Chicago Vacation.

As far as contemporary art in public spaces for all to enjoy goes, Chicago is the best. I'm already planning our next trip back as I'm ashamed to say we didn't get into any galleries or museums!! We enjoyed the architectural boat tour and because we had our car, we were able to drive and explore every neighborhood as much as we could. But that's all I'm writing now, I'll let the art speak for itself. 

 Two Deer John Kearney

 These lovely sculptures were steps from our hotel.

 Interconnected by Yvonne Domenge

 Cloud Gate AKA The Bean by Anish Kapoor

 Egils and I 'on' the Bean.

Underneath the Bean.

 The Crown Fountain.

 Designed by Jaume Plensa

Executed by Kruek and Sexton Architects

Toronto International Art Fair 2011

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?

Summer Gallery Hours.

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.

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.

Arts on King Presents "Potpourri"

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.

New Paintings

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

Rainy Days and Mondays.

"Allure" Acrylic on canvas 20x16

Available at Arts on King.

Life has been a whirlwind here in my studio. I've been finishing orders and delivering them, starting on commissioned pieces that I should have started long ago, and making trips to the art store to stock up on supplies. I feel I'm being pulled in all directions these days with paint flying everywhere. Literally. Last night our big black cat Nami knocked over a bag of paints, big plastic jars just purchased, and there was black paint everywhere. I'm still finding tiny spots of black paint today about 6 feet from where they crashed.

Arts on King has a selection of 8 new paintings. Florals and new Birches. These new paintings are darker and a bit more dramatic-fitting to the season. There are also 10 small (6x6) new paintings of my "Birds on a Wire" series at Arts on Queen. Ready for Holiday shopping.

I did manage to take a much needed morning off last week and saw the members preview of the new Maharaja exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. It is beautiful. Such Opulence!! And when I go to the AGO I always linger awhile on the second floor with the Group of Seven's paintings. It's so quiet and relaxing to sit and view some of my favorite landscapes.

Today has been so dark and rainy I haven't been able to paint. At least I'm getting a lot of other things accomplished and have started planning 4 new large paintings. Whatever you're up to this week, have a great one. :-)

Blog Notes

Blossoms on Red 18x18 Acrylic on canvas.

Poor little blog I've neglected you so. I've been in the studio everyday (even on the weekend) painting new works, getting totally absorbed in what I'm doing. Before I know it hours have past and it feels like I've just started. I'm so lucky to love my job so much!

It seems red is all the rage on King St. E. these days. I'll be delivering "Blossoms on Red" to Arts on King this week along with a two other larger paintings in the series.

I managed to get over some tech issues this past weekend and was finally able to update my website with some new works. Check it out here, if you wish. I also created a new page on facebook. You can see it right here at Rita Vindedzis Fine Art. If you like what you see, why don't you join us by clicking on the like icon.

The stars have finally aligned and we are officially looking for new digs. We're movin on up-to a deluxe apartment in the sky. Sort of. We may just end up with that perfect loft live/work space downtown that I've been dreaming about all these years. I really hate the thought of having to pack up all that we've accumulated over the years (arrrgh!!) so there will definitely be a studio sale of some sort happening. I'll keep you posted.

That's it for now. Have a fabulous week.

Back to Business and the Sale Continues.

Spring Blossoms
Sold, Thank you

Joy
click here to purchase

Asian Inspired
click here to purchase

Today it's back to business. I've been in the studio organizing and cleaning my workspace most of the morning. This is the perfect time of year to purge the mountains of stuff that have accumulated on my work table. I've been bringing my calendar up to date, writing emails and connecting with galleries, and I even managed to start two new paintings. This afternoon will be spent working in my sketchbooks bringing new ideas for paintings to life as well as updating my website.

The 50% off sale continues in Red Banana's Etsy shop until the end of the month. This is the absolute last chance to grab my original paintings at these prices as at the end of the month I'll be taking them out of the shop for good.

Exciting changes are in the making. Stay tuned!

it's all for ART.

Chelsea Rooftops by artist Francis Livingston.
Arcadia Fine Arts.
New York.

Fixing the Gown by artist Malcolm T. Liepke.
Arcadia Fine Arts.
New York

It's been an artful weekend here in Toronto. Closing today is the Toronto International Art Fair which I attended as a visitor. This is the ultimate gallery hop as over 100 galleries from around the world participated. I spent a good 3 and 1/2 hours walking the aisles looking at art. Painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture, avant garde and installation. As you know by now, I'm partial to representational art and realism, so I tend to gravitate to the galleries that feature that style of painting. Galerie de Bellefeille's booth seemed different to me from past years as they didn't have as much realistic work as I was expecting. I was very happy to find my new favorite gallery Arcadia Fine Arts from New York was there. This gallery is a showcase for contemporary representational work. I spent a long time in their booth as all the paintings that they featured in the show were stupendous.

On Saturday evening, Oct 4th we had Nuit Blanche Toronto. A free all night contemporary art thing. From Sunset to sunrise the next morning, Toronto was transformed by artists. I haven't attended a Nuit Blanche yet but have heard from many friends that it's absolutely wonderful and "you should go!!" Perhaps next year I'll give up my nice warm bed and 8 hours of sleep to experience this event. After all, it's ll for art!!!