Rita Vindedzis

A Peek Inside My Home/Studio

2012-01-26T12:48:00.000-05:00

Living and working in the same space can be challenging at times. My tiny studio space is just a corner of the living/dining open concept room. Every inch of space counts and having canvases all over drives me crazy. So I've started to make use of all the wall space available. We are lucky, we have more wall space than many of the newest condos going up in the area-they seem to be all glass. Where does one hang their art??

At first I thought it odd to hang artwork so high but as we have 10 ft. ceilings it works. Here I've hung a 12x48 in. landscape above the entrance to the master bedroom. The framed painting on the left hangs above the large flat screen television.

I finally got four "Birches" paintings framed together and am very pleased with the look. Separately they are four 12x36 in. canvas panels, but stacked on top of each other and framed in a black floating frame, they look like one large "Birches" abstract.

This space by the window in the master bedroom is a perfect spot to hang one of my vertical "Birches". I painted this one just for me.

This spot above the kitchen sink and stove top area is perfect for display. I've set up a little retro vignette with some favorite items. The "R" was a gift that I received this past Christmas (thanks sweety) It came from Metropolis Living.

Old Masters Painting Class

2012-01-20T10:33:00.001-05:00

Like most of you I started January with some goals that I'd like to accomplish this year. Some of my blogging friends even chose one word for themselves, to guide them throughout the year. If I were to choose a word for myself it would be Happiness. For myself, my family and friends.

Learning new skills and growing as a person and an artist is something that would make me very happy. So when my friend Lynn told me that she was having an instructor come in to her studio to teach a small group oil painting, I jumped at the opportunity.

Traditional oil painting like the old masters did. We'll be learning the techniques of Peter Paul Rubens, and Antony van Dyck. Our instructor Alexander Dzuybko-Doyle will be teaching his skills to us for 12 weeks. Last night was our first class. We had an introduction to the style and techniques and then began some very precise drawing of a still life that was set up for us.

Caravaggio

Still Life with Fruit 1601-1605

Peter Paul Rubens

Portrait of Clara Serena Rubens 1616

As I've never had a formal class in painting and I've never, ever painted in oils, this is going to be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. I'm not sure where this will lead me in the future but I know that learning these new skills and especially the discipline that comes with them, will certainly help me in life and in my artistic journey. And that to me equals happiness. I'll definitely be taking my camera along to the classes and will share the painting as it progresses.

Inspired by...

2012-01-18T15:54:00.000-05:00

What's inspiring me these days? Texture, type, abstract, free, loose, scrappy, grungy, torn, well worn, easy, did I say texture? distressed, used, vintage looking images.

I know this is easy to do digitally, but I've been working on getting the same look on canvas and paper the old school way. With a brayer, paint, oil pastels, stencils, stamps, and a large assortment of makeshift tools from my kitchen and the dollar store. It's a great way to relieve stress and most of the time the results are great too.

All images are from ZGallerie

Making Scents of it All.

2012-01-11T16:59:00.000-05:00

When Bath and Body Works came to Canada a couple of years ago, I was very excited because I had been purchasing their wonderful scented lotions, hand sanitizers, shower gels and air fresheners on my trips to the U.S. I use the wallflowers bulbs to freshen the air in our home and sometimes to help mask the smell of my paints and mediums.

I noticed for the past couple of days that I've been slow to start in the mornings which is not my usual way as I'm definitely a "morning" person. I also noticed that I was more laid back than usual when it came to painting and found it a bit harder to concentrate and focus my thoughts. Then I realized that I had been using the wallflowers aromatherapy "stress release" scent. It's combination of eucalyptus and spearmint is so nice and soothing. Maybe a little too soothing in this case!!

This morning before I started in the studio I made sure I switched to the orange ginger scent which is energizing. Honestly, it made a big difference in how I worked and felt. I really felt I had more energy and wasn't so laid back in my painting. Got to love the effects of aromatherapy!!

I also really like using the Bath and Body Works foaming soaps. The fresh "ocean-y" water scents are my faves.

Please note, I have not received any monies or gifts for mentioning Bath and Body Works products, I just thought I'd share them with you. (but hey, Bath and Body Works,!! if you'd like to send a little something my way for the mention that would be very nice of you!)

Eclectic Elegance

2012-01-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

So here we are in the midst of the first week in a new year. A fresh start. The studio has been cleaned, purged of unnecessary things and reorganized, ready to inspire many new paintings and other projects.

You may remember this post from last year, that one of my paintings made it into the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2012 brochure (much excitement and gratitude here!) and 2 of my works are included in videos on the Benjamin Moore site.

So I was delighted this morning when I tuned into Cityline (as I do most days) to see guest expert Sharon Grech showcasing the Benjamin Moore house. There in the room painted in the trend called "eclectic elegance" was my painting "Early Morning"

As an artist this is always so exciting for me. I spend so many hours alone in my studio creating them and then they go out into the world. As much of my work is sold through galleries I don't usually see where the paintings end up. Sometimes they end up as props for a shoot like this.

Occasionally the owners of the home being used for the shoot will purchase the painting and sometimes they go back to the gallery."Early Morning" is available at Art Interiors.

Hello 2012!!

2012-01-01T15:22:00.000-05:00

The world is your oyster.

Now go and find your pearl.

See you Next year!

2011-12-19T17:12:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

Happy New Year

Things have gotten crazy busy and there's much to do this time of year. I'll be taking a break for Christmas and New Years so I won't be posting as often. Hopefully I can get into the studio to paint at some point in the next couple of weeks. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year. All the best for 2012. See you all next year.

Affordable, Original Art Makes a Great Holiday Gift.

2011-12-13T10:36:00.000-05:00

Christmas and the Holidays are fast approaching. Did you know you can give art as a gift? Original, affordable art makes a great gift for a loved one, or even yourself :-)

Many galleries make a point of having small works on hand at this time of year. Art Interiors even has a special online shop where you can make your Holiday purchases conveniently. There a only a few of my mini birches left. You can purchase them here.

Mini Birches 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas

Click Here to Purchase

Mini Birches 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas

Click Here to Purchase

Tis the Season.

2011-12-10T17:03:00.000-05:00

November Sky 30x30

Acrylic on Canvas

$1500.

Have been busy in studio finishing up a commission and a few small paintings that will be gifts this year. Also in the planning stages for a couple of events that will take place in 2012 and prepping canvases for a new series. Hoping that I can keep the painting up during all the Christmas shopping and baking and partying that will be taking place all month. New Year's Eve will be extra special this year as Erik turns 20. How did that happen???

My Mystery Vintage Find-Do You Know What This Is?

2011-12-05T11:15:00.001-05:00

Last week I spent a day 'thrifting' and 'antiquing' with fellow artist and good friend Karen. While strolling the aisles of her local VV Boutique (Value Village) Karen's keen artistic eye spotted this quirky little objet d'art.

We gazed at it in amazement and giggled like school girls as we debated what it was. 6o's inspired? Yes we thought. Weird, quirky? For sure. Something that belongs on the set of Mad Men on the bar in Don Draper's office? Perhaps

Karen passed on it as it wouldn't fit with her home decor style, but this weird little thing cast a spell on me and I couldn't part with it. Have you ever seen anything like this? I'm pretty sure it's a one off because there is no stamp on the bottom but a signature instead. I'd love to get your comments if you know what it might be or if it's from a specific time or style. I've searched the internet with no results. For now, my vintage find sits on a side table just waiting for someone to ask 'what's this??' A perfect little conversation starter.

Style at Home Magazine December 2011.

2011-11-29T10:14:00.001-05:00

Style at Home Magazine

December 2011

Tamara Robbins Griffith's lovely dining room.

That's my painting reflected in the mirror.

I had a nice surprise while reading my December issue of Style at Home magazine this past weekend. I spotted one of my birch paintings in the magazine. The More the Merrier pg. 126, features the lovely home of Tamara Robbins Griffith, Style at Homes managing editor. She purchased the painting from Art Interiors a couple of years ago. It's always such a thrill for me to see my work in peoples homes.

Mountain View.

2011-11-28T07:29:00.000-05:00

Mountain View 40x40x2 Acrylic on Canvas

$2300.

Available at XC Art Restoration

Quiet Street

2011-11-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

Quiet Street 30x40 Acrylic on Canvas

$2000.

Available at Canvas Gallery

Birdsong.

2011-11-25T14:22:00.002-05:00

Birdsong 6x12 Acrylic on Canvas
$250.

Sold-Thank You!

San Francisco Vertigo Tour.

2011-11-24T11:19:00.000-05:00

My husband and I really enjoy the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Released in 1958, Vertigo takes place in San Francisco, so of course we had to find some of the places seen in the film. Apparently we are not the only ones that had this in mind as there is a 'Vertigo' tour of San Francisco available here.

We started our tour at Fort Point. The southern foot of the Golden Gate Bridge where Madeleine jumps into the water.

Typically foggy and very windy, there were lots of people in the area. Tourists, joggers and even a few brave surfers. I made sure not to catch them in my photos. I wanted to get the full "Hitchcock" effect.

The sound of the fog horn along with the sounds of the waves crashing into the base of the bridge set a suspenseful mood.

It was so beautiful the way the bridge just disappeared into the fog. No wonder this is considered to be the most photographed bridge in the world.

This is where Scottie's apartment would have been. At the very top of the shot you can see Lombard Street. The most crooked street in the world (?) well, San Francisco for sure.

1000 Mason Street, right across from the Fairmont Hotel where we stayed. This is where Madeleine lived.

And finally the Palace of Fine Arts. In reality this is a remnant of the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition. In the movie Vertigo, Scottie and Madeleine would stroll near here.

I hope you enjoyed my little 'Vertigo' tour of San Francisco. This was considered to be one of Hitchcock's best films.

New Landscapes.

2011-11-18T16:27:00.001-05:00

The Journey Home 30x30 Acrylic on Canvas
$1500.

Available at Art Interiors

Busy painting in the studio these days. We took a short trip to Kingston a few weeks ago and saw lots of geese flying. I took plenty of photos as I knew they'd end up in my paintings. There is something so beautiful to me about the way they fly in formation. Glorious nature. I have three finished in the series so far and another six started.

Two New Cityscapes.

2011-11-13T09:32:00.000-05:00

Two recently finished cityscapes. You really can't see details and they do look much better in person. I think I'll have to invest in a proper camera as I haven't been happy with the quality of my photos lately. Of course my proffessional photographer (my son) moved out this past spring and took his camera with him. I miss them both :-)

King West Calm 12x36

Acrylic on Canvas

$750.

Sunset View 30x30

Acrylic on Canvas

$1500.

Art Interiors 18th Annual Festival of Smalls.

2011-11-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year again. Yay!! Art Interiors 18th Annual festival of Smalls begins this Saturday November 12. If you're in Toronto and can see the show in person I urge you to go early. There are crowds.

It's a great place to see and purchase small works done by Art Interiors artists for a great price. All works for the show are $55.-$250. Can't make it in to the gallery? You can buy direct from the online store here. I created a few new paintings for this year's show as well as six new mini birches. Here's a preview.

True North 6x12 Acrylic on Canvas

$250.

Available at Art Interiors

O Canada 6x12 Acrylic on Canvas

$250

Available at Art Interiors

Mini Birch #108 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas

$50.

Available at Art Interiors

Mini Birch #111 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas

$50.

Available at Art Interiors

I Left My Heart in San Francisco Pt. 2.

2011-11-08T09:52:00.000-05:00

Sharing a few more vacation photos from our recent trip to the west coast. San Francisco is such a beautiful city with a rich history. Even though we were only there for 3 days, I think we did a pretty good job of visiting all the different neighborhoods.

Chatting with Jann Arden.

2011-11-01T16:32:00.000-04:00

"Feet on ground, heart in hand, facing forward, be yourself" Jann Arden's music and lyrics inspire me and make me feel good. I've been a fan of Jann Arden for many years. Her music is honest and real and it touches my heart. She, like her music is honest and real, and very open with her fans on Facebook and Twitter. In Toronto today to promote her new book and CD release, I got the opportunity to chat with her again for a few moments. One of my paintings hangs in Jann's home and she's been very kind and supportive of my painting over the years.

And judging from the huge crowd all waiting in line, books and CD's at the ready, Jann is as popular as ever. She's everywhere these days. On television, on the radio, even on top of the CN Tower with Rick Mercer!!

PS To the Ryerson student that interviewed me (I'm sorry, I tried to get your name but you disappeared into the crowd) I hope you do well on your assignment!! :-) Drop me an email, I'd love to read your article.

Affordable, Original Art Makes a Great Gift.

2011-11-01T09:45:00.001-04:00

Now that Halloween has come and gone we're getting into the Holiday shopping season. Many retailers have had their Christmas shops set up weeks ago.

I've received quite a few emails about this post I wrote a while back, and due to the many requests for my mini birches, I've painted a limited number of them for this season. They really do make a great gift (yes you can give original art!!) and being so tiny (3"x5") they make great stocking stuffers.

Kingsway-Lambton United Church Art Show and Sale 2012

2011-10-28T09:07:00.000-04:00

This past April I was invited to participate in the Kingsway-Lambton United Church Art Show and Sale. I was thrilled to be a part of this well known and long running show and I wrote about it here. The show organizers featured "father and daughter artists" with an article about the four of us here. The article also features artists Anja Karisik and her father Ciba Karisik.

My booth at the show.

My dad's booth.

Nandor Horthy-My dad's art

I'm happy to announce that once again, I will be participating next year. The show takes place on April 14, 2012. I know it's many months away but I am already starting to think of which paintings to include and the new paintings I'll be working on for the show. I love my job!!!!

Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2012

2011-10-26T09:17:00.008-04:00

I'm very excited to announce that two of my paintings have been included in Benjamin Moore's Color Trends 2012. There are four trends (color palettes) for 2012. Earth and Sky, Eclectic Elegance, Spiced Life and Sense and Sensibility. "Blossoming" 40x40 has been included in Earth and Sky. You can view the Earth and Sky Dining Room Transformation video here at BenjaminMoore.com. My painting is in the first part of the video. In the second part after the dining room has been transformed, the art hanging is "Untitled" by Richard Herman.

Blossoming 40x40x2

Available at Art Interiors

"Early Morning" 36x48 is included in Eclectic Elegance. You can view the video here. A beautiful landscape in cool tones "Endless Sands" by artist Gabriella Collier hangs in the first version of the bedroom and my painting is included after the bedroom has been transformed with warm tones.

Early Morning 36x48 Acrylic on Canvas

Available at Art Interiors

I believe that the print brochure of Color Trends 2012 will be available at Benjamin Moore locations early next year. It's always such a big thrill for me when my work appears in various media. Both paintings are available through Art Interiors, Toronto, as they supplied all original artwork.

Halloween Owls.

2011-10-24T09:58:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed that owls seem to be a very hot trend in home decor lately? Perhaps it's because they've been on my radar, but I see them almost everywhere I go. It's a trend that seems to come back every so often (I remember in high school in the 70's they were big) and so the saying goes-everything old is new again.

I was asked to do some illustrations of owls this past summer. This pair of owl paintings are 18x18, mixed media on canvas. A perfect opportunity to use up some textured papers and play with some mixed media techniques. The cool gray tones and hits of bronze give them a rather moody feel. Almost spooky, so with Halloween coming up I thought I'd share them.

The publishers ended up using 2 other owls that I painted in the series and I'm left with 4 paintings of owls. In fact there are paintings and illustrations crowding the shelves and the floor of my studio/living space. Perhaps it's time for a studio sale.

Paint Color Inspiration.

2011-10-18T16:39:00.000-04:00

If you're familiar with my blog, you know that something I do often is go to paint stores and big box home stores to check out the paint chips. You'll remember from this post, that I get really excited about them. I'm like a kid in a candy store.

Not only do the colors inspire me, I really like the names given to them. C'mon, how can you resist Wasabi, Fresh Olive, Hot Chocolate, Tiramisu, Biscotti, and these are just the food names.

Then there are the comfort names such as Cable Knit, Lambskin Duvet, Overcoat, and Hush. Nature themed names pull at me such as Sea Foam, Bed of Ferns,Yukon Sky and Night Train (so romantic!!) If I wasn't a full time artist I think I'd be applying to the paint companies as a 'paint title-er'. Now that would be a fun job.

Today I dropped in to my local paint store and picked up not only some color chips that I haven't seen before, but I also had them mix up four sample sized cans for some DIY projects. I also lucked out and got some small sample pots that were being cleared out. They were free! Luckily, I found some in my fave colors and ones that I use quite a bit. Cool blues, greens and browns. Such a soothing palette.

Back to my paints. I promise to share the DIY projects as soon as they are completed.

Available Landscape Paintings.

2011-10-14T08:30:00.003-04:00

It was fun sharing my love for the landscape with you yesterday. Thank you all for the wonderful emails and nice words. It's clear to see that many of you feel the same as I about the beauty nature has to offer, as well as the importance of thinking green and taking care of our natural world.

Being more "green" in the studio has been on my mind a lot lately and I've been reducing, reusing and recycling (always recycling!)

As the previous images were all of landscapes that have sold, I thought I'd share some which are available for purchase. As always, If you see a painting that is no longer available, or you wish to have a painting commissioned please feel free to send me an email. I'd love to work with you to create the perfect piece for your walls.

Misty River 30x36 $1500.

Available at Art Interiors

Mountain View 40x40x2 $2500.

Available at XC Art Restoration

Beautiful Nature 24x48 $1900.

Available at XC Art Restoration

Spring Marsh 36x36 $2100.

Available at Gallery Seven

Field and Sky 36x48 $2500.

Available at Gallery Seven

Summer Landscape 24x30 $1250.

Available at Gallery Seven

North Country 36x48 $2500.

Available at Gallery Seven

For the Love of the Landscape.

2011-10-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

When I put my brush to canvas I want to convey something beautiful.

Dusk, Late Summer 36x48

sold

No matter what subject matter I choose, I tend to zone right in on the peaceful and serene.

Evening, Late Summer 24x30

sold

I have always loved to paint the landscape because I am so moved by what nature has to offer.

Canadian Impression 24x30

sold

When I need inspiration I almost always turn to the natural.

First Snow 36x48

sold

My landscapes are a combination of what I have seen and what I would like to see.

Summer Fields 24x30

sold

Some are area specific and some are purely my own creation.

Trio 18x18

sold

I'm very moved by large open spaces. Big skies and open fields. A large expanse of empty beach.

Sunset Path 36x48

sold

I am grateful that I live in an area that experiances the four seasons. Each season has something special to offer.

Storm Watch 36x60

sold

I now live in the heart of the city but within an hour or so, I can find myself on a country road with ample opportunity to find nature's beauty.

Cottage Road 48x60

sold

Most of the landscapes that I've painted contain no people.

Mountain Morning 48x60

sold

Some do contain signs of life. An old overgrown path, telephone poles, old fences.

Summer's Best 48x60

sold

I may paint different subject matter from time to time, cityscapes, still life, abstracts. And it's fun to dabble in mixed media and try new things. But the landscape will always be part of me as an artist. New landscapes are coming. Stay tuned.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

2011-10-11T14:17:00.000-04:00

Another Canadian Thanksgiving has past. Ours was very quiet this year, just the three of us, and we broke with tradition as it was so hot and sunny. A BBQ on the balcony and we enjoyed what would probably be the last really nice weekend of the season. I also enjoyed going through the almost 800 photos I took of our west coast vacation.

I really did leave my heart in San Francisco and I want to go back. Soon. Three days is not enough time to explore that beautiful city.

We stayed at the Fairmont Hotel in Nob Hill and were given a corner suite on the 17th floor. The views of the city were spectacular.

Here we can see Coit Tower on top of Telegraph Hill. Our view was just shy of Alcatraz which is off to the left.

A barge heading out very early in the morning. It took a few days for me to really switch over to west coast time.

I love that sign for the Huntington Hotel. Too bad the window was dirty. It was so foggy one evening and most of the next day that these buildings weren't visible.

The view was even more exciting at night. Luckily we had one night where there was no fog at all and we could see all the shimmering lights.

We rented a car for this vacation and it was great to drive around and explore all the different neighborhoods. It was also a little crazy driving those steep hills (and walking them too!)

So it's a little hard to stay focused in the studio these days. My mind keeps wandering back to that fabulous city. More photos and bits of my trip coming soon.

Painting the Inspiration.

2011-10-04T11:22:00.000-04:00

It seems like ages since I've stood in front of my easel with paintbrush in hand. Today it's a must, to get some of the inspiration gathered from my trip onto canvas.

San Francisco view from the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Inspired by the excitement of travel. The new sights, smells and sounds. The vastness of sky along the coast, cool salt water breezes, and local birds.

Seagulls on San Francisco Bay.

Driving south along the coast near big Sur.

My aim has been to "loosen up" in my painting as seen here and here. So for now I'm happy painting clouds and birds and hearing the ocean waves as I work in my studio.

Here are the preliminary drawings of gulls and a background that I started this morning. Layers and layers of cool and warm colors applied freely. Stay tuned for the finished painting.

Jet Lag.

2011-09-29T14:14:00.001-04:00

Arriving home today from a week on the west coast. Today and probably the next few days will be all about adjusting to the shift in time zones and processing hundreds of photos. Oh the inspiration!! San Francisco for three nights and then a beautiful drive down the coast. One night on the ocean and then on to Las Vegas for three nights. I'll be sharing plenty of photos in the coming days.

Toronto International Art Fair 2011

2011-09-26T09:21:00.002-04:00

The Toronto International Art Fair 2011 is about a month away. This year the show's opening night preview is October 27th with the show being open to the public from the 28th to the 31st. This is the show where Canadian galleries and galleries from around the world come to exhibit, buy and sell. Here are my impressions of last years show. I'm looking forward to checking out this years exhibiting galleries. Will you attend?

Flying

2011-09-23T09:14:00.004-04:00

Flying

Acrylic on canvas

18x18x2

I am still so inspired by birds these days. The inspiration is all around as I see birds on wires every day right outside my window. We also get to see swallows flying about enjoying the insects in the sky at sundown, sometimes swooping into the chimney of the old school across the street. A very large crane was erected a couple of days ago and I was delighted to see the sparrows sitting in a row on it the next morning. And I've seen Canada geese flying past many times. One Sunday morning they flew by very early honking. They were loud. And so "Flying" came to be. My newest painting fresh off the easel. I'd love to see it find a good home. If you're interested in purchasing, drop me an email.

Stage Your Home with Art.

2011-09-20T10:28:00.000-04:00

Friends of ours have put their luxury condo up on the market. They had the condo cleaned and staged and it looks gorgeous. I am always thrilled to see my paintings hanging in people's homes.

The painting above was done a few years ago. It's still one of my favorite cloudscapes and I'm lucky enough to get to see it every now and then.

The framed painting above the fireplace was painted as a wedding gift. The bride requested one of my cityscapes. It's similar to "Lonely Street" that appeared on an episode of HGTV's "Income Property" but of course it is one of a kind. It was delivered last week just in time for the open house. If you're in the Toronto area and are looking for a beautiful condo in the Merchandise Building, you can view the full listing here.

Monday September 19, 2011

2011-09-19T11:17:00.000-04:00

Today is September 19th and a great excuse to re-share this mixed media piece that I created for Create Mixed Media back in July. You can see the full post here and my process here.

A Fabulous Toronto Sunset.

2011-09-13T17:10:00.000-04:00

I am such a romantic when it comes to beautiful skies and sunsets. We had an awesome sunset in Toronto at the beginning of September. I was one of hundreds that took photos that night. These were all taken from our balcony. Yes, we can see the CN Tower from our place.

You can see more great shots here on Blog TO.

Inspiration All Around.

2011-09-07T09:15:00.001-04:00

Inspiration really is everywhere. I keep my camera with me at all times (like many of you I'm sure) and snap away when I see something that really catches my eye.

The colors of nature.

While window shopping.

After a great meal.

Before a great meal.

Fading signs.

Wonderful texture in peeling paint.

Art supplies of course.

How about you? Where have you been finding inspiration these days?

Birches, Birches, Everywhere Birches.

2011-09-01T16:49:00.000-04:00

Over the past few years I've created many paintings of birch trees. Indeed birch trees have been and still are a very popular subject. They can be seen everywhere from original art, illustrations, posters, home decor items, the list is endless. I just love the way they look. "Spring's Promise" is the very first one I painted and thanks to Art Interiors, it not only sold but also made it into the pages of Style at Home magazine, October 2007.

I feel it's time to move along creatively and have been concentrating on other subjects, so I will now be painting birches by special request or commission only. There are a few available through my galleries and a few left here in my studio (I have a few more that aren't pictured here) Feel free to email me with your purchasing questions.

Standing Tall

Acrylic on Canvas

36x60x2

$3800

Upward Reaching

Acrylic on Canvas

36x60x2

$3800

Birch Series III

Acrylic on Canvas

12x36

$750

Midnight Birches

Acrylic on Canvas

12x24

$500

Soul Searching.

2011-08-26T09:52:00.002-04:00

Sometimes you just have to get back to the basics.

Pencil to paper.

It's honest.

It's real.

Looking Forward.

2011-08-23T13:20:00.000-04:00

Haven't been around the blog much lately. Taking a bit of a break from much of social media these days. I've turned inward these past few weeks. On a private journey. Soul searching. Cleaning house so to speak. Figuring out what stays and what goes in my life. Changes are definitely happening. I'll be back with more regular posting next month. For me, September has always been a month for new beginnings. So there will be new stories and art to share and a few surprises. Stay tuned.

Seasons

2011-08-11T10:44:00.000-04:00

At ten years of age if someone had asked me "what's your favorite season?" without hesitation I would've answered summer. The seemingly endless days home from school without a care in the world, friends, and fun. That was my summer.

As an adult the seasons for me are all about the senses. Sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste.

Spring is a visual explosion of fresh greens, pinks, whites, and yellows. Buds and blooms. New beginnings. Hope

Summer is sensual. Hot humid days and steamy nights. Beaches. The waves lapping at the shore. Biting into cold crisp watermelon.

Autumn is cool breezes that can turn into a cold wind. Gray skies with bursts of yellow and red from leaves so bright they almost look artificial.

Winter is quiet and still. Lacy frost on windows. Giant snowflakes falling gently like feathers onto a frozen pond.

I'm grateful that I live in an area that has all four seasons because each one brings me so much joy. How about you, what's your favorite season?

Summer Gallery Hours.

2011-08-04T10:35:00.000-04:00

The lazy hazy days of summer are upon us. The downtown core seems quieter than usual, I suppose many are off on vacation.

Things are busy here in the studio with an assortment of projects on the go. This is a great time for me to lock myself up and paint, paint, paint in preparation for the busier art season in the fall. My galleries need new paintings.

Many galleries here have their summer group shows up and are open shorter summer hours. I'm taking my cue from them with the blog and will be around but only casually. This will give me a chance to concentrate more on studio time and a few surprises I'll share soon. Of course there will be a little bit of R&R thrown in.

Square Foot Show 2011.

2011-07-27T16:58:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again. Time for the 9th Annual Square Foot show. The original Square Foot show presented by AWOL Gallery, Toronto. This year the collectors/press gala is Friday August 5. Doors open at 7 pm. at Twist Gallery, 1100 Queen Street West. and the show runs until August 21st. You can get complete details here.

Every painting in the show is 12x12 (hence the name) and a set price of $225. This is a great time to get original affordable art by some well known and emerging artists.

This year it's all about the landscape and I've submitted 3 of them. Here's a preview.

sold-thank you

I took a walk along Queen Street West yesterday to deliver the paintings to Awol Gallery, and enjoyed taking my time walking back. Window shopping all the trendy shops, I stopped at the window display of Kol Kid (trendy and cute things for kids) when I spotted these adorable critters.

Marisa's blog was one of my first "blog crushes" when I started blogging and I still read Creative Thursday regularly. It was a nice surprise to see her lovely work here in Toronto, especially as Marisa is way over on the west coast. Check out Marisa's blog here.

Inspire Me Pinterest.

2011-07-25T09:23:00.001-04:00

I've been reviewing some of my mood boards that I've created over the past few years and have noticed that what's inspiring me lately, really hasn't changed that much. I still favor neutrals in a big way. Blues and greens make their way into my art more than the reds do.

My friend and fellow artist Karen, invited me to join Pinterest, an online place to catalogue the things you love. Mood boards that you can share. I can see I'm going have to find some extra minutes in my day to explore this new venue.

The Week as Art. The Process.

2011-07-21T10:26:00.000-04:00

I was so excited when I was asked by Create Mixed Media to create "the week as art" this week. As a fine artist who loves to dabble in mixed media this was a great opportunity to share my vision and process. I decided to make seven little assemblages using a wide range of materials.

I included background papers that I created myself. I usually make a few of these before I start a painting to loosen up, so I have plenty to choose from. I also used scraps and bits of other work and canvases that I've cut up to re use in other projects.

Magazine pages were also used. Images of textures and numbers. I also incorporated natural elements and some ephemera. An old key also found its way into my take on the calender.

Here you can see for #19 (above) I used one of my mixed media paintings on a stretched canvas and covered a section of it with a piece of loose canvas onto which I painted a realistic shell on some sand. The number 19 was traced onto a piece of tracing paper and taped on. I photographed it and then disassembled the whole thing.

Here is one of the set ups I used for #20 using one of my journals open to a painted page with the elements placed in a pleasing manner. I only used the right side of the shot for the final image.

Of course it's always nice to have a studio helper to get the work done. Working on "the week as art" was a very enjoyable experience and I'm thinking there might be a book in my future.

Check out Create Mixed Media as it's a great resource for all things mixed media. You can see the full seven days of the calender here.

Unfocused.

2011-07-19T16:16:00.000-04:00

Today has gotten away from me. It was my intention after I finished my second cup of coffee this morning to get right into the studio (which is exactly 2 1/2 ft. from my living room) to finish up a few projects. Perhaps it's the heat and humidity, but focusing on one particular thing is impossible for me today.

I started this little painting just for fun. To warm up for the bigger painting that was meant to be finished today. I got this far and here it sits on my work table.

Unfinished

Hah, hardly even started.

I moved on to a different painting that was started last week. I put it up on the easel and there it sat. I starred at it for a short time until I was drawn to the nine little mixed media pieces also on the table waiting to be finished. I spread them out and there they still are.

Uninspired

I thought it best not to look at my to do list and see the eight items, not one of them crossed out with a red line. Instead emails, twitter, facebook, blogs, videos (might as well watch other artists paint)

Unfocused

Note to self-this too shall pass. All creative types go through mind fog and dry spells. It comes with the territory. There is just so much that you want to do that you're overwhelmed. Relax. Breathe. Trust in yourself.

The Week as Art.

2011-07-17T16:42:00.000-04:00

I'm thrilled to have my mixed media work featured on Create Mixed Media this week. Thanks so much for this opportunity Tonia, Major gratitude here.

Here are the final pieces each representing a day of this week.

Each piece was assembled, photographed and then disassembled.

I used an assortment of materials. Original background papers, magazine pages, tracing paper, photo transfer.

Ephemera, stones, original painting on canvas and cut up scraps, acrylic paints, gesso, and markers.

It would've been easy to superimpose numbers onto images of paintings that I had already completed,

but I wanted to challenge myself, have some fun and come up with something new. I created seven little temporary assemblages.

Whether you are accomplished or just starting on your artistic journey Create Mixed media has something to offer you.

Have a great week.

Playing Around with Mixed Media

2011-07-14T09:35:00.000-04:00

I've been playing around with some mixed media lately and making altered pages for fun. (taking a short break from my larger paintings.) I thought I'd share with you how I made this altered mixed media page.

First I assembled a bunch of pages torn from various magazines. As I'm a big fan of Andy Warhol I ended up using the cover of Artnews magazine and altered it. As this is a magazine cover and due to copyright laws, this page is for my personal use only.

I begin by distressing the page in areas with a sanding block. This takes away some of the sheen in areas and gives it a nice rough finish ready to take the acrylic paint and medium.

I applied random areas of color keeping them bright and clean. After all I want to capture the essence of Warhol in the altered page.

I cut out poppy shapes from some background papers that I created earlier and glued them down with matte medium. Then I gave the whole page a coat of the same medium. When the page had dried I added some free form lines with a black Sharpie marker.

I finished the page by adding some texture with stamping. I used a piece of rubber shelf liner. I also used my sanding block again and sanded off paint in a few places. Finally, I added a few "seeds" in the bottom poppy with my black marker. I then coated the whole page with a coat of my acrylic matte medium.

Taking a break from whatever it is that you do is a great way to relieve stress (remember cutting and pasting and painting in grade school?) Even those that claim they can't even draw a straight line or stick figures can enjoy the freedom of this type of creative outlet.

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2011

2011-07-11T09:18:00.001-04:00

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition celebrated it's 50th year this past weekend. I didn't participate this year but I did attend as a visitor and was blown away with all the talent. It's always fun to see fresh new artists and some regulars exhibiting their work.

I'm happy I took the long walk north to the students section and discovered the figurative paintings of Adrienne Dagg. Fresh out of Concordia University her paintings-especially this one, had me in her booth for quite awhile.

I was also really impressed by Laura Culic's new encaustic work. Well known for her moody landscapes Laura's new encaustc paintings speak to my soul.

Other artists' work that I really enjoyed were Marie Rioux, Lauren Satok, Elizabeth Lennie, Peter Rotter, Dorion Scott

Summer is...

2011-07-07T16:18:00.000-04:00

sunshine

heat and humidity

cool breezes

thunderstorms

farmers markets in the middle of the city

long days

sightseeing

the beach

festivals

flip flops

tall cool drinks

tourists

sitting on a patio

watermelon

easy living

bbq

iced coffee

summer reading

This will be a busy summer weekend here in Toronto. Lots going on such as the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and the Honda Indy as well as a multitude of festivals and happenings. There's no doubt about it I just love summer in the city.

Summer Equals Salad Love.

2011-07-04T12:46:00.000-04:00

Summer is in full swing and the living is easy. Don't like to spend alot of time in the kitchen especially when its hot hot hot outside, so I am in full salad mode. Remember this tasty Tuesday and this one? Today I made this beautiful quinoa tabbouleh courtesy of Mairlyn Smith.

Mairlyn is a regular on Breakfast Television and Cityline and is so much fun to watch. She combines cooking and comedy and a kick ass attitude. I'll be picking up a copy of her latest book Healthy Starts Here for sure!!

Quinoa Tabbouleh

recipe

I've been searching for healthy recipes that use quinoa and I especially love this. It's super easy and very tasty.

Arts on King Show Comes to an End.

2011-06-29T10:11:00.000-04:00

June has been a great month (not only because it's my birthday month) but because I had my work featured at Arts on King. "Potpourri" comes to an end tomorrow.

I am very pleased that I decided to frame my series of pigeons and they've garnered alot of attention. They are more urban in subject matter-pigeons on concrete, yet they still keep the soft romantic feel that I like to create in my paintings.

It's always very thrilling for me to see a large body of my work together. It's a small moment in time when I see all the hard work in front of me and can feel satisfied that I am headed in the right direction. Personally, it's been a tough year but my art has seen me through it.

Not to worry if you missed it, you can see my work regularly at Arts on King and Arts on Queen.

Create Mixed Media

2011-06-23T15:10:00.000-04:00

I received some wonderful news yesterday. Next month I'll have seven of my mixed media paintings featured on Create Mixed Media. I have been asked to do "the week in art" and I am both thrilled and honored. I was introduced to this site through this post on The Altered Page. If you haven't checked out the site yet you're in for a treat as it's chock full of inspiration and information. If it has anything at all to do with mixed media you will find it at Create Mixed Media.

I'm off to the studio now to dig out my supplies and get creative. This is the part that I enjoy the most. Just playing with the art supplies and letting them take over. It's a very intuitive process for me. I know I'll have to remind myself to stop and photograph my process to share with you in a future post.

Studio Cats. Whats in a Name?

2011-06-21T09:18:00.000-04:00

According to poet/playwright T. S. Elliot every cat should have three names. In reality, according to the crazy cat people we know (us included) they have many many more.

Meet Nami. AKA Tsunami, Newman, Newmi, Newmstead, Fatso, Pico, Peekee, Spoony, Schmoopy, Stinki, Floopy.

And this is Iggy. Full name Ignatowski Popaloni.

AKA Sico (pronounced seeko) Sici (pronounced Seekee) Fwippy, Fwipstead, Flippy, Sweeti, Sweet Tea.

When I first met my DH years ago, I adopted his black cat. She came to live with us when we moved in together. One day we made a list of all of her names. I think we had over 30. Crazy? Maybe, but if you're a cat lover I'm sure you can relate. How many names does your cat have?

Art and the Common Cold.

2011-06-17T10:29:00.000-04:00

Last week I was side swiped and knocked down by the common cold. It came on slowly with a cough and then progressed into a full blown respiratory spectacle. I really hate getting a cold because not only do I feel physically awful from the symptoms, I usually feel very vulnerable and even the smallest of stresses can turn me into a blubbering idiot. Throw in a small splattering of guilt (Get off the couch it's just a cold. Others are suffering from much worse, how can you let a cold bother you??) and it's been a little rough. I couldn't even drag myself to my workouts.

I did manage to finish some paintings in spite of having to put my brushes down constantly to reach for a tissue or sip my green tea.

Afternoon Debate 12x12x2

Acrylic on canvas $350.

Electrical Storm 12x12x2

Acrylic on canvas $350.

Feeling a little better today so I'm going to try to get out and enjoy some sun and human interaction. I know there are much more serious problems affecting humanity, but if they could could finally find a cure for the common cold it would be a good thing.

Fashion Illustration, Old School.

2011-06-16T11:20:00.000-04:00

I found my old portfolio today with my sketches I did way back in the day at OCA-when it was still OCA and not OCAD as it is now. Sadly, I lost much of the work I did in school due to a flood we had in the basement of a rental apartment we used to live in.

These drawings were all done in Sunny Choi's fashion illustration class. I was very much into fashion back then and Sunny's fashion illustration class was my favorite. She would set up easel and draw during the class too. I loved to watch her draw, the way she worked her pencil or chalk line was amazing, and still is to today. Check out her website here.

We drew from live models. Here I sketched three separate poses by the same model on one page. I guess I thought this was really creative back then.

In looking at this sketch now I realize that for fashion illustration, the brides bottom half is too short and I should have made her legs longer.

I still love this dress the model wore that day. I had a similar one and actually I had the same earrings and hair. Hey, it was the eighties!!

I'm happy this wasn't destroyed with the other work. This sketch was one of my best pieces and yes, I did get an A on it. :-)

Time

2011-06-10T11:18:00.000-04:00

I have time on my mind these days. With about 100 items on my to do list, I'm feeling a little pressured for time. In our youth, time doesn't matter to us. The days seem endless. At least that's how it was for me. Now there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get it all done.

I've been reading this book. In it, there's a section titled "Don't Let Time Manage You, Manage it". The author goes on to say "Time has meaning only when it holds experiences that expand life's meaning for us. It seems to drag on or fly by according to what it holds. Once we grasp this, we begin to master the role it plays in our lives, creating time the way we want it and when we want it".

"Distressed Elements-Time" My pages in Seth Apter's Altered Book.

I think I'll take the time to remove a few items from my to do list, relax a little and enjoy the weekend. Whatever you you have planned for this weekend, have a great one!

Potpourri Opening at Arts on King this Saturday.

2011-06-01T17:02:00.000-04:00

I'm always amazed at how different paintings look on screen as opposed to seeing them in real life. This was very evident last week at the Abex show at the AGO. I had gotten so used to seeing the paintings in print or online one way, and it's a totally different experience when you're there in person a few feet away from the original works.

It's also evident here as well. I try to take good photos and match the colors as closely as I can to the original painting, and yet sometimes they appear flat on screen. Colors aren't as clear or bright and sometimes nuances just disappear altogether. If you like art, books and posters are great, surfing online is fun, but I urge you to get out and see art in person. Go to your local gallery or museum. Check out the independent galleries and outdoor art shows in your neighborhood. Art should be seen in person.

Just a friendly reminder that my show "Potpourri" opens at Arts on King this Saturday. Details here.

Abstract Expressionist Artists at the AGO.

2011-05-30T07:35:00.002-04:00

Jackson Pollock

Mark Rothko

Last week I went to the members preview of "Abstract Expressionist New York, Masterpieces from the Museum of Modern Art" at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Out of all the artists included in this group, and there are many, my two favorites have always been Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.

Abstract Expressionism was an American painting movement that flourished in the 1940's and 50's. This generation of artists experienced the Great Depression, the Holocoust, and the dropping of the Atom Bomb. This quote from Jackson Pollock explains the movement very well. "It seems to me that the modern painter cannot express this age, the airplane, the atom bomb, the radio, in the old forms of the Renaissance or of any other past culture. Each age finds it's own techniques."

This show continues until September 4, 2011 at the AGO.

This was a generation of artists who had just come through the Great Depression of the 1930s, and who had witnessed the Holocaust and the dropping of the atomic bomb. Instead of falling into despair, they sought to invent a new language of art, which by extension would imply a new culture, a new civilization and a new beginning for humankind in general.This was a generation of artists who had just come through the Great Depression of the 1930s, and who had witnessed the Holocaust and the dropping of the atomic bomb. Instead of falling into despair, they sought to invent a new language of art, which by extension would imply a new culture, a new civilization and a new beginning

Weekend Herb Garden.

2011-05-22T13:29:00.000-04:00

Our condo came complete with a built in planter that went unused last summer. Actually we've been debating whether to keep it or have it removed, which would give us a few more square feet in balcony space.

Any extra space in a condo is a good thing, but removing it at this time just seemed a little too much. Instead, I thought I'd try my hand at a bit of gardening.

I do not have a green thumb but I/we are foodies and love to cook so it made sense to plant an herb garden.

I imagine even I can handle an herb garden. Just plant, keep watered, and snip as needed. The sun does most of the work.

Lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, curly parsley, Italian parsley, dill, chives, tarragon, mint, and coriander. These should make for some tasty meals this summer.

Arts on King Presents "Potpourri"

2011-05-17T10:18:00.000-04:00

My newest paintings are being featured at Art on King, June 1-30. Why "Potpourri" you ask? I chose "Potpourri" as a title because this showing is an ecclectic grouping of paintings of my favorite themes of late. Birches, blossoms, and birds. As well as continuing with my birds on a wire series (with an urban twist) I've completed five paintings of pigeons. I watch the pigeons from my studio window on the sidewalk and the rooftops. I find them oddly comforting, and remember feeding them often as a child.

Potpourri-Artist Statement

I carry my camera with me at all times as I find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. I use the photos I've taken as inspiration and reference, but it is my personal interpretation of the subject that appears on the canvas rather than a replication of the photograph. I strive to make each painting a soft focus moment in time. A recent move to a new home/studio in downtown Toronto has ignited a passion to paint the things I see around me. But rather than capturing the noisy, ever changing movement and high energy that is the norm for most large cities, I paint the hidden quiet moments. My intent is to transport the viewer to a softer place where the hard edges of the world have been removed, replaced by romance, peace and innocence.

If you can, please join us for the opening reception at Arts on King. 165 King Street East. Toronto on Saturday June 4 from 1-4 pm. Hope to see you.

More event details here. Rita Vindedzis Fine Art on Facebook.

Continuing the Inspiration.

2011-05-16T15:36:00.000-04:00

Here's the mood board that I created last week. I went through my stacks and stacks of magazines and pulled out pages with bright beautiful color.

Other things inspiring me these days are the buildings I see while out walking about the city. Warm and sunny days have been few and far between this spring so when the sun does come out, I like to get out with my camera.

Inspired by that fabulous photo of the Summerhill subway station by Ben Mark Holzberg, I grabbed this shot while underground. I need to tweek the colors a bit but I love the shot of yellow.

Meeting up with a friend for a caffeine hit at a local coffee bar. When two creative types get together inspiration can flow like water.

fresh flowers, need I say more?

Exploring the numerous shops in Chinatown.

Inspiration seems to come to me from everywhere these days.

So tell me, What's inspiring you?

Inspire Me Color.

2011-05-09T09:19:00.001-04:00

I'm inspired by color these days.

Spring has finally arrived in all it's glorious color.

It freshens my soul and lifts my mood.

The white magnolias look so crisp against the brilliant blue of the sky.

I'm off to create a new mood board to keep the inspiration flowing.

New Paintings

2011-05-06T07:27:00.000-04:00

I've been away from this blog for what seems like ages and with good reason. I've been focusing 100% on painting new works for my June show here.

Last month, I also received a request for new landscapes and I've completed five. I'll be delivering these new landscapes to XC Art Restoration sometime next week. Here are two of the larger ones.

Mountain View 40x40x2 acrylic on canvas

Beautiful Nature 24x48 acrylic on canvas

Painting and Home Decor Part Two.

2011-04-25T10:40:00.001-04:00

Here are the after photos of our newly painted master bedroom. It took two full days of taping and painting and I'm very satisfied with the results and the final color choice. I went with CIL Pewter Grey. Now all that's left to do in the room is add my artwork which I will have framed with black floating frames. The black frames will enhance the paintings and work well with the sliding panel doors that are also black, and give a nice finishing touch to the room.

Figment, Flight and Fancy.

2011-04-18T11:14:00.001-04:00

Supria Karmakar and myself at Supria's opening at Arts on King.

Pages created by Supria in my book Gifts From the Sea, part of the Inner Works collaborative.

This past Saturday I had the wonderful pleasure of finally meeting in person Supria Karmakar. Supria is a fabulous, very talented encaustic artist, and a beautiful soul. We've been online friends for a few years and I participated in a mixed media altered book round robin, which was Supria's creation.

Supria's show, titled Figment, Flight and Fancy opened last week at Arts on King in Toronto and is a must see. Encaustic painting involves using hot wax and pigment applied to a surface. Supria adds mixed media elements to create paintings that are highly textured, vibrant and translucent. Her work is layers upon layers of beautiful imagery that must be seen in person. Although it looks great on screen, a computer monitor really does not do her work justice. In looking closely at one of Supria's paintings elements appear to be floating in the luxurious colors and textures and the work has that wonderful smell of the wax-it all adds to the experience. You can see paintings from the show and more of Supria's encaustics on her blog and website. Figment, Flight and Fancy runs until April 30, 2011.

Painting and Home Decor.

2011-04-15T07:11:00.001-04:00

Are you planning any home renovations or DIY projects in the near future?? Spring is the perfect time to clean and freshen up our living spaces, and very soon I'll be painting the master bedroom. I'm having a hard time choosing a color, and woul'd love to hire a professional to help with that and some other changes I have planned, but it's just not in the budget this year. Here are a couple of 'before' photos. The wall color (from the previous owner) is a shade of taupe that's a bit too pink for my taste. I'll probably go with a warm grey that will complement the concrete ceiling. Of course I'll be posting the 'after' photos for you.

I can't help myself when I'm near paint color swatches. I just have to make collections of the colors that are inspiring me lately. I call this grouping 'Vegas Desert'

A grouping of some CIL greys that are in the running. Not sure if I'll end up choosing one of these, I've been changing my mind almost daily.

Style at Home and Beauti-Tone have a gorgeous paint collection that I've been admiring lately. Seen here at the Style at Home booth at this year's IDS show. Photo courtesy of Style at Home.

This is the Fresh palette from the Style at Home- Beauti-Tone brochure. Love the cool greens and blues here. I've been using shades of these colors in my paintings lately.

The Loft palette. Very sophisticated greys and blues. So urban and downtown.

Acrylic on canvas.

2011-04-11T15:47:00.000-04:00

Blossom Melody 20x20

acrylic on canvas

$700.

Birds on a Wire, Six Views 6x36

acrylic on canvas

$325.

Untitled 12x36

acrylic on canvas

$750.

Here are three of my newest paintings that didn't get snatched up at the show this past weekend. I finished painting these last week and you can see I definitely have spring fever.

Off to clean and organize the studio today. It's always a huge mess after a show. Then I'll start preparations for my next venue and take some time to write a few interesting (I hope) blog posts. Enjoy your week!

Toronto's Graffiti Debate.

2011-04-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

There is an ongoing debate in Toronto about graffiti and it's getting quite heated. I'm not going to get all political here but I find some graffiti very inspiring-especially the art murals around our city-check out Graffiti Alley off Queen Street West. According to our city's graffiti bylaw graffiti is defined as

"One or more letters, symbols, figures, etching, scratches, inscriptions, stains, or other markings that disfigure or deface a structure or thing, howsoever made or otherwise affixed on the structure or thing, but, for greater certainty, does not include an art mural".

So I saw this walking home from the gym today and according to this description it is definitely graffiti and will have to be removed at the owners expense.

I just love the message and it made me smile.

Preparing for an Art Show and Sale.

2011-04-04T12:05:00.001-04:00

Preparations have been ongoing for this upcoming show as I have to be ready for this Saturday. It's wonderful having my work available in galleries, but I haven't done a show like this in a few years so it will be fun getting out there and meeting the buyers.

As of now this painting is still untitled. It's 6"x36" part of my "Birds on a Wire" series. I enjoyed painting in this small wide format and it's really 6 paintings in one.

I don't usually frame my paintings as I extend the painting around the edges of the canvas so that they can be hung unframed, but I thought I'd frame a few up special for this show.

And I did a series of "birds on a Wire" especially for this show too. These are acrylic on acid free illustration board, 10"x10" framed in silver toned frames.

These landscapes are 12"x12" and will fit in that little space where you just need to hang some art. Although they look wonderful on their own, I like to hang smaller works in groupings on the wall.

This year there happens to be 2 father/daughter combos at the show. Myself and my dad Nandor Horthy and also Anja Karisik and her father Ciba Karisik. You can read the full article here

Mixed Media For Fun.

2011-03-31T07:22:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when I have shows coming up and other art deadlines are looming, or when I just need a break from the paintings I do "as work" I always turn to mixed media for some fun. Think back to the days (your early early days) in school when it was time for ART. These are my first favorite memories of art making. The finger paints, crayons, and dry noodles glued to paper and painted the most brilliant colors.

Now days its drawing in my sketchbook, art journal ling, and making background papers. There are so many beautiful digital papers available these days but I like to work "old school" creating that look with paint, stamps, stencils, collage, gel transfers, markers, colored pencils...

There is something almost magical that happens when you play with the materials, not really thinking about the end result, just letting the colors and the materials take over.

The range of stamps available are mind boggling but really if you think about it stamps can come from anywhere. Sponges, sticks, vegetables, assorted kitchen utensils, string, crumpled paper, bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, the list is endless. The chandelier "stamp" I used on the above is actually a laser cut, felt Christmas decoration.

Sometimes while I'm making these background papers I'm thinking and planning for future paintings. Working out a color palette or design. Sometimes the creativity will flow and I'll come up with new ideas.

Sometimes while I'm having fun and creating with mixed media I allow my mind to float free and dream. Ideas, hopes and plans for the future rise to the surface. I've been thinking about sharing more. Maybe there's a book in the future?

Spring Cleaning.

2011-03-28T09:51:00.000-04:00

Graffiti Flowers (detail)
acrylic on paper

Spring Cleaning. Two words that I have a love/hate relationship with. I hate thinking about it and I hate doing it but I love the results. It has been delayed here a bit as has Spring itself. I am however mentally preparing myself for the tasks at hand. Making my long list of what needs to be done. As well as giving everything a good scrub down, (I'm amazed at how much city dirt gets in) there will be small repairs done, painting, and my favorite part arranging and hanging artwork. And maybe re arranging some of the furniture.

Ok, so I realize this is not just about spring cleaning anymore, it's turning into being a total re do, but that's what usually happens when I've been reading all may fave home decor magazines and blogs. Is there such a thing as inspiration overload?

The Other Side of Vegas.

2011-03-24T10:47:00.000-04:00

The recent spring snowstorm has left me craving warm spring days even more than before. I thought this would be the perfect time to share some more Vegas vacation shots with you. Although Vegas is best known for it's "sins" gambling, drinking, and well let's say brothels, there is so much else to do there.

We planned a day trip to the Valley of Fire State Park. After a beautiful, not too long drive through the Mohave Desert we found ourselves in one of the most beautiful places.

One thing that we both commented on when we arrived and stopped to take our first few photographs was the silence. It was really quiet, you couldn't even hear the soft breeze that was blowing

The scenery was breathtaking and the desert colors were really beautiful. We were at the Valley of Fire on Super Bowl Sunday and it seemed that everyone was back in Vegas watching the game. We were alone with nature.

Then this little guy came and paid us a visit. he was not shy and came up close to us. I felt bad that I didn't have a morsel to give him.

The rock formations are amazing and you can see things in them. I thought I could see screaming faces in some parts, similar to this famous painting by Edvard Munch.

It was the perfect day in the desert. We had a beautiful scenic drive back to Vegas and enjoyed being the only car on the road, at least for awhile. If you're ever out that way and want to see the natural beauty that Vegas has to offer spend a day in the Valley of Fire.

Supermoon.

2011-03-21T16:43:00.000-04:00

Here is how I saw the supermoon the other night. Actually, this is the setting supermoon at about 6 am. Facing west.

If only I had gotten up about 20 minutes earlier I would've gotten better shots with it right above the building. The view earlier in the evening was not very impressive. Next to the CN tower it didn't look like a supermoon just a regular moon. I am happy that it ushered in spring. I think I'll paint a landscape with a moon sometime soon.

In the Studio.

2011-03-16T10:37:00.000-04:00

A spark of an idea turns into some color roughs.

Applying paint in layers and layers.

A series of new paintings soon to be completed.

It's been a flurry of activity the past few weeks and I'm very grateful to be so busy. It was well after lunch time yesterday when I realized that I should stop to eat, and well after 5 pm when I cleared away the paints and thought of what to make for the evening meal.

One of my good friends has returned to the world of blog. Check out Indigo Girl and follow Sherry on her journey as she discovers the possibilities in life one moment, one day at a time. So nice to have you back Sherry :-)

Art Show and Sale Preview.

2011-03-14T09:42:00.000-04:00

The Art Show and Sale at Kingsway Lambton United Church is quickly approaching. I haven't decided yet completely the paintings that I will be exhibiting (of course I'm still painting new works specially for this) but I have an idea. I will have an assortment of sizes in various series. Landscapes, birches series, birds series, a few florals and a few surprises. Here is a small preview of landscapes that will be at the show. Hope to see you there.

Wind Lost 40x40x2 Acrylic on canvas

$2300.

Daybreak 12x12 Acrylic on canvas

$300.

Peaceful 10x10 Acrylic on canvas

$250.

Pastoral 10x10 Acrylic on canvas

$250.

Quiet River 6x6 acrylic on canvas

$150.

Studio Update.

2011-03-08T10:58:00.000-05:00

Sunday Morning 8x10 acrylic on canvas

sold

Just popping in to say Hi. Working on a whole lot of new paintings but I can't share any with you just yet. Now I don't usually frame paintings because I finish the edges nicely so they can be displayed unframed however, I am working on a new series of smaller, framed originals that I will debut at this upcoming show. Stay tuned for more details. (the above painting is a hint).

The mixed media page of this blog has been updated with images of my mixed media/altered book collaboration with Inner Works, and some assorted mixed media paintings. Check it out if you have a moment.

And finally, I had a special visitor in the studio yesterday and we were working on a fun project, but you will have to wait to see the finished item. Wow, I'm just full of surprises today!! :-) Back to my canvases.

Lazy Sunday.

2011-03-06T14:25:00.000-05:00

Pigeons 6x6 mixed media on board

sold

First Light 6x6 mixed media on board

sold

Enjoying a somewhat lazy Sunday today. By that I mean now that the household chores are done and the third load of laundry is in, I've put my feet up and am reading through my fave design mags-March issues. I am dreaming and planning some changes here for spring. Fresh paint on the master bedroom walls, some upgrades on bathroom fixtures and lighting, moving furniture in the main live/work area, and finally, an art wall with framed photography. Photographs taken by my guys and maybe one or two of my own.

Speaking of photography, I'm happy to be included in Seth's post today on his blog The Altered Page, as part of the Pulse-Collector's Edition Chapter 10. Nearly 150 artists have shared their current collections or obsessions. You can have a read right here.

Kimberley Seldon, Cityline, and Dabble.

2011-03-02T09:50:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since my wonderful experience with Kimberley Seldon on the set of Cityline.

It really seems like it was just yesterday that between a few tweets and emails I found myself down at the studio before the taping with my artwork, nervously waiting for Kimberley to arrive.

The topic for the segment was toile and I just happened to have two small paintings where I combined my take on toile with my birds on a wire series. Being the wonderfully kind and generous person that she is, Kimberley offered to include my paintings in her segment.

Not only did my work get shown and incorporated into the design segment, Kimberley pronounced my name beautifully-my last name gets mispronounced often. I also got to sit in the audience and experience what a taping of Cityline is all about. Many of my fave designers were on hand. You can read about it here.

Here's Kimberley chatting with Tracy and showing one of my paintings. This was really a big event for me and my art. Major gratitude here!!

Gossip 10x8 acrylic on canvas

available at Art Interiors

dabble

Have you heard all the buzz about Dabble??? Most recently Kimberley Seldon launched an online magazine-Dabble. I've been spending every spare moment reading through its beautiful pages. Check it out right here.

March First at Last, Welcome Spring.

2011-03-01T17:06:00.001-05:00

Magnolias 24x48

Acrylic on canvas

$1900.

Magnolia Blooms 12x48

Acrylic on canvas

$950.

First Blooms 12x36x2

Acrylic on canvas

sold-thank you

Spring Blooms 12x36x2

Acrylic on canvas

$750.

I've been craving spring in a big way and it definitely shows in the paintings I've been doing lately. These florals that I've added to my "blossoms and blooms" series were so much fun to do. They are light and airy and just so soothing to me. Like a breath of fresh air, and I did have the studio windows wide open as I painted them. One of the perks of having a south west exposure, I get lots of sunlight streaming into the studio.

These are all painted on canvas that I prepared with acrylic modeling paste. This gives the canvas a beautiful texture and I like the way the paint fills into the little nooks and crannies. It creates wonderful dimension. The top two paintings are going to make their way to Art Interiors later this week and the bottom two I will have with me when I exhibit at the Kingsway-Lambton United Church Art show and Sale in April. If you have any questions about these new paintings or any of my work feel free to drop me an email. Also, I am now once again taking commissions.

Ongoing and Upcoming Events

2011-02-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

"Thirty-A Retrospective" continues at the offices of Odgers Berndston until April 22. If you're interested in purchasing a large painting for your home or workspace, this is a great opportunity to view my large paintings in a corporate setting.

As this show is by appointment only, please feel free to send me an email and we can arrange a day and time for a viewing.

Coming up on Saturday April 9th I'll be exhibiting at the Kingsway-Lambton Art Show and Sale. This is a one day only event and I was happy to be invited to join over 30 artists exhibiting and selling their work. This art show and sale was established in 1998 and the $10 admission raises funds for 26 local charities. I met with one of the organizers and 2 exhibiting artists last Friday and we were interviewed for an article in local newspaper. I'll share more on this closer to the show.

And I'm happy to announce that my paintings will again be featured at Arts on King for the month of June. Show details to be posted soon.

Iggy and Nami's Water Park Adventure.

2011-02-26T07:55:00.000-05:00

It was crazy busy in my studio this past week. I've been working on five projects at once and so the paint was flying. I'm not quite at the stage where I can share any photos with you yet, but soon. It was reading week here (spring break) so son was off in Montreal with friends and husband at the office most of the day. I'm sure "isolation" is a fact for many artists right?. Luckily, I have these 2 creatures to keep me company and I managed to grab a few shots one morning at our "water park" where the cats were enjoying themselves. (Yes I know, crazy cat lady!!) Back next week with more artful posts, promise!!

For the Love of Neon

2011-02-20T16:41:00.000-05:00

Gearing up here for a few very busy weeks in the studio with many projects on the go. Although it's a long weekend here I'm not taking time off and have been working right through so far. I finally delivered my latest commission today, so tomorrow will be spent cleaning up and preparing some new canvases and illustration boards.

I did want to share with you just a few of the photos I took at the Neon Museum's Boneyard during our last trip to Las Vegas. Touring the Boneyard was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it-if you have a love for neon as I do. Our tour guide shared some great stories about the signs and their history. They also have a Myspace page.

Texture in Mixed Media and Altered Books.

2011-02-16T10:24:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed since the altered book collaboration with Inner Works was completed. Working with Supria, Veronica, Roxanne, Seth, and Jill was a highpoint for me and has left me with a new love and appreciation for mixed media art.

Although most of my painting is done on stretched canvas, lately I've been adding more and more texture and including other mixed media techniques along with my painting.

It's all about texture these days and I've been adding it to my canvases with tissue paper and acrylic medium, acrylic modeling paste, magazine pages and natural papers, and even some unexpected items such as rocks, shells, feathers and bones. I'll be unveiling these new works shortly so stay tuned!

Meeting the other artists (virtually) involved with Inner Works was such a wonderful learning experience and I'm happy to say I still follow their blogs and keep in touch. Seth's blog, The Altered Page is a must read daily for me as it is a huge resource of anything and everything mixed media, and Seth's art speaks to my soul.

Revisit the Inner Works blog and you can see the transformation of the books and the different stages and takes on the themes by each of the artists involved.

Weekend in Vegas.

2011-02-09T10:42:00.001-05:00

Back to reality. I am back from four days away in Las Vegas. Amazing what even just a few days away from the studio can do for me. I am so ready to get into the painting groove, but first I have to process the many many photos I took. There is so much inspiration in Sin City!! Yes, seriously, I get very inspired there. There's so much going on-bright lights, noise, music, bling, architecture, excess in everything. Beauty-natural and man made.

We took a tour of the Neon Museum and the Boneyard. This is where the old neon signs from the hotels have been gathered and stored awaiting restoration. Some would see this as a junk pile full of decay but I see beauty and history. Layers of paint, rusted metal, broken bulbs-beautiful!!!

We also drove to the Valley of Fire State Park. About a 50 minute drive from Vegas in the Mojave Desert. Amazing rock formations and desert scenery. Nature at it's best.

I am obsessing about color right now and will be off to my local paint store for samples. The colors were amazing. The retro palette on the neon signs-so 60's. Pale yellow, pink, aqua and turquoise. And then there are the many shades of ochre and browns of the desert rocks, and the dusty greens of the vegetation. Please stay tuned, I'll have photos to share soon.

Art in a Corporate Setting Part 2.

2011-02-06T11:53:00.012-05:00

Art in a Corporate Setting.

2011-02-03T16:52:00.000-05:00

I was invited down to the offices of Odgers Berndston today to take a tour. Thirty-A Retrospective, runs until April 22 and if you read this post, you'll know that 30 selected paintings are hanging in this corporate setting. I was pleased to see that my landscapes, abstracted landscapes and abstracts fit well in this office setting. I received many compliments from the staff which was very nice. Although all the paintings are for sale this show is by appointment only.

Collections

2011-02-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

Today I'm sharing bits of my match collection with you. I've been collecting matches since I was about 10. Back then matches were everywhere but now that smoking is not the norm they've become somewhat obsolete. These matches are all from Toronto hot spots in the the early 80's. Some of these places are still around but most have vanished. If you see something that sparks a memory, do tell!

Inspired by the Street.

2011-01-30T11:49:00.086-05:00

I've been inspired lately by what I see in the streets as I make my way around. They seem to be everywhere in this neighborhood.

Graffiti. Street Art. I don't know who the artists are but I admire their free spirit. The bold colors are in your face.

I see them purely as abstracts.

Bold uses of shape and color and graphic black and white.

"Art Is" 40x40 Mixed Media on Canvas.
$2300.

I finished this large mixed media abstract last Friday with graffiti walls as inspiration. I began by covering the entire canvas with magazine pages from an old issue of Canadian Art. Then many layers of paint and a few circle stamps later "Art Is" was completed.

"Art Is" detail. I left some small areas of magazine pages showing. Upside down is more interesting don't you think? This painting would work well in an urban loft or in an office or public space.

I thoroughly enjoyed the process of collage and painting on a large scale and am quite happy with the results. I think I'll continue with a series of abstracts.

Neon.

2011-01-26T12:26:00.088-05:00

I've always had a fascination with neon. I think I first fell in love with it in the late 60's when my family used to drive down to Florida every winter. Even as a tween, I was very visual and the bright pops of color against the black of night was very exciting to me. Last year we took a trip to neon lovers heaven. Las Vegas. There was neon non stop 24 hours a day. Bright color some flashing wildly. Needless to say I took a lot of photographs. Here are just a few of my favorites.

Next time I'm in Vegas the Neon Museum is on my must see list. The Neon Museum was established in 1996 to collect, preserve and exhibit the old neon signs of Vegas, many from demolished hotels. They have pieces from the 1930's to present day. Most of the signs are exhibited in the boneyard and are pieces of old Vegas such as the Stardust and the Silver Slipper. Fremont Street is the place for neon lovers as you can see 10 refurbished signs in the area.

Dreaming of a Warmer Place.

2011-01-24T12:09:00.000-05:00

It's been freezing in the northeast these last few days. Well it is winter so it is the norm for us. But it's been really cold.

This is usually the time of year when I start thinking of warm weather destinations, and I've been looking over vacation photos and dreaming.

Dreaming of the beach which is where I'd rather be at this very moment.

Feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the sand in between my toes.

Going for long walks along the shore and enjoying the smell of the salt air and the warm ocean breezes.

Watching the locals going about their daily routines.

And taking photographs that will be enjoyed for many years to come while I dream.

Dream about the next time I will escape this frigid deep freeze of winter. Ok, snap out of it. I've got to get to my easel and start on new paintings. There's plenty do this week here in the studio. I'm thankful that the sun shines bright through the large windows while I work.

Thirty. A Retrospective.

2011-01-18T11:00:00.003-05:00

Distant Storm

36x48 Acrylic on canvas

$2500.

Evening Glow

40x40 Acrylic on Canvas

$2300.

Autumn Lake

48x60x2

$4000.

Thirty of my paintings will be hanging in the offices of Odgers Berndston Toronto, for three months. Thirty-A Retrospective, curated by Donald Brackett is a collection of landscapes, abstracted landscapes and pure abstract. Although I've titled this show a retrospective in that it is a collection of paintings completed over the past five years, I've chosen to include three large abstracts which I just completed this month. Honestly, I'm varnishing them this week so yes, they are very fresh off the easel.

This show is also different than any art fair or gallery show that I've participated in the past in that it's 'by appointment only'. The paintings are displayed throughout the offices along with the permanent collection so it must be done this way. Not a problem though, as I'll have new postcards made with my contact information available there for people to take with them, and those interested in seeing the show can just email me to arrange a viewing. I'm happy to answer any purchasing inquiries you may have. I'll also be posting images here on my blog.

Donald Brackett is a Toronto based art critic and educator who teaches an integrated culture course at OCAD, exploring the history, issues, theory and practice of art, design, and architecture.