furry friends.
Valarie creates intricate designs that are a testament to her artistic vision and technical finesse. Her pieces are known for their intricate details, exquisite precision, and attention to detail, making them a visual delight to behold. Her works have been recognized and appreciated by art lovers and collectors across the world, showcasing her talent in world-renowned galleries and exhibitions.
You can read more about Valarie below.
Jason has created a new website for his art paintings & book. Click HERE to see and purchase all of his fantastic work.
Valarie
Valarie Connell has never strayed far from her love of art. Since childhood, she has been creating beautiful works of art, and even in her adult years, art remained a constant in her life. After a work-related accident in 1999 left her bedridden and struggling with depression, Valarie turned to the comfort of coloring posters and animal drawings with her boys. But something was missing, and that's when she discovered her old box of chalk pastels.
In 2005, Valarie found pyrography (wood burning). Prior to pyrography she had been working with graphite, colored pencils, and markers. Wood burning, became the love of Valarie's life. She fell in love with the process, the textures, and the unique qualities of the medium. For 17.5 years, Valarie has been creating stunning pyrography pieces that have garnered her more than 30 awards, international sales, and features in magazines.
But Valarie's artistic journey didn't stop there. In July of 2016, she decided to share her passion and knowledge with the world through her YouTube channel, Drawing With Fire™️. Standing out as a pyrography artist isn't easy in a crowded online space, but Valarie's brand quickly became a go-to resource for pyrography enthusiasts.
Valarie’s biggest goal on YouTube is helping you to grow in your burning adventure; so she teaches techniques that took her years to master as a self taught artist. Valarie has over 300 videos available. Additionally, Valarie does a weekly YouTube live stream every Tuesday at 11am AZ time /MST, for her Drawing With Fire paid members. Occasionally, Valarie also has a public live stream, so you can ask real time questions and get real time answers.
Jason has always had a passion for art. As a child, he was very creative and loved to create his own unique pieces. Despite joining the Army, Jason never lost his love for art, and it became a form of therapy for him during his 20+ years of service.
During his first eight years in the Army, Jason's parents gifted him his first Aztek airbrush, and with it, his creative side truly flourished. Even though he returned to the Army, Jason's passion for art continued to grow, especially when he was stationed in other countries. He spent his free time painting, and over the years, he earned two art degrees.
Today, with over 35 years of experience, Jason has become a renowned artist, and he is entirely focused on sharing his passion and drive for art with the world. He continues to create larger and more complex paintings, expanding his repertoire to include oil painting.
But that’s not all. In 1983, Jason developed his own sci-fi tabletop role-playing game called "6083" while living amidst the thick forests of Alaska. For the past forty years, he has played the game with school friends and Army buddies, but only recently, in 2021, was he convinced to publish his TTRPG officially in book form. He spent two years writing and testing the game, and it's now available for purchase.
To learn more about Jason, his artwork, and his 6083 TTRPG, check out this LINK.