Artists

"I am constantly reminded of the luminous nature of people, places, and things, so I use what is commonly referred to as the white negative space of the page or canvas as a reflection of this infinite Love-Light substrate and connect the various lines, colours, shapes, and forms with each other as they are manifested from and as the consciousness that is their source. As art mirrors reality, everything is one thing in endless, seemingly separate but entangled configurations. Making the images become whatever the viewer sees and feels. The light of the page and my expressions on and within it are a mind-space."

"My name is Kenna McCall and I am a jewellry artist and my media are gemstones and silver. I design and create gemstone art jewellery under the brand TerrAdore Art Jewellery. I am a lapidarist (gem cutter), silversmith as well as an art jewellery designer. I specialize in Canadian stones and rare, single source stones that are not commonly used in jewellery. I have dug/collected the rough gem material myself or I ethically source it from other lapidarists/prospectors that I know and trust. After assessing and preparing the rough material, I cut and polish the stones into unusual shapes guided by the pattern within the stone. I try to keep the focus on the gemstone and highlight the natural art and beauty it presents throughout the design process (TerrAdore means love the earth). My designs are considered contemporary and are inspired by the mid-20 th Century Modernist and Brutalist artistic design traditions, particularly those from Scandinavia and Montreal, Canada. I use traditional and ancient methods of jewelry making, including Viking Knit which hasn't changed since the Vikings used it to make adornments and armour."

Gatineau based artist Bette Belanger has been honing her skills in observing and painting
nature for over 20 years. Originally a Watercolourist, Bette has changed mediums to oil and
works in an alla prima style. Her growth and development as an artist have come from her
continual applied curiosity and exploration of painting. Bette is a self-taught artist and her work is predominantly plein aire. She likes to explore the scenery of Georgian Bay where she grew up, along with the Outaouais and Ottawa area where she now lives. She often develops her smaller plein aire paintings into larger studio works.

"I find painting outdoors very addictive. The pursuit of capturing the landscape as you see it is always a struggle and challenge. I feel that this is translated to my work through my brush strokes. The light changes fast so you need to work quickly. Decipher the scene compose it and paint. There is no time for anything else. I am driven to paint on a daily basis throughout the year."

"I have only recently begun to consider myself a real artist and it was quite a journey getting here. Since the 60's, I have always been creating something -- crocheting, knitting, felting, pottery, gardening, painting etc. My partner at the time used to call me "a dabbler". Though I don't think he meant it as an insult, I always considered that I wasn't really an artist, just a dabbler. But in October 2011, I went to Newfoundland. It was there that I saw the most beautiful rugs that were like paintings, telling a story. I desperately wanted to buy one but when I saw the price tag, I not only realized the value of them but that if I wanted one, I'd have to make it myself. As soon as I got home to Toronto, I googled "rug-hooking teacher" and found one in Scarborough. That was it! There was no stopping me! My teacher, Vivien Thompson, got quite a kick out of my enthusiasm and often chuckled, wide-eyed, while watching my intense, speedy progression. I also took 3 on-line courses with Deanne Fitzpatrick from Nova Scotia, as well as attended one of her workshop in Amherst. This course was called "The Art of Rug Hooking" and it was part of my process of accepting myself as a real artist. Now, after 2 years of hooking, I am having my first art show. So I'm 67 and finally have found my niche. Rug-hooking! I hope you enjoy my pieces as much as I love creating them."

Cecile was born and raised in Orleans, Ontario. She is the second last of ten siblings. As a young child, her father would buy paint-by-numbers, frame and hang them for inspiration. This was the start of her love of painting. Life then got busy and Cecile married very young, raising three children. She now has five grandchildren. She has worked in various sectors over the years and, due to lack of time, she had put her artistic talents on hold. Being semi-retired allows her to devote more time to her art. She enjoys working with acrylics and using various palette knives on her large canvases. Oils were her medium in the beginning and now she prefers acrylics and different mediums like modeling paste. Bold colours truly inspire her. When visiting friends and family she is most happy to see her works hanging on their walls. Cecile will continue to experiment with different mediums and make works that connect with the viewer.