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"Skinny Dip" - Bronze on Granite - 9.5" x 6" |
Andrew Benyei |
Andrew Benyei was born in Hungary in 1949, and came to Canada in 1956. He developed an early in interest in the arts through sketching and carving. During high school, he taught at the Royal Ontario Museum and various summer camps. At that time, art was not considered something one did for a living, so Benyei went to university and graduated with an engineering degree and MBA. He began work in the corporate world, but continued to explore his talent as he attended and graduated from the Ontario College of Art. Iin 1990, he left his job to concentrate on an artistic career.
His work has been compared to the American, Edward Hopper. In his anecdotal sculpture, Benyei displays an endearing empathy with his subjects, who often reflect the ups and downs of life in the kinds of organizations where he spent much of his career. Much of his earlier work included paintings (oil, watercolour and acrylic), as well as elegant bronze sculptures.
He continues to paint. Many of his canvasses show favourite scenes from cottage country, and his bronzes now include whimsical Ruben-esque figures, along with more aerobic proportions forms. Within the short period of eight years, Benyei has earned accolades from critics and art enthusiasts. His work is bought and commissioned by both corporate and private collectors around the world. |
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| Dace Birkhans |
Born in Riga, Latvia, Dace immigrated to Canada with her family in 1948, eventually settling in Ottawa. Dace attended the Ontario College of Art & Design in Toronto. After she graduated, Dace devoted her time to the pursuit of her art career, concentrating mainly on printmaking. Dace has now returned to working in oil and watercolour.
Dace has participated in many group exhibitions as well as having several one-man shows in Ottawa, Cleveland and Toronto. She exhibited with Three Toronto Printmakers, Society of Painters Etchers and Engravers, Printers 14, and the Latvis Society of Artists. Her work is in many private collections in Canada, U.S.A. and Europe, as well as the National Gallery, Ottawa; Rare Book Collection, University of Toronto; Massey College and the Toronto Reference Library. |
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"Cottage in the Highlands" - Watercolour - 9.5" x 17" |
"Obscured Light" - Oil on Canvas - Size: 60" x 42" |
Norman R. Brown |
Born in Toronto, Norman R. Brown is a highly developed and sensitive painter. Painting has been a natural form of expression since his childhood. Norman’s ability to capture light and vibrant colours, as well as varying moods and feelings within each painting, is quite remarkable. In pursuit of inspiration, Norman has toured coast to coast, with emphasis on all of rural Ontario. He has also participated in numerous exhibitions throughout Ontario. Norman has received many awards for his work and high praise for his paintings throughout Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Asia. His paintings are currently displayed in prominent public and private art collections across Canada and around the world.
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| Shelly Burke |
Painting directly from nature is Shelly’s first choice, allowing her to react emotionally to the scene and interpret selective details on the canvas.
Shelly's degree in Art History from Ottawa University at the beginning of her career, combined with extensive art training and life drawing, have been the key elements to her success as a painter.
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“Cave Point Divers” - Oil on Panel - 12" x 16" |
 “Main St., Unionville #1” - Watercolour 10" x 14" |
Joan Chalmers |
Joan uses watercolour or acrylic to capture much of what she observes in strong colorful pictures, a skill acquired from a lifetime career in commercial art. Born in the Beaches area of Toronto, Joan was an honor graduate & scholarship student of Northern Tech’s art program, and continued her art education at Seneca College, Kodak of Canada, and Nikon Canada, as well as studying with several well known Canadian and American artists. Joan established J.J. Commercial Art Inc., and during her commercial career, continued to paint and exhibit.
Joan’s artwork has been displayed at numerous galleries throughout Ontario. Her art is included in collections in Britain, Portugal, Spain and the U.S. and Canada. Joan’s wide range of interests, subject matter and love of colour is reflected in her artwork. She is a member of the Stouffville Studio Tour, the Society of York Region Artists and the Roadside Painters. |
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Susie Colomvakos |
Susie Colomvakos studied painting at the Toronto School of Art and the Avenue Road Art School. She prefers to paint in oil and acrylic, and also enjoys experimenting with encaustic painting.
Her entrée into painting began in 2004 while dealing with cancer treatments. Susie thought it would be a good way to help her stay relaxed, focused and to discover her creativity. Now, Susie considers painting and art as a fundamental part of her being.
“Painting for me is that visceral world where I know my very soul is giving expression. It is so powerful it overwhelms me with gratitude, with humility and with peace. Born and raised in Toronto, my daily life experiences, Greek heritage and personal travels influence and inform what is captured through my painting process. I am intrigued by the daily routines of people and in discovering the simple things in life that unite us to each other, nature and Spirit. I paint full-time in my home studio. I currently prefer to work in acrylic or oil and I continue to challenge myself by experimenting with new techniques, mediums and subject matter. My work is a very personal expression of possibilities and self discoveries. I hope it touches you and perhaps opens your heart to all the possibilities you have yet to explore.” www.susiecolomvakos.com
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“Marsh Scene #2”
Limited Edition Botanic Photograph - 12" x 16" |
Graeme Coxon |
The inspiration for Graeme’s work comes from the long tradition of botanical paintings and drawings of the pre-photographic era. Botanical illustrations were then both of clear scientific value in recording the diversity and characteristics of plants, but also objects of aesthetic beauty in their own right.
Graeme is enjoying the application of digital photographic techniques to continue this tradition using mostly native Ontario plants, plus some from the vegetable patch. The plants are photographed, or more precisely scanned, on the glass of a focusable flatbed scanner. This technique produces very high resolution images and allows a high level of image detail and sharpness to show in the final image.
Using a scanner also permits the subject to be isolated from its background, giving results not unlike traditional botanical prints. Prints are made on 100% cotton acid-free papers with archival inks.
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Mary Cserepy |
Born in Hungary, Mary came to Canada with her family after the Russian take-over of that country. The family settled in the Beach area of Toronto after her father joined the CBC, and she has lived in this area ever since. A graduate of The Ontario College of Art & Design, Mary’s lifetime career as an artist has taken many forms. She has worked as a designer/illustrator for Canadian book publishers, as an art director for Children’s books, and as part-time teacher of fine art & design. Mary describes her work in this way:
"I identify strongly with the Impressionist movement and their concept of 'realism' as a response to the 'real' world. I can see what kind of world Europe would have been before the war. They painted directly from nature and no theme was considered insignificant. My work is a direct response to the subject in both painting and design. I am motivated by new challenges and difficult tasks."
On March 3, 2008, Mary was honoured with the Emeritus Member Designation from the Ontario College of Art & Design Alumni Association; in recognition of long term dedicated service to the Alumni Association and to OCAD.
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“Posing” - Watercolour - 7" x 5.5" |
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“Coral Butterflies” - Monoprint |
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Grace was the poster child for the Geneva Centre’s International Symposium on Autism in the year 2000. Since that time, she has won several awards for her work, has participated in a number of exhibits, and has sold dozens of original prints in Canada and the U.S.A. |
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Grace Culliton |
Grace was born in 1988 and was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. She demonstrated talent in art at an early age. Her strong sense of spatial design was evident by age three, when she was working on 100 piece jigsaw puzzles and was able to put these puzzles together on the reverse, corrugate side, assembling the pieces based solely on their shapes. Her abstract art is characterized by this developed intelligence for spatial design.
Grace is highly affected by heightened sensory perceptions, a characteristic sometimes seen in austism. For Grace, the world is full of colour and sound and smells, and she sees colour in people, emotions, music, and months and days of the year. This sensory acuity is also visible in her art as she combines patterns and textures with strong use of colour in ways that reflect the chaos and beauty of her experience with autism.
Her preferred process is the mono-print, where a single print is painted on a hard surface, and then transferred onto paper through a press. Like any artist, Grace’s style continues to evolve as she seeks to express herself in new ways, and is encouraged to try new things. |
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| Andy Donato |
Andy Donato was born in 1937 in Scarborough. After graduating from Danforth Tech in 1955, he worked as a layout artist for Eatons. He joined the Toronto Telegram a year later as a freelance artist. In 1971, he joined The Toronto Sun. In 1974, he started cartooning full-time, as editorial cartoonist, as well as the Art Director. In 1993, he was appointed Corporate Art Director. He is still the main cartoonist for the Sun on a freelance basis.
Andy has received many awards and accolades including the National Newspaper Award for editorial cartooning in 1976, Best Editorial Cartoon in the World from the Montreal Salon of Cartoons, and the Metropolitan Toronto Police Annual News Award for Cartooning in 1993 & 1997. In 1985 & 1986, Andy served as President of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, and in 2000 -2001 was President of the Association of Canadian Cartoonists.
Andy has had one-man exhibitions in Toronto, London, New York and Johannesburg which have included his paintings from 1965 to present. |
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“Winter Shadows”
Acrylic on Board - 20" 24" |
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“Bent Realism” is Andy’s newest style, which includes paintings from neighbourhoods in Toronto, and places visited such as the streets of Italy. |
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“Spirit of Gemini #4”
Acrylic Mixed Media - 16" x 20" |
Dianne Jackson |
Dianne Jackson fell in love with watercolour over 35 years ago when she first saw the paintings of Canadian artist Marjory Piggott. Upon learning the artist had studied Sumie (the art of Japanese brush painting) Dianne embarked on a three year course at the Japanese Cultural Centre. She submitted her test piece to Japan and was awarded the coveted seal.
Dianne uses lyrical brush strokes in her paintings resulting in serene landscapes and captivating florals. Her first solo show in 1980 was all but a sell-out. She and husband and fine artist Andy Donato, enjoy travelling and this has resulted in further successful shows. Dianne has become more interested in painting in acrylics and more recently, has stretched her horizons to include experimental work using fabric, threads, gold leaf, textured papers, Spanish moss and other found objects resulting in bold abstract work.
Dianne is a member of the Beach Guild of Fine Art and the Scarborough Art Guild.
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| Kate Jackson |
Kate Jackson has just finished a three year term as Artist-in-Residence in the Textile Studio at Harbourfront Centre. She has received a number of awards for her embroidered Eyelet Casualties series including Best in Show at the 2007 Toronto Art Exhibition, and two awards from the Ontario Crafts Council in 2008.
Her most recent work of embroidered kleenex, was in the Fibreworks Biennial Juried Exhibition of Canadian Fibre Art in Cambridge and is currently in South Korea, and will then be touring Canada and the U.S. Jackson's work focuses on the intimacy and emotions felt during both quiet moments and powerful events.
Her latest series - Letters, pays tribute to the romance and joy of the posted letter. To make this work she uses her basic sewing machine, manually turning the fabric to draw with thread. Jackson often uses vintage linens and feminine cloth as her canvas, evoking feelings of nostalgia and romance. |
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“Letters Series #1”
Machine embroidery on cloth & found table linens - 8" x 8" |
“Utopia Sunrise” |
Steven Leskew |
Steven Leskew's left and right side of his brain are in constant conflict. While attaining his degree in Earth Sciences, he assisted his professors with detailed technical drawings for their lectures. After successfully training as a mixed gas cave diver, he found himself creating elaborate drawings of the cave systems he explored.
Now, a senior executive in business, his creativity shines through in his form of relaxation to escape from the analytical world, creating beautiful pastel paintings into the wee hours of the night.
"Producing timeless pieces of original art is a true passion of mine. So many things today are made to be disposable. I want to capture a moment in time that becomes invaluable.”
Like his grandfather, a master furniture and cabinetmaker, Steve’s passion is to create things of beauty that will transcend time and serve as cherished possessions. Much of his inspiration comes from time spent on Georgian Bay, the Trent Severn Waterway, and the Muskoka Lakes. When Steve is not painting, you can find him “on the water” with his family and friends. The majority of Steve’s paintings are done on a commission basis. If you have a person, place or thing that stirs an emotion in you, imagine capturing your experience or passion in an original pastel work of art to be cherished for generations to come!
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Merike Martin |
Born in Estonia, Merike graduated from the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) and has worked as an illustrator, graphic designer and display artist in Toronto and Vancouver. During her career, she also painted and drew, and participated in various solo, two-person and group exhibitions in Canada and the United States. Merike has worked in acrylics, watercolour and pen and ink. Since 1998, she has been mainly working in pastels, including plein-air landscapes and abstracts.
Merike has traveled in Europe and Asia, and these experiences helped to shape the way she views life and the process of making art. Her work is represented in private collections in Canada and the United States. |
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 “Evening Shadows” - Pastel - 11" x 15" |
“Pur-Sakoon Tranquil" - Acrylic & Ink on Canvas - 52.5" x 28" |
Mazarine Memon |
Mazarine’s works have been described as ‘Mysteries in Colour’. She in an award winning, established artist and art instructor. Her works have been shown in several solo and group shows in North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and have found pride of place in many a collection worldwide.
A natural artist, Mazarine took up art as her major in the 10th grade just to make school life easier and right away won a state award. What got her truly hooked to Art was her school trip to Bombay's famous Jehangir Art Gallery. Having discovered the gallery, she would often walk there during her lunch break to admire the works of Indian masters and other upcoming artists.
This inspired her to pursue Applied Art at Bombay's Sophia College where for five years she trained to be a Commercial Artist. A free spirit at heart, she did not enjoy her career as an advertising art director. Since quitting the ad industry, she wandered in and out of jobs like animation, window displays, even corporate headhunting and marketing before re-discovering her inner artist.
Mazarine is skilled in a variety of mediums oils, charcoal, pencil, pastels, water colours or a fusion of mediums, but her favourite medium is acrylics & inks on canvas. A realistic abstract artist, her unique style of work is described as “mysteries in colour” because one needs to work through the clues before the painting reveals its subject.
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Dave Mills |
Dave was born in Manchester, England in 1947; with his family moving to Peterborough, Ontario in 1952. Dave graduated from the University of Toronto (Chemical Engineering) in 1970, worked for Ontario Hydro until 1997 and has worked for the Golf Association of Ontario since August, 1997.
Dave’s interest in photography was a gradual process, with the desire to “get serious” happening around 2001. “Getting serious” meant a significant upgrade in quality of equipment and studying magazines, books and articles on photography.
Dave’s initial subject interest was wildlife, and while that still remains his main area of interest, landscapes and flowers are beginning to catch up.
Being in the golf business offers many opportunities for both wildlife and golf landscapes.
Overall photography is still a hobby, but one in which there is always a challenge to improve and to find that one picture that you have been waiting for. Of course you never find that one picture and that is what keeps you happily searching. |
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"Barred Owl" - Photography |
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“Brilliant Poppies” - Acrylic - 40" x 20" |
Sharon Nielsen |
Beauty, colour and light inspire Sharon’s paintings in a variety of mediums; including watercolour, acrylic, oil and on silk.
Sharon loves colour and uses an impressionistic style. Travelling to the south of France, Spain, Italy Hawaii and Mexico, has brought new perspectives to her work.
Sharon says “Learning to really ‘see’ was the most important thing I have learned as an artist. To ‘see’ all the colours in ordinary things, the effect of light, seeing patterns and perspective. The ultimate goal is to have my work evoke an emotional response by capturing a special moment in life.” |
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Mario Pariselli |
Mario was born in Italy in 1951, coming to Canada with his family in 1953. He developed a fascination for nature at an early age and his curiosity was expressed in numerous sketches, sculptures and watercolours. Mario was an Honour graduate and award recipient at Central Technical School. Upon graduating in 1972 he took his first job in Advertising as a production artist and over the years moved to positions such as Art Director, Studio Manager and Production Manager, all the while continuing his artistic pursuits with drawing and painting classes and workshops.
Mario continues to paint outdoors at every opportunity and has shown his work in group shows receiving praise for his paintings and sculptures throughout Canada, Italy, Portugal and Australia.
"I love the experience of plein air painting. Being able to be part of the ever-changing clouds and sky, to see and feel the shifts in light and weather; all the senses come into play and help to convey the beauty of the natural landscape. This is both humbling and rewarding as a growing artist." |
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"Sumachs" - Acrylic on Canvas |
“Cool Days, Warm Rays” - Oil on Canvas - 16" x 20" |
John Stuart Pryce |
John's love for art began at a very early age, as he discovered great satisfaction in his ability to draw and paint. He continued developing his artistic interests, and eventually became an art major at the highly acclaimed H.B. Beal Tech. in London, Ontario. Since that time John has worked and studied in Montreal, Chicago and Toronto.
During a successful career as an architectural illustrator, his work was used in projects around the world. His seemingly loose yet eloquent technique is the result of years of experience in the disciplines of drawing, colour and composition. John currently divides his time between painting and sharing his artistic knowledge with others through his painting workshops.
"The purest and most rewarding form of painting, in my opinion, is "en plein air" as it challenges all of the skills and discipline of the artist." |
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| Ann Vickery |
Ann first picked up a paint brush in October 2007, and with her skills as a make-up artist, uses her understanding of color and composition to create vibrant textured pieces. Her paintings, done in oil, reflect her passion for color, but at the same time instill a feeling of tranquility.
Ann’s extensive travels in Europe and abroad, provide the inspiration for her paintings. In November 2008, she was chosen as one of 43 artists from a pool of 380 submissions, for an art exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto’s arts and entertainment district. Recently she was commissioned to create a painting for a triathlon event to benefit Breast Cancer research.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Ann grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and lived in various cities across Canada, until making her home in Stouffville, Ontario in 1997. |
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“The Sale” - Oil on Canvas - 24" x 36" |
"A Taste of Spring" - Acrylic on Canvas - 24" x 36" |
Jake Vandenbrink |
The peacefulness and solitude of nature are what best describe the realistic art of Canadian born artist Jake Vandenbrink. His work portrays a timeless sense of serenity, through carefully rendered depictions of the landscape. Working primarily in acrylics, Jake captures the landscape with striking compositions, which emphasize light, colour and mood. Among the artist's favorite subjects are serene lakes, streams, forests and mountains.
Jake's work continues to attract collectors both in North America and overseas. His original paintings and limited edition prints have also been highly regarded among conservation groups in both Canada and the U.S. with thousands of images being sold to raise funds for the restoration of habitat and protection of wildlife. In 1995, Jake was named "Artist of the Year" by Ducks Unlimited Canada. |
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| John Walmsley |
Initially educated in fine art, John received his education at the Manchester College of Art and Manchester University in England. He began his career as a commercial artist, working for PE&E as head illustrator and company artist, and then partnered with Joan Chalmers to form J. J. Commercial Art Inc.
John’s lifetime interest in flying and sailing is reflected in his art. He is a member of the Canadian Aviation Artists Association, the American Society of Aviation Artists & a Friend member of the Guild of Aviation Art in the U.K. Locally, he is a member of the Stouffville Studio Tour and the Society of York Region Artists. John was awarded first prize of “Art Flight 2007” at the National Aviation Museum in Ottawa. His artwork is in permanent collections at the National War Museum, Ottawa; the RCAF Museum, Trenton; the National Aviation Museum, Ottawa; the Bowman Collection, Newmarket; and the Millennium Collection which is presently touring Canada.
John loves to sketch and paint, whether it be a teapot or a landscape. When requested, he continues to give demos and instruction. As he quotes, “There are no secrets in art.” |
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“Quay Side Fishing” - Watercolour - 14" x 10.5" |
“Northern Lights” - Acrylic on Wood - 13" x 12" |
Mimi Zeeman |
Mimi Zeeman has been painting in acrylic since childhood. Her ideas come from her love of music and her multicultural family.
Born in Toronto, Mimi studied art at York University and then embarked on life as a musician, constantly returning to painting when inspired. Influenced by her European roots, she approaches painting with traditional technique, using multiple layers of paint or glazes as in oil painting. Mimi uses modern tools and subjects, doing new stuff in an old way – aiming to create something fresh and inspiring for people to look at. |
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Many of our artists accept commissions.
For more information about our services and artist submission
requirements, please contact Susan Philips at:
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Web Site copyright © 2011 Simply Serendipity
www.simplyserendipity.ca
All artworks copyright their attributed artist |
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