Painting

I am a Canadian artist from Northern Manitoba, known for my realistic landscapes, still life compositions, and portraits. I started my artistic practice using acrylics but struggled to get the depth that I was looking for in my work.  Using oils is my preferred medium as I love the vibrancy and the richness of the paint.  With oil paint, I can explore intricate shapes and captivating colours. I'm inspired by the old masters, I enjoy capturing the interplay of light and shadow and sometimes employ a limited palette for subtle tonal variations.

I strive to uncover overlooked beauty, revealing elegance in still life, landscapes and conveying emotion in portraits. Through my work, I invite viewers to find solace in the simple joys and rediscover the magnificence of the world around us.

Grant is a Canadian visual artist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was short-listed for the Manitoba Society of Artists 2024 Open Juried Competition and Exhibition.  “My main artistic expression is painting.  However, I’ve done print making, sketching, photography, wood carving, and furniture making.

“I have always viewed the world around me in pictures, images, colours, shapes, sizes, patterns and ideas.  My love of nature and the outdoors led to a strong interest in the Canadian art movement pioneered by Tom Thomson, Emily Carr and the Group of Seven artists.  Viewing the Tom Thomson sketches and Group of Seven paintings at the National Gallery has had a significant influence on me.  In my childhood, living beside renowned artist Ivan Eyre, provided an up close glimpse into the life of an artist.  I am grateful to my art teachers for their instruction, direction and encouragement.  Methods and techniques from those classes are evident in the creative process of my art making today.”

Amanda Kostas (she/they) is a multi method artist whose work is deeply influenced by the beauty of nature and the intricate details of tattoo art. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for capturing the essence of her surroundings, Amanda's pieces reflect a harmonious blend of delicate lines and vibrant washes of colour.

Inspired by her grandmother, who nurtured her artistic spirit from a young age, Amanda channels this encouragement into their work, exploring themes of growth and transformation. Her art invites viewers to appreciate the subtle nuances of the natural world, while also paying homage to the personal connections that shape her creative journey.

Based in Winnipeg, MB Canada on Treaty 1 land, Amanda continues to evolve their practice, striving to inspire others through her unique vision and dedication to her craft.

I am  a multidisciplinary visual artist, educator and visual arts advocate. I live at Schist Lake in Northern Manitoba. I work out of a studio there and at the Northern Visual Arts Centre (NorVA) in Flin Flon, MB.

Artist Statement Karen Clark

I am thrilled by the idea that people making and appreciating art works share so much with one another. This sharing is important to inspire conversations that are necessary in Canada today.

I paint the landscape here in the Boreal forest from the vantage point of my kayak or canoe. The terrain here is edgy and sharp. This is my cup of tea.

Most recently I find  myself focused on the local mine processing site nestled next to us here in Flin Flon. It is a remarkable juxtaposition, over 600 hectares devoted to extraction, crushing , smelting, prepping ore and managing waste products from those mining processes.The working title, The Long GoodBye, refers to the boom and bust cycle common to mine based towns throughout the world.

Acknowledgement

My generation has seen the deconstruction of Canada’s colonial past. I follow the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the investigation of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls with a growing sense of horror and shame. Having my roots as a settler in this land, I have a shared sense of confusion and perplexity as to how we - settlers and Indigenous people - carry on together. As a result I find myself questioning my place in this landscape which is so fundamental to my sense of self.

Chris Foster creates semi-representational landscape and flower paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour that use expressive colour and light … sprinkled with a touch of whimsy.

Chris has always been an admirer of the brushstrokes and techniques of Chinese/Japanese art and will often incorporate some line work influenced by those cultures.  A more recent discovery has been creating collage and mixed media pieces....again embracing line work and shapes.

​Growing up on the Canadian prairies  -Chris now spends 5 months every year in the beauty of the forests and lakes of the Canadian Shield.  This has provided her with landscapes that offer a kaleidoscope of colour and amazing light which provide never ending inspiration.  This home turf coupled by some amazing cultural world trips have become her painting catalogue.

Olivia Cassie (she/her) is a local multidisciplinary artist whose work touches on self exploration, acceptance and making peace with the past. Growing up undiagnosed autistic, biracial and queer, Olivia often felt like an outcast and internalized these feelings into her adult life. In 2023, she connected with an artistic practice that allowed her to safely explore these feelings and the other traumas from her youth. Through portraiture, her work depicts raw emotions of loss, sorrow and bittersweet hope which helps her feel kinship with others. Olivia hopes that, through delicate displays of feeling, she can gain a better understanding of her own inner world and find her place in the world moving around her.