Victoria Art Gallery Winter Small Works Show and Sale 2024

I would like to invite you to the Victoria Art Gallery Winter Small Works Show and Sale. I am delighted to have two pieces included in the show. Join me at the Victoria Art Gallery for the opening on November 14th, 5 – 8 PM to see my pieces alongside the work of many talented artists. It’s always a festive occasion. Thank you for your support and I hope to see you there!

 

 

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Moss Street Paint In 2024

I will be at the TD Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Moss Street Paint In July 20th. I will have original artwork from my Room at the Top Series together with totes, cards and stickers. I will send out a quick note when I know where I am going to be. This is a really fun event for all the family come and say Hi I would love to meet you!

 

Istanbul and Beyond

Here are a few highlights from my recent visit to Turkey, a paradise for anyone who loves color and pattern. Our adventure began with a trip to the Hagia Sophia, the medieval mosaics and Islamic calligraphy are incredible. The blend of Christian and Islamic symbols showed the rich history of this building.

We spent a day at the Topkapi Palace, the grand residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. After 6 hours we ran out of energy, the vastness of the palace could easily demand a longer exploration. The vibrant colour combinations and intricate, floor-to-ceiling patterned tiles were particularly inspiring—I left with at least a hundred photos of decorated domed ceilings.

 

 

 

 

 

We also managed a brief stop at the Istanbul Modern, where I encountered some fantastic – new to me- artists. This visit was an uplifting glimpse into Istanbul’s contemporary art scene .

Istanbul Modern – Erol Eskici

After our stay in Istanbul, we travelled to Cappadocia, a region famed for its unique landscapes and hot-air balloon flights. Floating among about 150 other balloons, we watched the sunrise, a truly spectacular sight viewed from the air or the ground. The surreal experience made it hard to believe I was awake. A sudden change in wind direction during our landing led us unexpectedly into a builder’s yard—but that’s a story for another day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am back at work in my studio now, I am busy making preparations for the annual TD Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Paint In.

 

Mechanical Fancies

9 years ago I made a small series of work using cogs, clocks and locks. I was prompted to revisit this theme and made these mixed media (watercolour, pen, pencil and collage) pieces on paper. It is so interesting to see how my style and technique have evolved in that time. When I was making these works a piece of music came on the radio called Mechanical Fancy. I thought this was the perfect title for these – Mechanical Fancy 1, 2 and 3.

I have since tried to find this piece of music and I can’t, so I think it likely that my mind just heard what it wanted it to!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimmers and Synergy: A Dive into Artistic Collaboration at Langham Court Theatre

Langham Court Small Works Show – Sam Agar (left)

Amber Lomax (Left) Susan Salvati (right)

Amber Lomax (left), Nathanya Vo (Right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimmers and Synergy: A Dive into Artistic Collaboration at Langham Court Theatre

I have a number of swimmers on display at Langham Court Theatre as part of a small works show with a group of women artists I have been meeting with on and off for a number of years.

The Power of Community

Working in the solitude of a studio, while often necessary, can sometimes feel isolating. It’s in these moments that the true value of having a group of artist friends becomes immeasurable. We are a collective that meets monthly, to offer a space where ideas and struggles can be shared openly. The laughter and camaraderie found in these gatherings is refreshing and provides a wellspring of motivation and inspiration. It’s this spirit of collective creativity that sparked the idea for our current show.

A Harmonious Blend

Even though we all have our own unique styles, ranging from the abstract to the precisely detailed, our works compliment each others perfectly. My series of swimmers, speak to the soft abstracts and mixed media watercolours of my colleagues. As a result harmony is created through a clever integration of materials and concepts that run like threads throughout the show.

Visit

I invite you to dive into this collaboration – open to visitors during the theatre’s operating hours. The show runs in conjunction with the current play at the Theatre ‘Murder Weekend‘  from Feb 21st to March 10th.

Staying Creative Gallery Opening – Room at the Top

My show Room at the Top at Staying Creative Gallery came to an end on Sunday. A big thank you to all those who came out to see it. A huge thank you too, to Nate and Kris the owners of Staying Creative Gallery and also artists in their own right, the show looked fantastic and I really appreciated the time and support they gave through out the show. Here are a few snaps from the opening.

The Jealous Curator – Art Delivery

I had a wonderful surprise on Saturday; to be the featured Member in the Spotlight in the Jealous Curator’s newsletter Art Delivery.  I have been a huge fan of Danielle Krysa’s podcast, blog, books and also her own artwork for many years. Her podcast Art for your Ear especially has inspired me over and over again. Studio life can get lonely and it has been so helpful to hear about the journey of other artists. I am so thankful for Danielle’s generosity with herself and her time and I am over the moon to be included in her newsletter.

Room at the Top

I have been steadily working away for the show for some time and the date is fast approaching. I would like to invite you to Room at the Top at Staying Creative Gallery in Brentwood Bay.

In Room at the Top I use dream imagery to explore the archetype of the witch and it’s associations with feminine power.  A dream in which an unusually tall woman with dark hair and an old fashioned dress is standing in front of a top floor window formed the starting point for this series. Inside the forgotten building strange and unusual plants are thrive.

I hope you will join me for the opening on Sunday October 29th 12:00 – 2:00 PM.

Sea & Cedar Magazine – Summer 2023

The Summer Edition of Sea & Cedar Magazine is out now and I am I happy to have 7 of my swimmers included in this beautiful publication of poetry, fiction and art. Vancouver Island Regional Library have done such a beautiful job of putting this together.

The gorgeous cover art is by artist Wilma Millette.

This is available to purchase at your nearest VI Regional Library branch or you can download a copy here. 

 

 

 

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Summer Show and Sale

Three of my lovely swimming ladies are headed to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for their annual summer small works show and sale.

The swimmers are part of my Going Deeper Series that came about through my explorations undertaken as part of the 100 day project. The 100 day project is a global art movement that encourages people to undertake 100 consecutive days of creating. I chose to focus on the image of the swimmer. The daily practice almost became a daily meditation and I experienced several creative breakthroughs along the journey.

To me the swimmer represents a being that can travel between the water – the subconscious and the land, consciousness. They float free from time and space allowing the viewer space to daydream. These works are mixed media (watercolour, ink, pencil and collage) on Arches Paper.

Please join me for a glass of wine at the opening reception on Thursday June 8th from 5- 8 PM at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in the Massey Sales Gallery.  The show will run until August 27th and includes a fabulous selection of art from artists across the Victoria Region.