Fine Art Studio Sale This Friday and Saturday

Artists Studio Clearance sale

3 artists

Friday Nov 15  11-7

and

Saturday Nov 16  11-5

401 Richmond Street West, Toronto

#216

Most of the past week has been spent organizing for our 3 artists studio sale. This is my first studio sale and it's not even taking place in my studio. I'm very grateful to Lynn and Beth for letting me join them. Our fine art studio clearance sale equals great deals for you.

I've got everything packed and ready to go for our set up tomorrow. I will have 59 (I counted!) original paintings in acrylic on stretched canvas in an assortment of sizes. 41 pieces of art, matted and ready for framing, paintings on panel, and an assortment of small framed work and 'oddments' , all priced to sell. And that's just what I'll have. Lynn and Beth have lots available as well.

You didn't think I'd show you everything that will be for sale did you?? You'll just have to attend and find some treasures for yourself. Hope to see you there.

Single Tasking in the Studio.

I've secluded myself in the studio for the past couple of weeks. I'm back at work on new cityscapes that I began a couple of months ago and put on hold due to other events. I want them finished. Now. By noon on Friday. How's that for a self imposed deadline? :-) So I've kept away from social media (except for this blog post and and a tweet or two) and have forced myself to 'single task' and focus on these paintings. I'll share a pic or two on Tuesday.

This weekend we celebrate Thanksgiving up here (Canadian eh!) so I get to relax a bit and enjoy some time with family and friends.To those of you celebrating, Happy Thanksgiving.

Kingsway-Lambton Art Show and Sale 2013

I've been very busy in the studio for the past few weeks getting ready for the Kingsway-Lambton 2013 art show and sale. This is the third year that I've been invited to participate and I'm looking forward to another wonderful day.

 On the easel.

I have plenty of new paintings fresh off the easel and this year I'll have some 'studio sale' specials as well.

Two new cityscapes in progress.

This is Kingsway-Lambton's 16th annual art show and sale fundraiser for Toronto charities. You can get more information here and see the list of participating artists.

Saturday April 6 2013

10am-4pm

Admission $10. which supports local charities

Kingsway Lambton United Church

85 the Kingsway

(at Prince Edward Drive in Etobicoke)

Hope to see you there.

Beach Glass Inspiration.

 Beach Glass

18x18 acrylic on canvas

Beach Glass No.2 

18x18 acrylic on canvas

Works In Progress.

March has been all about studio time and painting. I have 12 paintings in various stages of completion and 3 that have been finished and signed. They still need to be varnished but I'll devote a whole day or 2 to varnishing once all have been finished and signed.

Close to finished

I wanted to go larger with the mini (6x6) restaurant signs I did last year for the Festival of Smalls and so I'm working on 30x30 canvases. This size seems to be my sweet spot for now as it frees me up to paint a little looser. Something I've been striving for. Loose and painterly. There are a few abstracts on the go as well but I won't share those on the blog until I get a few done (at least 6) in the series.

Halfway done

I've been keeping some exciting news under wraps for quite awhile now. I can say that I've been working very closely with my publisher for the past year. Stay tuned...

Untitled.

We've been in a deep freeze here for the past few days. Such a contrast to last years balmy winter. Needless to say, I've spent some free moments looking at vacation photos of warmer climates. If I concentrate enough, it's almost as good as being there. :-)

I have no new work to share with you at the moment. Even though there are numerous canvases and illustration boards in various stages of finished strewn about the place. January and February for me, are all about organizing-the studio as well as my show schedule for the year. I have applied to a couple of shows this year, just to change things up a bit.

 The cold weather is perfect as it keeps me inside and painting. That's it for now, back to my easel.

When Creativity and Coffee Collide.

This morning I had the pleasure of finally meeting up with an artist I've admired for quite some time. I've always had an interest in fashion illustration (remember this post?) so when I discovered her work I immediately loved it. 

Andrea Stajan-Ferkul will be exhibiting at the Toronto Artist Project in just a few weeks, so I'm grateful that she took time out from her busy schedule to meet me for a coffee and some 'shoptalk' 

Andrea comes from a background of graphic design and fashion illustration which translates beautifully onto her fine art canvases. I can envision her paintings of high end fashion and accessories adorning the walls of boutiques, spas, contemporary condos/lofts and homes. In fact, I'm almost sure Carrie Bradshaw would have one hanging in her New York brownstone.

Please visit Andrea's website to see the full extent of her talent. She also has a Facebook page here.

Tis the Season.

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??? 

Two New Cityscapes.

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.

Kingsway-Lambton United Church Art Show and Sale 2012

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!!!!

Paint Color Inspiration.

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.

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.

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.

Stage Your Home with Art.

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.

I'm happy to report that this beautiful unit in the Merchandise Building sold within a week.

Birches, Birches, Everywhere Birches.

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