Dear Art Enthusiast, As we transition into the new season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the artistic process and its connection to the world around us. From current events to our personal experiences and relationships, everything we do influences our art. As an artist, I strive to create meaningful layers in my paintings that capture the essence of my experiences and emotions.
My latest work, "Portrait of Past and Present," is an example of this approach. Using a mix of recycled materials such as old maps, book pages, antique lace, and my own photos and technical drawings, I wanted to create a unique signature with selective colors and organic applications of acrylic paint and mediums. It is an invitation for the viewer to engage with the narrative and characters, while celebrating the past and embracing the future.
I am thrilled to announce that this painting, along with other new work, will be showcased at the upcoming Toronto Artist Project, I'm honoured to be exhibiting amongst more than 200 independent artists selected from across Canada. The event will take place from April 13-18, 2023, and I will be available to meet visitors at BOOTH 918.
This is a great opportunity for art enthusiasts to interact with artists and purchase unique, contemporary artwork directly from the source. If you are interested in attending Artist Project please visit my EXHIBITS page and sign up to receive a discount code for tickets.
STUDIO VISITS - Niagara-on-the-Lake
Additionally, I'll be hosting an Open Studio Show at my Gate Street Studio in beautiful food-and-wine-country, Niagara-on-the-Lake starting May 12, 2023 and continuing throughout summer. To schedule a visit please check my exhibits page or the link below and let me know when you will be visiting.
COMMISSIONS IN THE WORKS
I have also been keeping busy with interesting commission work. Currently, I am working on a painting of Niagara Falls that blends historical underpainting with contemporary techniques. It is always so inspiring to capture the essence of the region's beauty and history. This painting is a work-in-progress and awaits rushing water and mist lastly. Following this is another landscape of vineyards in winter and more landscapes of protected spaces such as Algonquin Park which I hope to update on my website in coming months.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS for Artists
I'm also thrilled to announce a few upcoming workshops, including my Sicily Painting Holiday workshop from Oct. 1-8, 2023, and a Full-Day Niagara-on-the-Lake Workshop on August 5, 2023.
The Sicily Painting Holiday is a magical week of art, food, and travel in the Baroque areas of East Sicily. We stay in a beautiful spacious villa with our own private chef. Daily studio sessions in our large bright studio on site, will include some observational drawing and painting from olive and pomegranate trees surrounding us as well as historical stone facades, doorways and windows. We also delve into contemporary and mixed media techniques and explore abstract processes from our endless inspiration during the week. The week's excursions visit stunning towns of Noto, Marzamemi, Ragusa and Modica.
For more information and registration on this and other workshops check out the links below.
I'm also offering shorter 3-hour workshops on mixed media (Niagara-on-the-Lake) and a Spring Flower painting workshop in Toronto, May 7th, 2023 (2 spots left!). Please check my workshop page for more information and registration details.
SMALL WORKS
To Benefit Kids Help Phone
As you may know I've spent the month of January creating a painting-a-day along with fellow GOLDEN Artist Educators for my annual January Challenge. I find this daily painting practice to be very important for an artist's development while adding to this theme of the Artist's Process. Each of these works, the color palette, brushwork and composition speak to my influences from flowers, antiquity and Dutch flower paintings. In all honesty, the challenge was difficult to manage along with other studio work as well as work and life outside of studio, but the idea is to create a small input every day. I am so thankful that I was able to make some small work while I continue to grow and learn as an artist. These small paintings and studies range from sizes 5"x7" to 10"x12" and are now on my website available to purchase. Once again, this year I am contributing 50% of sales from these works to benefit Kids Help Phone.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in my artwork and of course the artist's process. If you have any questions at all about the art or events mentioned here, please contact me using the form below or by email. I look forward to seeing you this spring and sharing my passion for art with you. Best regards,
Sandra Iafrate