At the ripe age of five, Ginger DeValue used her mother’s makeup to create colorful drawings on toilet paper after everyone was asleep. The late night art sessions ended when her mom noticed the rapidly disappearing makeup, yet her mother encouraged DeValue’s artistic talents, providing supplies and space to create. Drawing her pets and daily life, her passion for horses fueled the majority of her art. Spending summers on a farm in Northern California, DeValue worked in the alfalfa fields, rode horses, and cared for livestock; creating a deep appreciation for California’s rich agricultural heritage. She began studies in Cal Poly’s Animal Science Department and graduated from Cal Poly, Pomona in 1984 with a B.A. degree in fine art.

Creative expression has taken many forms in DeValue’s life. An elementary school educator, she strengthened her ability to observe and connect to others, developing perseverance, empathy, and patience. After spending 26 years as an educator, DeValue turned her focus towards painting. 

Drawing inspiration from life at the barn, DeValue’s knowledge of animals is evident in her paintings. The vitality of California’s wild spaces, agricultural diversity, and vibrant coast provide a backdrop as DeValue focuses on observing horses and interpreting their behaviors and stories. Working in watercolor, multimedia, and oil, she illuminates the interaction between the western light and the land, its animals, and people. Over the years, she has participated in multiple exhibitions across California and the US.

Ginger DeValue lives with her husband  in Santa Clarita, California. Her horse lives a few miles away, where the suburbs blend into the foothills.