The Gift of Art, the Kanata Civic Art Gallery’s Annual Christmas Art Show and Sale was held Nov. 17 and 18, 2012 in the upstairs halls of the Mlacak Centre. I haven’t missed this local event since it began 19 years ago. Many of the residents attend the show and because I’ve lived in Kanata for so long, it’s like old home week. I chat with friends, neighbours and newcomers for the entire two days. Sales were brisk and, although exhausted, I thoroughly enjoy this opportunity to exhibit my new work locally.
32 people braved the threat of a fierce winter storm on March 9, 2011, to attend my demonstration for the Kanata Art Club at March Central School near Dunrobin…a very good turnout indeed. After introductions, I gave the audience a choice between 2 pencil sketches on 24 x 30 stretched canvases…one of buildings based on some I’ve seen in Montreal and the Toronto Spadina Chinatown area backyards , the other of woods, rocks, snow and trees. They chose the buildings in Chinatown.
I proceeded to show how I go over my sketch with India Ink, how I clean my brushes, the various colours I use, the use of transparent paints, my disposable paper palette, my favouring of Windsor Newton oil paints, and my choice of technicolour fences. I mentioned preferring synthetic brushes for their strength as I find sable too soft for me. I use Barriere Art Guard on my hands before starting to paint. I told them about my final coat of Alkyd medium to make the reflectivity across the entire painting uniform.
Questions were asked as we went along. After a break, the group decided they wanted me to work on my other sketch of woods. It was said that I looked like Pope John with my flat black circular hat on. I also wore my haute couture home sewn painting apron. Everyone, including me, seemed to have a good time. Beth and I packed up, loaded the car, brushed a lot of snow off and very slowly, drove home in the heavy snow.
Photo credit: Yvan Delisle
SPECIAL TO THE KOURIER-STANDARD
John Mlacak has recently returned from an outdoor painting excursion to the Lac Simon, Chénéville area of Québec. John is looking forward to exhibiting a series of oil paintings based on this trip for the first time at the “Gift of Art”, the Kanata Civic Art Gallery’s 13th Annual Christmas Show & Sale. Visit John’s booth upstairs at the Mlacak Centre, 2500 Campeau Drive, Saturday, November 25 & Sunday, November 26 from 10 am to 5 pm. The Kanata Civic Art Gallery, downstairs, will also be open. Admission and parking are free. Refreshments are available.
Come out and enjoy the beautiful and varied art created by our own regional artists from your local Gallery and do some early Christmas shopping.
Details from Chemin du huitième rang, St. Antoine, Charlevoix, an oil painting by John Mlacak.
Also available in PDF format
STUDIO TOUR PROMISES FINE ART
FOR PUBLIC VIEWING
Summer Petunias, oil by John Mlacak
SOME ARTISTS paint in the warm atmosphere inside the studio and others disappear off to paint in the great outdoors. Others travel in their other work and paint or draw as they go. This is also true of the artists in the Kanata Artists Studio Tour.
Allison Fagan, Catherine Edmonds, Ted Duncan and Tony Cresswell-Jones can be found indoors. John Mlacak spends his weekend painting in the Gatineau and Susan Goold will be found in the spring woods or summer gardens. Brian Kelly travels and paints all across Canada while Rosemary Randell will often be painting in Europe or Scotland. But on the first weekend in May all these artists can be found in their Kanata studios eager to show you their new work. Come out and visit the artists at the Ninth Annual Kanata Artists Studio Tour.
A studio tour is an open house for art. Just watch the local paper for a map or pick up a flyer with map from any of the artists and then set out for a day of art and adventure. At each studio you will be able to meet the artists, take a look at the studio and see where and how the works are created. On view will be many of the artists creations including those special “collection of the artist” pieces that are not usually seen in public. Many of the pieces are for sale so that you can take home a treasure for your own collection.
This year the Kanata Artists Studio Tour will, as usual, be held on the first weekend in May. The studios are open Friday, May 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A brochure with a studio location map for this free tour is available from the artists, or from the Chapters book store in the Kanata Centrum Shopping Centre, 400 Earl Grey Drive, Kanata.
DOING KANATA – SPRING/SUMMER – 2000