FCA Small Exhibition, Federation Gallery April 4-16 2023

Small works are defined as “under 165 sq.in or 1065 sq.cm”. A physically small image can be a very big idea. Welcome to the world of small.

“LogIn” (12” x 12” watercolour) explores the interaction of a tree with the water’s edge. Is it falling into the surface or leaping from Lake Joseph’s water up onto the rocky Canadian Shield? Either Way it has been rewarded with an Honourable Mention in the Small Works Exhibition 2023!

The beautiful thing about small artworks? They invite the viewer to look closely, marvel at details and skill. Small works are intimate. They fit add a unique touch to a space that's lacking artwork, smaller spaces in your home or on the gallery wall. The Small Exhibition 2023 shows over one hundred pieces. It’s a small world after all. Invitation image Thomas Kero

A Clematis Trio at the Federation Gallery BLOOM 2023

At the Federation Gallery, Spring has finally arrived. What better way to celebrate than with an exhibition highlighting the buds and blossoms that are popping up all around us! You will find exquisite paintings, drawings and collages. Beautiful floral artworks are paired with breathtaking living floral installations created by the Vancouver Branch of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

A portrait trio of double white Arctic Queen Clematis float on a simple cool background. Is it Ice? Is it a Cold Sky? Is it Snow? Not likely as the flowers are at their best in July in Toronto. Their subtle absence of flashy colour, as translucent layers of off white petals create a complex physical structure, provide an annual challenge. Especially as a simple composition.

I've Got My Eye On You & I've Got Your Back

Pictures came before words. Depicting animals in art is nothing new, in fact it dates back over 17,000 years to the Lascaux caves. So what keeps artists returning to this inspiring subject? Find out in the Federation Gallery’s Animalis! The pieces show our close relationships with those animals that are part of the family and reflect on the many ways we can care for wildlife and the environment.

“I’ve Got My Eye On You” His portrait was awarded 3rd Place. An honour to be sure for Mr Sneerfulness and his smirk.

I’ve Got My Eye On You 14” x 11” Watercolour

Last fall there were many critters wandering about at Breadalbane Lane Farm. The Muscovy Duck, Mr. Sneerfulness was quite clear, “I’ve Got My Eye On You” I did not need to speak Duck. 14” x 10” watercolour on 140lb Arches Hot Press.

The RAWF has lots of subjects. The original graphite sketch of "I've Got Your Back, RAWF Poultry Show" is several years old. I redid “I’ve Got Your Back” on a left over, but still black, scrap sheet, 9.75 x 7.5 inches in Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils.

See both at the Federation of Canadian Artists’ “Federation Gallery” Granville Island Vancouver, March 7, 2023-March 19, 2023 after that on line at the Federation Gallery

A Sporting Family's Portrait Collection

I request an animal to be part of all portraits, a pony, puppy, kitten or even a calf. There are exceptions to any rule. Heritage Sports only have a single animal, UGGA the bulldog.

An Atlanta Georgia family requested an NCAA SEC college football uniform, later a grandchild’s high school football uniform. The next set play golf instead instead of football. The grandchildren? Who knows? For now they are just having fun.

These are iindividual subjects, all one family, completed over time. All Watercolour

There is new learning in all works. These seven works for a single family certainly prove that, and no animals

A Christmas Present.

Inspired by the Lawren Harris exhibition a few years ago at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I decided to experiment with both format and media. Primary Colours is the result.

14” x 11” on 300lb Arches Hot Press, it was created in Polychromos and Prismacolor pencils using only the primary colours.

Primary Colours has been in a couple of Exhibitions. This morning long time collector gave herself an early Christmas present. Primary Colours is now privately held in London Ontario.

Benno's Fancy or Lily of the Blue Eye

Lily, aka Benno’s Fancy, has a blue eye. Her owner loves this distinctive feature.

I first saw Benno’s Fancy, in the junior division in the mid teens at a CornerStone Farms Dressage at Palgrave Event. She was a lovely pony, with a distinct identity, a blue eye and a very determined junior rider. She did not return. Instead she went on to a number of different careers, including western dressage and barrel racing, and the undignified moniker Bubbles. Now at a mature 17 years, with the name Lily which better suits her personality and maturity, she is back at Dressage. This time with a very determined senior citizen A/O rider who is finally getting her first experiences in the Big Rings of Palgrave and Angelstone. Good for you Lily doing what you do best with an owner who waited a long time to realize her childhood goals of horse ownership for herself.

Lily is actually a very dark bay, seen in the very subtle area around her muzzle and a warm tone to her “black” coat. Lily was a fun challenge!

FCA Toronto Harvest Times 2022 Juried Exhibition

Federation of Canadian Artists Toronto Chapter is working to show our work across Ontario.

From October 19, 2022 .November 12, 2022 the FCA Toronto Chapter Harvest Times Juried Exhibition took place at Brampton’s Beaux Arts Gallery 16 Queen Street East Brampton Ontario L6V1A2.

My Tomato Harvest 2022, 6.5” x 6.5” Polychromos pencil crayon on Fabriano Black Black is in some ways a happy accident. The sprig fell off the Sweet One Hundred. It ripened on the kitchen window sill, gradually maturing from hard green knobs to luscious red before going to the salad plate. They were delicious.

6" Tsunami will crash into the FCA Water Exhibition

A life sized study of the waves of Little Lake Joseph will be flying off to Vancouver From November 15-17 2022

FCA Chapter Challenge 2022, and Women in Watercolor

Arctic Queen’s, Bee examines a Double Clematis on the way to the backyard. Private Collection, Ontario.

The FCA Chapter Challenge Exhibition is an annual competition between our local chapters, where artists compete to win cash prizes for themselves and their chapter! Who won in 2022? Find out by viewing this spectacular online exhibition, on display at www.federationgallery.com from September 1st - 30th.

Alan Ray’s “The Execution of a Tomato Salad” is very well placed very close to the beginning

“Arctic Queen’s Bee” is further on

In July, Arctic Queen’s Bee received an honorable mention in the 3rd Annual Women in Watercolor Juried International Call. There were over 1600 submissions, About 200 were accepted. 100 of those received the honorable mention.

Summer Pleasures

Growing up in Brackenrig close to Port Carling, now as a guest on Little Lake Joe I’ve always explored the shore in my kayak or rowboat to get up close and personal with the meeting of water and granite.

My Summer Pleasures ; “Six Inch Tsunami”, “A Rosseau Rowboat” and “Sister Island, Lake Joseph”. were on display from June 28, 2022 to August 4, 2022 visit the Etobicoke Art Gallery at the Etobicoke Civic Center

You are Invited

The Federation of Canadian Artists International Mail In Exhibition at the Federation Gallery, Granville Island

Yellow Fritillaria “For Ukraine” was used for the on-line invitation image.

The Bend

FCA Toronto celebrated Spring Thaw from March 17 to April 16 2022

About The Bend. My Studio is located at the top of the hill above the East Branch of Toronto’s Don River. While on a hike along the river I walked out on a sand bar just upstream for 4” x 6” pencil crayon, field sketch to capture the sun sparking through the emerging weeping and black willow leaves at the Bend.

Back in the studio I completed this 12” x 9” watercolour with a dancing square brush.

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