New paintings at Arts on Queen for November.

Spotted One of My Paintings on Steven and Chris Today

I just happened to have the Steven and Chris show on today while I was painting. I was pleasantly surprised when design expert Maia Roffey presented a segment on Scandinavian design.

Right there above the bed hung my painting 'Taupe Forest' 24x48 acrylic on canvas. Available at Art Interiors. I took these pics right off the TV screen.

It's always such a thrill for me to spot one of my paintings in a magazine spread or on television. Especially nice to see it on Steven and Chris as I'm a bit of a fan and have been to a couple of their tapings.

Here I am with the guys at a show taping in 2010. They are so nice and friendly with the audience and they posed for lots of photos. You can read that blog post here.

Spring Fling.

New Birches  30x40

Acrylic on Canvas

$2000.

Drop me an email for purchasing info

It's all about climate change. I know that it's a bad thing for the plants and animals and for us humans as well. I've read the literature and seen the movie. I completely agree with Al Gore, but I have to admit that when the weather gets like it is today (April temps in January) I'm thrilled.

I (and the 2 cats) have spring fever in the studio today. Painting with the windows wide open and enjoying the smells of spring wafting in the window. Today I don't even mind the loudness of the trucks as they come by to make their deliveries. That's just part of living in the heart of the city. It's part of the ambiance.

What I paint is definitely dictated by the weather. Today was not the day to paint my moody cityscapes but rather a day to paint spring in all it's glory. 'New Birches' is just about finished. All I have left to do is to sign the painting and varnish it. Canvas panels have been prepared and I'm getting right back to work, starting a new series of birches. I just can't stop painting them. They make me happy. 

Even if it's just for a day, I'm soaking it all in and enjoying this spring fling.

New Birches at Art Interiors

New Birches  12x36  $750.

Acrylic on canvas

Available at Art Interiors

New 'Birches' paintings were delivered to Art Interiors this morning. I've been getting requests for them in medium sizes so I was happy to paint up a few this week. There are plenty of smalls available too. Art Interiors Festival of Smalls runs until Dec. 24th. If you can't get in to the gallery in person, you can purchase online here.

November Birches 2  3x5  $50.

Acrylic on canvas

Available at Art Interiors

Affordable, Original Art Makes a Great Holiday Gift.

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

Style at Home Magazine December 2011.

 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.

Art Interiors 18th Annual Festival of Smalls.

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

Affordable, Original Art Makes a Great Gift.

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.

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

Soul Searching.

Sometimes you just have to get back to the basics.

Pencil to paper. 

It's honest.

It's real.

Arts on King Show Comes to an End.

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.

Canadian House and Home Condos Lofts and Apartments.

Don't you just love home decor magazines?? They are a big passion of mine, no, obsession. I can't get enough of them and honestly I've had to cut back on how many I buy. So today while I was browsing through the recent special interest publication by Canadian House and Home Magazine, I noticed one of my paintings. There it sits on a side table in the gorgeous rental condo designed by stylist/designer Trish Johnston. The piece is titled The Daring Decorator and yes, WOW. The space is very gutsy and bold. There is the most beautiful wallpaper (Cole & Son Istanbul)

A special thanks to Art Interiors that provided the painting for the shoot. "Birch Series VI acrylic on canvas 24x12 is available here on Art Interiors site.

Thoughts for a Monday.

Thanks to all that made it out to my opening at Arts on Queen on Saturday. It was great to see you and chat about my work. Here are a few shots I took before it got too busy. For those those that couldn't join me, my paintings will be up until July 31st.

So here we are, another Monday upon us. The unpacking of boxes is taking much longer than I expected and has me frustrated. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for the fact that we were able to purchase this beautiful "dream" condo. I'm very fortunate for sure, but the moving and all that comes with it really did a number on my head. All kinds of emotions have been popping up from out of no where it seems. I guess that's why those reality television shows are so popular. You know the ones where people are forced to part with their mountains of stuff and clean and organize their lives. The cameras follow them through the process and you can watch them cry and scream in frustration, issues and emotions buried years before coming to the surface. For me it's more of that feeling you got as a child the day after Christmas. The toys have all been unwrapped and played with and there's an emptiness in the pit of your stomach. Now What???

I feel like that. I've been concentrating on two major events for the last few months and now they're over. The move is over. My show is hung, reception over. Now what??? I suppose I feel like every other "creative" out there and I'll be spending the next little while figuring out what's next with my painting. A new series, the next show, pimping my poor neglegted shop. Embarking on a new adventure is exciting and a little stressful too. For now I'll just continue to unpack. I'm just about done setting up the studio although I'm not sure if I'm ready to share a photo just yet. Soon, I promise.

"Fresh" Sneak Peek.

Twittering 18x18 Acrylic on Canvas

Contact Arts on Queen to Purchase

Sophisticated 30x30 Acrylic on Canvas

Contact Arts on Queen to Purchase

Spring Birch Forest 36x36 Acrylic on Canvas

Contact Arts on Queen to Purchase

This Saturday my solo show "Fresh" opens at Arts on Queen in the Beaches, Toronto. New paintings of birches, blossoms and birds. The opening reception is from 1-4 pm. Please stop in if you can, it would be great to see you.

ARTS ON QUEEN

July 3, 2010 - July 31, 2010
Reception: July 3, 2010, 1-4 PM
Fresh - Rita Vindedzis.
Toronto artist Rita Vindedzis takes a fresh approach to her new collection of paintings featuring birches, blossoms and birds. Inspired by the colours and textures of the season, Vindedzis shows diversity in her art and has taken a step away from the landscapes she is best known for. Her "birds on a wire" series hints at whimsy while her decorative blossoms and birches present a current perspective of nature. Her abstracted birches have graced the pages of magazines such as Style at Home.

2198 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON
M4E 1E7, T: 416-699-6127
Mon-Wed 11-6:30, Thurs-Fri 11-7:30, Sat 9-6:30, Sun 11-6

Checking In

Just popping in to say "Hi" as I'm still on a spring break of sorts. I've been getting lots done while I'm taking a little break from the computer here. I miss my blog writing (and reading) but needed to step away and get down and dirty. Spring cleaning is getting done as are a few DIY's that I'll be sharing with you soon.

I've been keeping up with my painting and new landscapes are getting finished almost daily. These will be heading out to a gallery soon but I'll be sure to post a few pics to share before they're gone. I also had a little time to play in the studio and came up with these two pieces. They're acrylic on paper and I've combined stamping techniques with my painting. Not very "springy" colors you say? You're right but these are very decor oriented so I've stuck with mostly neutrals.

I've been asked to show at Arts on Queen, in the Beach in Toronto again this summer (ooh, I'm excited about this!). I'll post the details as soon as I know. I'm already thinking of a show title but it shouldn't be too hard to come up with one as I'll be concentrating on new paintings of birches, blossoms and birds. That's a pretty good title right there.

One more thing before I get back to work. My friend Gabriela Delworth is teaching a Glam Tees Workshop this spring. She makes the most awesome custom t-shirts using fabric painting, photo transfers, embellishments, glitter, and my fave technique tie-dye. If you're in Toronto and are looking for a great workshop, I suggest you check out her blog here for details. I've taken Gabriela's workshops before and they are FUN!!

Be back soon. Ciao.

Style at Home Magazine April Issue.

I am always very surprised and thankful when one of my paintings ends up in the pages of a national design magazine such as Style at Home. I'm never told that this will happen, or given any advanced notice.

Birch Series IV 12x24
Available for purchase at Art Interiors.

This past weekend when I picked up my copy, I was so pressed for time that I flipped through it very quickly and put it down hoping to get back to it when I had time to savour every page. It was only today when I returned home from attending a taping of Cityline (more on that later!) that I noticed my painting on page 107-108 of the April issue.

"Birch Series IV" is quietly sitting there on the shelf with other artwork, in an article titled the White House by Style at Home design editor Anne Marie Favot. As this painting was used as a prop, it's still available for purchase at Art Interiors.

Art Interiors 16th Annual Festival of Smalls

Mini Birches 3x5 $50.
Sold Thank You

Treeline 6x12 $250
available at Art Interiors.

Birds on a Wire 4x4 $50.
available at Art Interiors.

It's that time of year again. ART INTERIORS 16th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF SMALLS begins this Saturday, November 14th. You can purchase original artworks in gift sizes from $55. to $250. by Art Interior's wonderful roster of artists. This year, there's even an advanced preview available online November 13th, here. Don't miss out. This is THE hottest event at Art Interiors.

Get Them While They're Hot!

Little Birds 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

Summer Birches 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

Birches 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

I just listed three more mini paintings into Red Banana's (my) Etsy shop. One more for the "Birds on a wire" series and two more for the "Birches" series. I like the square format of these.

"Spring Birches" Minis in My Shop

Style at Home magazine February 2009
My painting made the cover.

Spring Birch Forest 6x12 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold

Spring Birches 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

Birches in Spring 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas
Click Here to Purchase

I've been working hard towards updating my Etsy shop these days. As well as new paintings in my bird series, I'm adding some new mini Birches this week. These little paintings sell like hotcakes and I have a hard time keeping up with the demand for them. Of course having a somewhat larger version (6x12) on the cover of Style at Home magazine back in February of this year has a lot to do with their popularity. Major gratitude here!! If you are in the Toronto area, they are always available at Art Interiors. They're fun on their own and look great displayed with a pair or in groupings of three. Perfect for gift giving or as a gift for yourself.