The opening reception is on Sunday, August 26 at 2pm and everyone is welcome.

Doesn’t that sound awesome? I’m excited to be part of the Holiday Handmade Market in Niagara Falls November 3 – 5.

Get a jump on your holiday gift giving at Niagara’s LARGEST indoor holiday handmade market featuring 1000’s of one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts and artisan made products all under one roof. 

Featuring 180 Artisans from Ontario and Quebec, the 13th Street Holiday Café and Wine Bar, live painting with local artist-in-residence, live music presented by Long and McQuade, and Artists Alley where I’ll be with some new original oil paintings and limited edition prints.

Scotiabank Convention Centre Niagara, Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls

Friday, Nov 3, 2017 from 5pm to 9pm
Saturday, Nov 4, 2017 from 10am to 5pm
Sunday, Nov 5, 2017 from 10am to 5pm

Admission is $10 (Under 16 free). 

Hope to see you there!

The exhibition will feature original hand-crafted works, live entertainment, fine food & wine, demonstrations and workshops along with a special guest speaker. Linda Rodeck, VP of Fine Art at Waddington’s Auctioneers & Appraisals will be discussing The Do’s and Don’ts of Building an Art Collection at 4:00 p.m. in The Idea Loft at White Oaks Resort.

Admission to the event is $10 and tickets can be purchased in advance online. 

I’m really excited to be a part of this group exhibition and pleased to be able to exhibit with my father again. My Dad and I had exhibitions in Thunder Bay and Lindsay in 2011 so it’s been a while since we’ve had our paintings displayed together.

The show runs from August 28 to September 27, 2016 with the opening reception on Sunday, August 28th from 2-4pm. Participating artists are Biljana Baker, Gail Backus, Nancy Newman, Doreen Renner, Bruce Stonehouse (my father) and me!

This is my fourth year at this show and it’s always enjoyable. There are so many talented artists with incredible work at this show and the volunteers are great – always helpful and friendly.

The opening night Garden Party on Friday from 7-9pm is my favourite. It’s a real party atmosphere with live music, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Garden Party ticket holders get admission throughout the weekend as well. The show continues Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 5pm.

If you are in the area I would encourage you to drop by – it’s worth it!

I’m excited to be at Art by the Lighthouse in Niagara on the Lake on July 30 & 31 (details below) for the first time. It’s such a lovely community and the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre is right on the water. That weekend also features the TD Niagara Jazz Festival and Canal Days in Port Colborne so there is a lot of entertainment to take in.

I will be returning to the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival for my fourth year. I love this show – especially the Friday Night Garden Party and catching up with so many talented artists that have become

Buckhorn Fine Art Festival 2015

friends.

My final show for 2016 is Six Degrees of Freedom in Etobicoke at the end of August which also features my father, Bruce Stonehouse. We had father/daughter shows in both Thunder Bay and Lindsay in 2011 and it’s great to have the opportunity to exhibit together again – this time with four other amazing artists!

Art by the Lighthouse 2016
July 30 & 31
10am – 4pm
Original Art Show & Sale at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre
247 Ricardo St., Niagara on the Lake

Buckhorn Fine Art Festival
August 12, 13, 14
Friday night garden party at 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm
Buckhorn Community Centre

Six Degrees of Freedom
Exhibit & Sale at Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery
August 28 to September 27
Opening Reception: Sunday, August 28th 2 – 4pm
Participating Artists: Biljana Baker, Gail Backus, Nancy Newman, Doreen Renner, Brenda Stonehouse, Bruce Stonehouse

This is the first time I’ve participated in this show and I’m really looking forward to it. It is put on by the Peterborough Horticultural Society and the Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners. Proceeds from the show are used for scholarships to students studying horticultural related studies, supporting Master Gardeners in training and grants to Community Gardens.

There are over 100 vendors and exhibitors – gardeners, landscapers, growers, teachers, designers, non-profit organizations and artists. There will be garden displays and demonstrations, and garden experts speaking throughout the weekend.

I love this show because it means spring is here! This time of year I get itching to get outside into the garden and the show is full of new ideas and inspiration. I wonder what I will find for our oasis this year.

Show hours are Friday April 8 – 5pm to 9pm; Saturday April 9 – 10am – 5pm; and Sunday April 10 – 10am – 4pm. Admission is $8 for adults or $12 for a weekend pass. Children under 12 are free.

Hope to see you there!

“Late Flare” 24′ X 48″ oil on canvas, Brenda Stonehouse

This painting, a commission for a pilot (who also happens to be my favourite..and only… brother-in-law), was a challenge due to it’s size and the subject matter since it’s quite different from what I usually paint. I’m very pleased with the result and most importantly the pilot is as well!

I started the process with a number of photos that he provided of mountains, trees, lakes and a specific airplane. I did a number of sketches and we agreed on the composition. The size of the canvas was chosen to fit the space above the fireplace mantle in his home.

Once the composition was determined then I started the drawing on the canvas. I wanted to make sure I had the detail of the plane right as it is the focal point of the painting.

With the first layer of paint that goes onto the canvas I try to get an idea for colours and concentrate on the darks and lights. I’m not worried about detail at this point.

With the second layer (and third) I add definition to the edges, deepen the contrasts and add intensity to the colours.

And finally, after many months (another late ‘flair’ if you will) the painting is complete and ready for its new home! I hope you enjoy it Rob & Karen!

It’s beautiful Victorian architecture is a beautiful backdrop for a gallery! The Mayor has provided the opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work each month. It’s great to have another venue to promote and share our artwork in our community.

City Hall is open to the public Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm and my paintings will be up until November 13. Stop by and take a look!

One of the first tasks of the course was to commit to making art. It’s simple really….you need to create art so you have a body of work to market and sell. Over the past couple of years I have let my creative time go by, just painting here and there when I could fit it in. Other things seemed to take priority and it was easy to say ‘I’ll paint later’. Unfortunately ‘later’ doesn’t always come.

The homework from the first week of bootcamp was to set ‘studio hours’. Now each weekend I write out that week’s hours on a white board and I post them in my studio. Having set hours delivers the message that I take my art seriously and I am
willing to take the time I need for it. It keeps me accountable and productive and stops me from making excuses!

I didn’t realize how much I had missed painting regularly until I got back into it. It’s amazing how much momentum you get when you work at something consistently.

I’ll will be getting back to blogging on a more regular schedule too so I can share my work with you!