My vision is that I share with the world the combination of serenity, beauty, humour, joy, calm and mystery that I find in painting the many elements of nature. For me, these very elements of nature translate into a prism of dimensional colours, just as our lives contain depths that render our capacities of understanding.
There is much in life that we cannot see, or that do not want to see. Due to physical constraints, I see all of life through the complications of prismed eyewear. I use deliberate splashes of watercolour to regenerate a clear vision that provides me and viewers with hope.
Being a plein air painter, the dynamism of the activities in my own barnyard are a microcosm of all that is delightful, and amusing in my world.
Studies:
- Art symposiums:
- San Diego, California
- Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
- Centre Culturel de Lévis
- 2006:George James AWS, Myrtle Beach
- 1977 to present: Plein air and studio workshops under master painters, Zoltan Zsabo, Barbara Nechis, AWS, Chen Kee Chee, AWS, Marilyn Hughey Phillis, AWS, Betty Lou Schlem, to name but a few.
- 1975 – 1980: Schneider School of Art: Plein Air workshops, Alex Miller, Gunther Otto, Greg Paul
- 1967 – 1980: Ottawa School of Art: portrait, life drawing, landscape (plein air), Jeanine Robertson, Robert Hyndman, etc.
- 1953 - 1960: Ottawa Municipal Art Center, Rideau Street Convent, Ottawa Technical High School, drawing and painting
Achievements:
- 20 years teaching classes to adults in area schools.
- 1985 to present: Ottawa Watercolour Society: Fulfill various volunteer tasks.
- 1990-2001: With a friend initiated a series of 5-day plein air painting trips held annually Spring and Fall. The trips accommodate outdoor and rainy-day painting with a common room to gather in the evenings to discuss art. These successful outings continue with new organizers and waiting lists.
- 1992-1995: Artist in Residence, Le Centre Culturel Ste-Famille, Rockland, Ontario. Responsible for teaching; organizing invited artist workshops; art gallery exhibitions; guided tours of exhibitions to schoolchildren.
- 1975 – present: Participated in numerous group and solo art shows.
- Elected member of the Ottawa Watercolour Society
- Elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists
- Member of the Ottawa Art Association
- Member of the East Central Ontario Art Association (area representative)
- Friend of the National Gallery of Canada
Awards and distinctions:
- 2007 – Honourary President, Coloris sur la Baie a prestigious juried exhibition, Rockland, Ont.
- 2007 Two paintings selected by juriest from Nat. Gallery of Canada for the Ottawa Watercolour Society’s 30th anniversary exhibition held at the Cube Gallery in Ottawa
- 2006 - 2005 First in watercolour, Ottawa Art Association
- 2004 Painting selected, juried exhibition of the Society of Canadian Artists, Salon Tudor, Montreal
- 2004 President’s Award, Ottawa Watercolour Society
- 2004 Third in watercolour, Ottawa Art Association
- 2000 Public’s Choice Award, Ottawa Watercolour Society
- 1988 Public’s Choice Award, Ottawa Art Association
- Recipient Juror’s Award, Ottawa Watercolour Society many times.
Selection of Galleries (overall list too numerous):
- Studio Colleen, Sparks Street & Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario
- Galerie Rodrigue Lemay, Sussex & Besserer Avenues, Ottawa, Ontario
- Gallery Old Chelsea, Old Chelsea, Quebec
- Galerie Louise Carrier, Levis, Quebec
- Galerie Le Coin d’Art, Rockland and Plantagenet, Ontario
- McPherson Gallery Inc., Almonte, Ontario
Publications:
- 2008.Official launch at Le Salon du Livre de l’Outaouais, “Carrousel de Rêve”, written by
- Lise-Anne Pilon-Delorme, illustrated by me and published by Les Editions du Vermillon
- 2000 Illustrated Frimousse a la foire, children’s book by L.-A.Pilon-Delorme; publisher Vermillon Ottawa.
- 1997 Eloises, Revue Acadienne, Moncton, N.B: painting selected by director, University of Moncton Art Gallery for a poem by Acadian Martine Jacquot.
- 1993 TFO (TVO français): Reportage on the pilot project of artist-in-residence, Centre Culturel
- Ste Famille, Rockland, Ontario.
1989 Documentary about Prescott-Russell for TFO I was filmed in my art gallery for the cultural segment of this 12-week series.
- 1988, November Financial Post, Moneywise Magazine, one of three artists featured in “Support your Local Artists” by Jackie Robertson
- 1987 COGECO Cable 11, Point de Repère, animatrice Sylvie Paquette: filmed & interviewed in my studio.
- To present: Numerous reports in Eastern Ontario: Ottawa, Gatineau, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell:
- The Citizen Art Reviews (Ottawa-Gatineau); Le Droit (Ottawa-Gatineau); Glengarry News (Alexandria); The Review (Vankleek Hill); Le Carillon (Hawkesbury); Journal Vision (Rockland); Le Reflet (Embrun).
Collections:
2003, 1999, 1998:
Purchases by Progressive-Conservative Association of Glengarry, Prescott-Russell for: The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health; The Honourable Tony Clement; The Right Honourable Mike Harris, Premier of Ontario, Queen’s Park; The Honourable Noble Villeneuve, Minister of Agriculture.
1993
The Right Honorable Frank McKenna, Premier of New Brunswick, Liberal Party Association. - to Jean-Marc Lalonde for 25 years of serving the public as Mayor and Member of Parliament by the Citizen’s Committee of Rockland-Clarence Creek, Ont.
Selected works The Honourable Sheila Copps; The Honourable Don Boudria, purchase Liberal Party Association.
Corporate Collections:
City of Ottawa Art Collection; Bell Canada, United Counties of Prescott Russell
During the 1980’s and 1990’s I was guest speaker ie for students on careers open to artists (illustrators medical, technical, editorial), animation, fashion design, graphics and more. I also gave weekend workshops. It was such a pleasure when students came to me and said they had discovered so many more options were open to them.
To name a few locations:
- Plantagenet High School, Plantagenet
- Henry Munro Middle School, Ottawa
- Women’s Networking Group, Ottawa (“Life as an artist)
