Gallery Closure: October 15th 2022

Gallery Closure: October 15th 2022

Art Sales, Events & Announcements, Working Artist
Arts Aqui, Marda Loop Calgary: Closing October 15th 2022 It has been a short residency since Arts Aqui asked me if they could carry my art last winter. However the building has been sold to a developer and Arts Aqui will be closing its doors permanently on October 15th of 2022. It is a shame as the owner is passionate about art and artists, however I know she will go on to new and exciting adventures n her own creative practice. Paintings formerly carried at Arts Aqui If you are looking for a piece of mine that you saw there you can contact me directly through my website to see if it is still available. If you represent or know a gallery in Calgary that would be a good fit…
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I Painted A Serene Lake Scene On My Garage Door!

I Painted A Serene Lake Scene On My Garage Door!

Commissions, The Story Behind the Painting, What's the Big Idea?, Working Artist
Sawmill Lake, 8'x16', exterior mural on wood garage door, 2022. Early this summer I painted this exterior mural on the new garage door my husband built and installed last year. It was his idea to do a mural on what looked like a big blank canvas to both of us, and with that sort of faith in my abilities, how could I decline the opportunity right? The image we chose was from a recent visit to the lake country around my husbands childhood home. This was a small local swim and camping spot walking distance from his home. You can see our grown up kids in the picture, but I opted not to include any figures in the painting. Neighbourhood response was so positive to this mural that I have…
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How To Prepare Your Art For The Show.

Art Sales, Uncategorized, Working Artist
Well the 2022 Calgary Stampede Western Showcase is a little over a week away and I have six oil paintings going into the show! So the task now is to make sure my art is show ready. Strawberry ShortcakeMaple CookieLemon BarCupcakeCinnamon RollButter TartPaintings in the show!Each are 5"x7" o/c $250 framed. So what goes in to getting art "show ready"? Painting finished, varnished, framed & ready to hang, with 3 points of identification on the back! Well, in case you have a show coming up and are looking for tips, I'll share my tips with you today. Finish the Art! Make sure your paintings are finished and dry enough to handle being out of the studio and in the real world (Duh, you say, but this can sometimes be a…
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Resolutions 2022: Of Art and Health.

The Story Behind the Painting, What's the Big Idea?, Working Artist
It is February so by now most of us have made our New Year's diet/health resolutions and have either made strides toward fitness or given up until the threat of swimsuit season looms. Not yet titled. 8" x 10" oil on canvas. 2021. Debbie.lee Miszaniec Amoung my resolutions, maintain a healthy weight, make more art. The first is an ongoing struggle for me, having lost nearly 38% of my body weight to reach the top end of my healthy weight range. I know I have sustained metabolic damage, because it should not be such a struggle to stay in that range. However, since we are talking about my health, rather than merely my vanity, I feel the reward to be worth the unceasing effort. I'm a big believer in having…
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Why An Artist Should Write Project Grant Proposals (even if you never get one).

Why An Artist Should Write Project Grant Proposals (even if you never get one).

Uncategorized, Working Artist
I just spent the last week after taking down our exhibition for the Medium of Exchange Collective show, Process, writing a project grant proposal. It's the second one I've done this year and I will likely write at least one more. I have probably written one a year for the last 10 years. Although I am getting faster they still take me a while to write, and I have never gotten one. So, given my terrible track record (no one is going to be hiring me for grant writing services anytime soon) why would I continue to write them? Once upon a time I wrote them for big projects that I could not accomplish without taking time off from my day job. So they were always written for projects to…
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Am I the @$$hole?

Am I the @$$hole?

Art Sales, Working Artist
So there are a lot of things artists gamble their money on, because as they say, it takes money to make money. But it is also said that during the gold-rush days it wasn't gold miners, but merchants that ultimately cashed in on the dream. So a bit under a year ago I was approached by an individual starting up a website promoting local art and artists to those interested in buying local during this time of Covid induced closures and cancellations of the traditional venues and events for art purchases. The website offered Basic and Premium listings. Basic listing were free, with artists listings found under media categories. Each listing included a bio, an art image, a headshot and contact information. Premium listings (I don't recall what the subscription…
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Art of Home Studio/Office & Pandemic Dressing

Covid-19 Art, Working Artist
Covid 19 #12 Original Ink Drawing, 299 Fashion is a little off my normal range of topics, but I will let you in on a little secret: I have always enjoyed fashion and style. Expressing myself through fashion is another avenue for creativity. When I was a teen deciding what I wanted my life's work to be I even considered entering the fashion industry. Now I mainly enjoy learning about new systems of dressing, following what is coming across the runways, planning my seasonal wardrobe switch and helping friends and family organize their wardrobes. So it was lovely to read this article where I found an intersection between this interest and my own current work (above). I was reading this article from the Gaurdian today about how fashion is adjusting…
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Limited Edition 100: means I won’t produce more than that (I may produce less, or none).

Art Sales, Covid-19 Art, Working Artist
The pre-order period for the most recent Covid-19 images is nearly up, 9 days (July 19th) until it closes. Now is the time to add to your collection. All people ordering before July 19th will receive a free 11"x17" portfolio of the final 19 drawings. So that's a great reason to purchase your drawing, print, book, zine or cards now. After the pre-sale that portfolio will be 15$ plus shipping, while quantities last. I mean, you can wait until whenever to try to order some of the print pieces, some will be available, but some will not. If there are no orders of the object of your desire during the pre-sale then I won't produce it (unless you want one of the original drawings, in which case when it's SOLD,…
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Virtual Exhibitions

Covid-19 Art, Events & Announcements, Working Artist
So Covid-19 #9 has been included in a virtual exhibition, the Covid-19 Artwork Showcase, presented in conjunction with Fortune Live Media's Health Brainstorm Virtual Event which opens tomorrow and runs for three days. I think it sounds pretty cool to be part of an exhibition of international artwork & artists put on by a major media force like Fortune Magazine's live media branch. In addition to this event, I've also been invited to contribute work to virtual exhibitions and archives including the Women's Art Museum of Canada, the Immortal Artist's Pandemic Archive Project, a residency project organized by artist Pamela Moon, Life As We Know It: 2 Meters Apart, and to various institutions actively soliciting archive material documenting the pandemic. The question is, without the personal interaction of hanging the…
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Studio Life & Covid-19 Part 6

Art Sales, Covid-19 Art, Sketchbooks, The Story Behind the Painting, The Sunflower Project, What's the Big Idea?, Working Artist, Youtube Channel
So I feel like we have settled into a little routine or a new normal, as they are saying now, although we are all looking forward to (if not quite certain about) plans to ease restrictions and re-open businesses. There was a lot of questions about herd immunity, and whether this can be relied upon to protect us as we start going out in public again. How many would need to be immune and how long does immunity last? My thoughts are that if you are in a high risk category you should probably play it safe for a while yet, while if you are healthy you can probably have a little more faith in the ability of the medical system to take care of you should your case be…
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