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Lake Cowichan artist Val Konig brings ‘Diversity’ to March show

Wife’s stroke prompts painter’s husband to plan displays

Well known within Salt Spring Island art circles as a painter and instructor, Val Konig now lives in Lake Cowichan with her devoted husband and caregiver of 54 years, Paul.

The accomplished painter is known for using watercolours and acrylics to paint a variety of subjects, including but not limited to landscapes, flowers, and portraits. After having a stroke in 2017 at the age of 70, Konig was forced to stop painting.

With the help of her dedicated husband, it hasn’t stopped her, however, from remaining a ‘working’ artist.

“Because she taught art on Salt Spring for 25 years, she’s well known over there,” Paul explained. “My goal is to get her well known in the Cowichan Valley, too.”

To that end, Paul painstakingly organizes an annual art show for his wife. This year’s show — at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s Portals Annex at the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan — will feature select pieces from Konig’s prolific 55-year painting career, which spanned from 1964 through 2017.

“These are all gicleés,” explained Paul.

For those not in the know, explained Paul, a gicleé is a term used for fine art digital prints made on ink jet printers. In layman’s terms: they’re high quality prints either framed on paper or on canvas.

“In the last 18 months I have had help from a professional scanner to scan her images,” Paul noted. “We’ve done 60 images, on paper or canvas.”

He admitted it’s been a big job, but he’s learned a lot and he’s quite simply not going to let his wife down.

While last year’s show was a retrospective, this year’s is called “Diversity.”

Paul explained the title relates to the fact that various subjects will be displayed, including florals, portraits, scenery, as well as some of Konig’s miscellaneous works.

Paul has no plans to stop showing off his wife’s talents either. He’s already got the themes for her 2023 and 2024 shows planned.

“So far, next year will be called ‘The Best of Val’ and the following year is only florals,” he said.

Painting has been a lifelong love affair for Konig, who has been selling her work since she was 17.

“Her stroke, you know why she had it?” Paul asked. “She was a 16-hour girl. She never quit. Her body just couldn’t keep up with what she wanted to do.”

So now, after raising three children together, and watching her work so hard over the years, he’s determined to show off her accomplishments.

“I now have a gallery in our own home. It’s a 600-sq-ft space with about 45 small images on the walls,” Paul beamed. “The whole house is a gallery as well. We have 2,700 square feet and almost all the walls are covered. People come over and can’t believe it.”

Val Konig’s art show “Diversity” is free to attend and runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 15 to March 29 at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s Portals Annex.



sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

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Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
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