Apologies for my lack of updates….. it’s been a very busy time for me outside of my usual realm of posting about art and art shows and such!
As many of you may already know…. I am relocating my home from K-W to Hamilton! Marco’s job in Burlington has meant a lengthy commute for the past 6 months, and we’re looking forward to drastically improving that commute!
I’m going to miss everyone in K-W and truly appreciate the welcome and kindness everyone in the art community has extended to me over the past 11 years!
I want to extend an extra round to thanks to the folks at The Art District Gallery. I will miss my amazingly talented ADG peeps (past and present!) most of all! As well, many thanks to the folks at Button Factory Arts; The City of Waterloo; Homer Watson House and Gallery; The City of Kitchener; Art$Pay; the participants of the past “Ferrari 500” shows, The Artists at Globe Studios; and the dedicated art lovers and collectors of the region. You all make the region and K-W a great place to be an artist! I have indeed been fortunate to be part of such a great tribe of artists and art supporters! Thank-you!!!
I only hope that I will find a new community half as welcoming in Hamilton. Having said that, Hamilton is not so far that I won’t be able to visit and also potentially participate on some shows!
The big moving day happens in mid-September – just a week away, and, gosh it will be such a relief to finally get settled in our new place…… and then to finally get back to the business of painting!!!
Here’s a couple pics of our new digs:
It’s a cute little house in a neighborhood of cute little houses!
Check out the sunroom at out new place! Can’t wait to do some paintings in this space! Mostly, I think the cat is going to love spend time here slumbering and spying on the squirrels and birds!
Over the course of a fast-paced and fun 3-hour session, we’ll get into the basics of colour harmony and colour usage, with simple exercises along the way, and plenty of time for questions! The lecture is great for beginning and intermediate level artists; for more experienced artists wanting a review; and for anyone simply fascinated by how and why we select our colours!
I am so pleased to announce that I’ll be one of the participating artists in “Fresh Air Fresh Art, an Art Show and Sale coming up soon in Ariss, Ontario!
Stay tuned for the images of artworks I’ll be offering for sale!
Here are some of the original art pieces I’ll be offering for sale at the upcoming Ferrari 500! The ‘500’ means no piece of art is priced over $500.00! The prices of many of the pieces I am presenting here are well over 50% off their usual price! WooHoo!!!
Catalyst 137 (137 Glasgow in Kitchener)
Friday, May 25 2018
The show starts at 5:00 and runs until 9:00pm.
Get there early to make sure you get the piece you want!!!
Original Art for Sale!
PondeRose
PondeRose
30 x 40 Acrylic on Canvas
$500.00
Spirit Tree Dawning
Spirit Tree Dawning
20 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas
$500.00
Double Door Power Play
Double Door Power Play
40 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas
$500.00
Pursuit of the Pink Preservationists
Pursuit of the Pink Preservationists
30 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
A Farewell to Diet Coke
A Farewell to Diet Coke
36 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Flatlander Fabric Flow
Flatlander Fabric Flow
20 x 16 Acrylic on Canvas
$250.00
Above and Beyond
Above and Beyond
20 x 16 Acrylic on Canvas
$275.00
Pathways to Peaceful Possibilities
Pathways to Peaceful Possibilities
30 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas
$450.00
Grow House Groove On
Grow House Groove On
36 x 12 Acrylic on Panel
$400.00
Cy-Pressing a Wave
Cy-Pressing a Wave
24 x 36 Acrylic on Canvas
$400.00
Happosition Harmony
Happosition Harmony
30 x 40 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
And Some Smaller Original Works!
Happy Huddle
Happy Huddle
8 x 10 Acrylic on Panel
$125.00
Casting a Net
Casting a Net
5 x 5 Acrylic on Cavas
Sold!
Fugitive I
Fugitive I
5 x 5 Acrylic on Canvas
$35.00
Fugitive II
Fugitive II
5 x 5 Acrylic on Canvas
$35.00
Ordinary Specimen
Ordinary Specimen
8 x 8 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Yellow Channel
Yellow Channel
8 x 8 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Roswellian Relic
Roswellian Relic
8 x 8 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Yellow Channel
Yellow Hopper
8 x 8 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Whispering Wanda
Whispering Wanda
12 x 12 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Gaston Gusher
Gaston Gusher
12 x 12 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Ace Kid Mark
Ace Kid Mark
12 x 12 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
Smelly Nellie
Smelly Nellie
12 x 12 Acrylic on Canvas
Sold!
As usual, I’ll have have some of my archival prints and drawings on hand, so there are many options for growing your collection of Amy Ferrari Art!
The Ferrari 500 aims to help support our local visual artists by providing a lucrative opportunity specifically designed to promote sales of original art along with original art-related merchandise.
Open Barn by Cathy Amos
The $500 price cap is meant to inspire buyers! Many people are intimidated by the prospect of buying art; and knowing that every single item in the show is priced at $500 or under, allows our art lovers to wander through our displays, knowing any single piece that they fall in love with is within the realm of relative affordability!
Peculiar Breeze 3 by Annette Kraft van Ermel
This also gives our artists a chance to explore their possibilities for presenting work at lower price points. This could mean our artists are offering smaller works, experimental works, reproductions of works, or even some older works that are in need of forever homes where they can bee seen and loved, rather than stored away. You just never know what wonders you will find!
Inti. (Spirit of the Sun) by Liz Skelton
Many art events restrict artists from selling their own reproductions of their original works, insisting on showing and selling only the original hand crafted items. While the Ferrari 500 deeply appreciates this focus on original handcrafted art, we also wish to provide a rare opportunity for artists to expand the income producing potential of each work of original art by allowing artists to sell reproductions and original art-imprinted merchandise. Which means even more affordable options for our art lovers.
Splitting Ground by Trevor Waurechen
And fall in love with art they will!! We have a roster of 33 professional artists oozing with creativity, offering refreshing, colourful perspectives expressed through their original art. Our art lovers will have a chance to engage with the artists to unlock even more insights into the art being presented.
Necklace by Barb Di Renzo
And to further inspire our art lovers to become art collectors, each artist has agreed to donate 10% of their night’s sales to an amazing organization, House of Friendship, who supports Waterloo Region’s low-income residents by offering assistance and support (Addiction Services, Community Services, Housing Services).
Morning Splendour by Anne Filiatrault
Just for showing up to our event, our art lovers will be given door prize tickets… a chance to win a valuable piece of artist-donated art or art-related item … for free!! The door prizes will be announced at 6:30, 7:30, and lastly, at 8:30. The lucky winners need to be present to win!
Door Prize Donation by Amy Ferrari
Lastly, in addition to a table full of enticing nibbles, you will have access to our lively cash bar, featuring selected beers, wines, and an original moonshine concoction provided by Moondance Whiskey
Midnight Liaison by MoonDance Whiskey
For this rendition of the Ferrari 500, MoonDance Whiskey is providing a stunning custom cocktail entitled “Midnight Liaison”. It’s so pretty, I might even base a painting on this beautiful drink! Can’t wait to try it!
It’s so wonderful that Spring has finally come to the Region of Waterloo!! As you’re clearing away the last vestiges of nasty frozen weather, and are contemplating your celebrations of the warmer weather, I strongly suggest celebrating with art!
As Mother Nature is taking care of transforming our exterior environments…. Our local artists (Myself Included!) are providing offerings that can help refresh your interior environments with amazing beauty and colour and wonderfulness!!!
It all starts this coming weekend…………….
There are 2 events on Friday evening (April 27), and I happy to say my tree paintings will be part of both!
My solo show, Expressions of TreeQuility, opens in Cambridge!
I’ll be attending the ‘Expressions of TreeCentricity’… Hope to see you there!!!
Button Factory Arts is presenting their stellar fundraising event, OOTLA! (Friday, April 27) This promises to be an amazing evening of entertainment and art! I have donated one of my very special tree paintings, UmBrOaken Silence (40 x 30) to be auctioned off… with the minimum bid set at only $400.00!
UmBrOaken Silence
Sadly, I won’t be able to attend this event….it’s going to be amazing!
There are also 2 events happening on Friday, May 4!
The Art District Gallery (185 King St. E., in Kitchener) is presenting their May show’s opening reception on May 4 from 5 to 9pm.
Oh…that’s right….I’ll have two of my tree paintings in this show!!!
Pre-Flight Pavilion PartyAbout to Sprout
I’ll be attending… Hope to see you there!!!
As well, Art$Pay is presenting their Rock, Paper, Scissors Show on both Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 in Cambridge!
Opening Reception – Friday May 4 from 5 – 9 pm Show Continues – Saturday May 5 from 11 – 4 pm Teardown – Saturday May 5 after 4 pm & includes sold-art pickup
VENUE LOCATION
40 Main Street, Galt – Cambridge
In time for Mother’s and Father’s Day! A special juried show & sale of ArtsPay members’ original artwork which include paper, metal, rock, stone, cement, fiber, glass, clay and any combination of those medium!
Exhibition juried by Chérie Fawcett, Independent Artist and Curator.
I won’t be attending this event, but from my own personal experience, ArtsPay events are always fantastic productions!!!!
There’s an especially wonderful open studio event and sale at Globe Studios on Friday, May 11!
I won’t be a participating artist, but I hope to make it out to see this amazing explosion of art!
And lastly…. but not leastly….. on Friday, May 25, there’s my own pop-up art show….The Ferrari 500…….. Affordable Excellence!
I’m so excited about this event – Hope to see you there!!!
For a more comprehensive listing of the visual arts events that are going on in the Waterloo Region this Spring, please check out the Art$Pay website calendar!! WooHoo!!!!
I’m so excited to announce that my forest of tree paintings has grown some legs, and is travelling to Cambridge! So if you missed seeing the debut of my tree paintings: “Tree-Centricity” at Homer Watson House & Gallery, you’ll be able to see a second exhibition, “Expressions of TreeQuility”, at Cambridge Centre for the Arts!
“Expressions of TreeQuility” runs from April 27 to June 1, and the opening reception is Friday, April 27 from 7 to 9pm.
To make the “Expressions of TreeQuility” show as unique as possible, I’m adding three new, never seen paintings, fresh from the studio!
Are you ready to become a colour mixing master? Are you ready to conquer your colour qualms?
This six-hour intensive workshop will challenge you to adopt a no-fear atttitude towards colour… which will be backed up with a working colour knowledge that will open up your creative colour possibilities!
We’ll get into the basics of colour theory, colour mixing, and colour harmony, with eye-opening demonstrations and exercises along the way, and plenty of time for questions! This hands-on workshop is great for beginning and intermediate level artists; for more experienced artists wanting a review; and for anyone simply wanting to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for colour.
In addition to a comprehensive presentation and demonstrations, there will also be plenty of exercises to drive the points home. Of course, there would be breaks for lunch and for refreshments along the way.
Color Boot Camp! SUPPLY LIST A Set of Acrylic Paints (Watercolorus are OK too, but not preferred)
Required Colours: White, Yellow, Magenta,
Red, Phthalo Blue (either shade),
Black. Additional Colors are welcome too!
Small Sized Brushes (#0, #1, or #2)
Protective Clothing (Acrylics won’t wash out of clothing!)
A good night’s sleep….. 😉
I love what I do so much,
It’s hard to not want to share what I’ve learned over the years with others.
I teach in a relaxed atmosphere, with lots of fun and nurturing guidance
Homer Watson House & Gallery
1754 Old Mill Road, Kitchener, ON N2P 1H7
Phone: 519-748-4377 Fax: 519-748-6808
As with most of my paintings, I’ve uploaded images of my tree paintings to my favourite print-on-demand websites (Art of Where and Fine Art America), allowing you to order fun items, like beanie hats, shower curtains, and tote bags emblazoned with images of my art!
TreeCentric Framed Prints
You may wish to collect all of the paintings from my “TreeCentricity” exhibition, but alas that may not be reasonably affordable. One thing you could do is order prints or posters from Fine Art America!
Fine Art America also offers a variety of imprintable items….
Shower Curtains
Duvet Covers
Tote Bags
Spiral Note Books
Pillows
and Mugs
Art of Where offers a variety of wearables (leggings, headbands, scarves, etc.), along with many other items. This link will take you to my “TreeCentricity” Collection page.
I love the prints on these wonder beanie hats! Great for keeping the ‘ol noggin warm in these colder temperatures!
These styling notebooks are a new offering from Art of Where – they’re the same ones that I have in the gift shop at Homer Watson House & Gallery.
As always, if you’d like one of my images on an item, but can’t find it, please simply email me to let me know, and I’ll do all I can to create that combination for you!
If you missed the exhibition’s opening reception at Homer Watson House & Gallery, don’t fret…
You can see them in person through the remainder of February, until March 7.
And, if you’d like a chance to find out more about the pieces in this collection, please plan to attend my Artist’s Talk, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 1:00 – 3:00pm. Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, Noon – 4:30 pm
Also, please be sure to notice the gift shop, where you can find greeting cards, unframed art prints, and notebooks, all for sale, and featuring the exhibited images of my work!
I always think it’s interesting to see the images that inspired the art… so now, I’m sharing the reference images alongside the paintings, and bit about what inspired me…
It seems that trees, ever-present in the background of everyday life, each have a unique stance, a unique expression, and a unique way to embrace the sky. I believe that a focus on trees can help to center us and bring us back into alignment with the flow, harmony and wisdom of life. It seems the trees are trying to teach us how to be strong and majestic, even with all of our flaws.
Each painting marries the abstract expression with the tree’s representational framework, and is sensitive to the varied environments having to do with season, weather, and time of day. Thus, this exhibit celebrates the grace with which the bough structures of trees embrace the sky, quietly plead for sunshine, sing with the wind, and keep the sky from falling.
Grasping at Sunshine 40 x 60 (vertical)
Grasping At Sunshine Reference
Grasping At Sunshine
This painting is based on a photograph I had taken in Uptown, Waterloo during an event called ‘Once Around the Block’. Usually when I’m taking pictures, it’s when I’m on a Sunday drive, so this was a special day for me to walk with other photographers and get to photograph subjects from more interesting vantage points. When I took this photograph, I was doubtful of whether shooting into the sun would ruin the chances of the picture being usable.
Happily, it was!
To me, this piece is simply about a tree summoning the sun, so as to finally shake off the winter doldrums, and to commence with the growing of leaves!
UmBrOaken Silence 40 x 30 (horizontal)
UmBrOaken Silence Reference
UmBrOaken Silence
This painting is based on a photograph of a tree that I’ve had in my tree reference collection for many years, and finally I decided to turn it into a painting. I believe that this tree lives somewhere in the Southern US, but there’s no real way to know the exact location.
To me, this work communicates the contrast of the welcome and wonderful shade from a giant oak tree on a blazing hot day to the overwhelming quiet heaviness from the thick humidity on a Southern sunny day. As you may see in the reference photo, a clump of trees became a shack. Maybe there really was a shack hidden behind the trees, but it felt better to me to make it certain. The tree acts as if it were an umbrella from the heat in the form of an Oak tree….UmbrOaken Silence!
About to Sprout 20 x 20
About to Sprout Reference
About to Sprout
This painting is based on a photograph I taken at my favorite Taco Bell on Weber St. in Waterloo. I’ve enjoyed many a taco in the presence of the shrub, and was always appreciative of its perfectly rounded structure. Also, this shrub, and its surrounding flowerbed, was always one of my favourite places to sit and notice the beauty of the passing seasons.
On this day, I was particularly enjoying the form, as I could see the underlying branch structure since the leaves had not yet sprouted. I love the radiating pattern suggested by the plant. This painting, ‘About to Sprout’, will always remind me of the time in early spring when the sun is shining stronger, but the plants still aren’t so sure about bringing their leaves out into the open just yet.
Dusky Yielding FilaTree 20 x 24 (vertical)
Dusky Yielding FilaTree Reference
Dusky Yielding FilaTree
At this point, I was exploring the idea of doing a series of tree paintings from local trees, and this is one of the first of the newly created tree pieces. This tree lives somewhere in the Woolwich Township area, I couldn’t say exactly where, as this was taken on one of our many Sunday drives. This tree is fully dressed in leaves, but still allowed some openings to see through the canopy – kind of like a filigree.
I felt like this tree had something to say. Something like, “I’m exactly where I should be, and you can count on me to be here to keep an eye on things.” Very solid and steadfast, despite the see-through bits.
Raging Sky Po-e-Tree 24 x 48 (vertical)
Raging Sky Po-e-Tree Reference
Raging Sky Po-e-Tree
Like the previous ‘Dusky Yielding FilaTree’, this tree also seemed to have something to say. It felt to me like the tree was dancing and singing just for the sky, extolling the virtues of grounded-ness to the ever-fleeting passing clouds. And the clouds responded by threatening rain. And rain is all that the tree really wanted.
Sun-Shielding GallanTrees 30 x 48 (vertical)
Sun-Shielding GallanTrees Reference
Sun-Shielding GallanTrees
The photo for these trees was taken on the grounds of Homer Watson House and Gallery on one April late afternoon just as the sun was starting to take a dive towards the horizon. It felt like a great opportunity to shoot more tree photographs directly at the sun, so I took quite a few pictures, many of which have been transformed, as least in part, into tree paintings for this series.
For this piece, the trees are blocking the sun, kindly shielding me from the very bright light. I thought it was very gallant and kind of them to do that for me. But still, the sun’s presence manages to sneak around the edges of the tree, just to make sure I don’t forget about it’s brilliance.
The Joyful TreeLease 16 x 20 (vertical)
The Joyful Treelease Reference
The Joyful Treelease
This photo was taken on the grounds of Homer Watson House and Gallery, and is one of several close-ups of trees in this collection. The leaves are new and just learning how to capture that ever-moving target of a sun. This day was a good day of sunning, and the leaves are ever joyful at their new venture!
Sun Catcher Training Day 24 x 24
Sun-Catcher Training Day Reference
Sun-Catcher Training Day
This photo was taken on the grounds of Homer Watson House and Gallery, and is one of several close-ups of trees in this collection. The leaves are new and just learning how to capture the light of the sun. There is still much for the young leaves to learn, and they are being guided by the whispers from the branches.
Pre-Flight Pavilion Party 30 x 30
Pre-Flight Pavilion Party Reference
Pre-Flight Pavilion Party
This photo was taken on the grounds of Homer Watson House and Gallery, and is one of several close-ups of trees in this collection. The leaves are at the end of their cycle, and finally, it’s time to let go. It’s not sad, as the leaves have always been jealous of the birds and really want to fly. So they get really happy about the matter in the weeks ahead, donning the fanciest colors they can manage.
Gracious Golden Passage Gala 36 x 36
Gracious Golden Passage Gala Reference
Gracious Golden Passage Gala
This photo is from a drive somewhere in the Woolwich Township area. Cropping in the picture resulted in a scene that reads more like a river flowing behind the tree than simply an empty field. It seemed to me that whether it was to be a river or a field, there was this idea of it being a passageway, and the tree simply was there to enjoy the parade of whatever or whoever happened to pass along the way. On this day, the day is drawing closer to sunset, and there is a great anticipation and celebration of something special that is about to glide by. What a happy time!
Hidden Beyond the Green 30 x 30
Hidden Beyond the Green Reference
Hidden Beyond the Green
This painting is based on a photograph I took at the Hidden Valley in Kitchener in advance of entering the Hidden Valley juried show at Homer Watson House and Gallery. I was fortunate to have a friend show me around the trails and the wonderful spaces in this hidden gem found in the midst of the trappings of paved city life. Thanks, nik! This day was the peak of summer, and very hot, humid, and especially distressing to me – BUGGY! Nevertheless, I persevered, and managed to hike to some wonderful spaces with trees, ponds, puddles, and pathways. It was a magical place, despite being pelted by the bugs.
This photo of a pond behind some trees stirred my imagination and made me wonder what was lying beyond the trees in the distance.
Spirit Tree Dawning 20 x 30 (vertical)
Spirit Tree Dawning Reference
Sprit Tree Dawning Drawing Reference
Spirit Tree Dawning Filter of Drawing Reference
Spirit Tree Dawning
The basis for this painting comes from a photo of a tree taken on another drive somewhere in or near the Woolwich Township area. I could really see the personality in this tree, and was inspired to create a drawing based directly on the photograph. The drawing is very stylized, and I was curious to see what might happen if I were to subject the drawing to various photo filters. I got a result which had very little to do with the drawing, but it had an appeal that I couldn’t ignore, so I decided to use the filtered image as the starting point of my tree painting. So, much of the initial personality of the tree is now wiped out….but… a different personality has arisen, and almost seems like it’s become an evergreen tree of sorts. I really liked the coolness that I felt from the tree, and I felt that this tree existed specifically to greet each new day with a quiet calmness in advance of the day’s hectic pace.
TreeCentric Summer Glow 30 x 40 (vertical)
TreeCentric Summer Glow Reference
TreeCentric Summer Glow
This is another photo taken from my excursion to Hidden Valley. I loved the sense of space in this photo. It seemed to me that it was a spiritual spot, and that the puddle was the alter-piece. But as I painted, what became perhaps more important to me was the notion of the clearing beyond the trees. So it made me think that spirit in a covered solitude was amazing, but there’s also great spirit in the openness and sunshine.
I Am Treemendous 24 x 48 (vertical)
I am Treemendous Reference
I am Treemendous
The photo for this painting came about when I was somewhere in or near the Woolwich Township area. Here’s another tree with oodles of personality, and I was determined to try and capture some of it with my painting. Since this is about the tree only, I edited out all of the other extraneous elements…. Leaving only a strip of land, and sky, and the portrait of a great tree. This is a solitary tree, yet he’s very active, engaging his surroundings. He’s filling up the immense surrounding space with his boisterous charm, and won’t allow any entity in his space to feel lonely or sad.
Joyful Pines, Whispering Lines 20 x 16 (horizontal)
Joyful Pines, Whispering Lines Reference
Joyful Pines, Whispering Lines Reference Filter
Joyful Pines, Whispering Lines
This is another photo from around Woolwich Township area, and also an image that I subjected to a photo filter. This resulted line of pine trees seemed to be dancing with the sky, and who can resist such a beautiful waltz?
Flourishing VitaliTree 11 x 11
Flourishing VitaliTree
This small tree sprang from pure imagination, and has such a happy presence.
Euphoric TreeQuility 48 x 36 (horizontal)
Euphoric TreeQuility Reference
Euphoric TreeQuility
The photo used for this painting was taken from around the Woolwich Township area. I loved the sense of solitude and mystery in the photo, and was excited by the challenge to transform the snow-scene into a very joyful piece. I am so pleased that it feels tremendously joyful to me, and it also retains much the initial quietude that initially struck me.
Ellie’s Tree 18 x 24 (vertical)
Ellie’s Tree Reference
Ellie’s Tree
This tree is located on the property of the Home Hardware headquarters in St. Jacobs. It’s a lone tree, but seems to have perfect form, pretty as a picture.
I wanted the tree to feel like it was being all dressed up in it’s finest Sunday-go-to-meeting frock, showing off it’s innocence and perfection.
If you missed the exhibition’s opening reception, don’t fret…
You can see them in person through the remainder of February, until March 7.
And, if you’d like a chance to find out more about the pieces in this collection, please plan to attend my Artist’s Talk, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 1:00 – 3:00pm. Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, Noon – 4:30 pm
Also, please be sure to notice the gift shop, where you can find greeting cards, unframed art prints, and notebooks, all for sale, and featuring the exhibited images of my work!
