Summertime. Yay!

Ocean View  48x60 acrylic on canvas

$4000.

email me for purchasing info

After so many days away from the studio it's been kind of hard to get back into the swing of things. When we got home from Vegas I had to do piles of laundry and vaccum up a ton of cat hair. I looked at the canvases half done waiting to be finished, but they would have to wait a little longer. There was the weekend to enjoy and then of course another day off to celebrate Canada Day. 

Summer is in full swing right now and I'm ready to hit the beach. Unfortunately those lazy days will have to wait awhile longer. Vacation time is done for now and it's time to get back to painting. I was fortunate to have two of my galleries contact me for new work while I was away. No time to waste, I must finish up what was started and get started on more new paintings. I came back with a ton of inspiration so I'll be painting up a storm for the next few weeks. I'll also be getting the portfolio up onto ritavindedzis.com very soon now. Thank you for your patience. In the meantime work that I have available in the studio for purchase can be viewed on the 'available in studio' page right here on my blog.

Original Landscapes Available in Studio.

I've updated my 'Available in Studio' page with four paintings. Scroll down a bit to see them on the page as I've added them to the landscapes. As always, all my original art is available for purchase. Just drop me an email and I'd be happy to answer all your questions. 

 Spring Marsh  36x36

$2100.

 Field and Sky 2  36x48

$2500.

 North Country  36x48

$2500.

Summer Landscape  24x30

$1250.

Blue Monday? I Think Not!

Low Tide  36x36

Acrylic on gallery canvas

$2100.

 High Tide  36x36

Acrylic on gallery canvas

$2100.

Coastal  12x36

Acrylic on gallery canvas

$750.

Hello Monday. Why are you so blue? 

Today is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. Blue Monday. Nope. Not falling for that!! Does not work because I love Mondays. The start of a brand new week. Think of the possibilities!

I also love the color blue in all it's shades. Sky blue. Ocean blue. Blue glass. Love them all. If I had to pick a favorite color it would definitely be blue. 

Just wanted to share three new abstracts all water themed and various shades of blue. These are available in my studio. Studio visits can be arranged by appointment. Just drop me an email.

For the Love of Birches.

Golden Day  18x18  acrylic on canvas

$550.

Available at Arts on Queen

Birches have been one of my favorite subjects to paint over the years. To me they are just so beautiful. My paintings of them have had a few different variations from very realistic to quite textural and abstract. Golden Day is one of my most recent birches paintings completed this past summer. It's available for purchase at Arts on Queen, Toronto.

We are Having a Studio Clearance Sale.

The studio clearance sale is happening!!!! Friend and fellow artist Lynn Kelly is joining in and has graciously offered up her studio (at 401 Richmond). We will both be clearing out lots and lots of original work. Paintings in acrylic, watercolors, illustration, and mixed media. All works are original and one of a kind, created by Lynn Kelly and Rita Vindedzis (me). Our studio clearance sale is taking place mid November.  I'll post more details soon. This is just a teaser. Stay tuned.

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...

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.

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.

Is Anyone Even Reading This??

The universe sends us what we need when we need it. Of this I'm sure. If you read my blog with some regularity (Thank You!) you will have noticed that my posts have been few and far between. Of course a lovely long weekend in Chicago had something to do with this, but it's been like this for awhile now. I go through my 'phases' with technology, embracing it at times and wanting to get as far away from it as I can some days.

Most of the time I just want to be in the studio creating. Putting paint to canvas and working on my 10,000 hours so I can become a 'successful' artist. But that's only half of it. To be a 'successful' artist I must embrace the business side of it as well. Marketing myself. Getting my work out there in person via art shows or galleries and shouting 'here I am and here is my art, won't you buy some?' on Twitter and facebook. An artist friend suggested I get on Youtube. Me? Seriously?

And there it was in my inbox this morning. The email from Alyson B. Stanfield. An email with a link to artbizblog and an article titled 'A Simple Structure for Creating Content' (Insert cartoon bubble with the word POW here.) Now I've been reading artbizblog for awhile and I even have a copy of Alyson's book I'd Rather be in the Studio that I borrowed from a friend, but the timing of this email almost floored me.

Perhaps because I spent a good hour last night in discussion with E about feeling overwhelmed and stuck and stagnant in my art career. How I'm tired of having to blog when I feel that no one even reads it. How I feel ready to take it to the next level all the while trying to stifle the nasty voices in my head. The ones that say 'You can't do that' 'You should do this' 'Who do you think you are' etc. etc. Even if you're not an artist reading this, you probably know what I mean.

I've been feeling these rumblings for awhile now. Maybe 'creating content' will mean that I have to share more through this blog. I've always thought that my blog should be strictly business. Show what I'm working on, what influences my work at the moment, upcoming shows, to get an audience and of course to sell my art. But it can all seem very cold and impersonal. I always intended to keep my personal life out of it. And definitely no whining allowed!. I hate that.

So please be patient with me. Changes are happening. The irons are in the fire so to speak. I'll be working on my blogging skills and all that tech stuff. The blog will be changing and my website will be under construction for awhile. I will be reading artbizblog and brushing up on all that business stuff. Apparently you CAN teach an old dog new tricks :-)

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??? 

Mountain View.

Mountain View  40x40x2  Acrylic on Canvas

$2300.

Available at XC Art Restoration

Birdsong.

Birdsong  6x12  Acrylic on Canvas
$250.

Sold-Thank You!

New Landscapes.

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.

Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2012

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.

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.

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

"Wind Lost" A New Painting

Wind Lost

40x40 Acrylic on Canvas

Today I wanted to share with you my newest large painting. If you're a regular reader, you know that I work on many paintings of various sizes at once. That way I can move from one to the next. Last week I finished 5 paintings and Wind Lost was the largest of the bunch. It was the only "skyscape" as the others were more land than sky. I must have my head in the clouds again as I'm finding that it's the subject that's calling to me lately.

I cannot take credit for the title. Wind Lost. How perfect is that title??? To me, it suits my painting beautifully. Wind Lost is Terri's beautiful blog and is turning 4 very soon. Check it out here. Wind Lost is one of the very first decor blogs that I started reading and fell in love with immediately. Such beautiful photos and eye candy. Terri shares bits of her home, decorating, her photos and her travels. She even blogs for HGTV.ca (way to go Terri!)

Wind Lost is 40x40 and acrylic on a thick gallery canvas. If you're interested in purchasing or want to know more details about it or my art just drop me an email.

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.