Month: August 2022 (Page 1 of 2)

Artist Spotlight: Shelby Willis

August 30, 2022 / Conal

You know how you meet people and they’re just so happy that it’s infectious? That would describe Edmonton-area artist Shelby Willis. I had the joy of chatting with her recently while she escaped the loving rigors of caring for her newborn daughter.

Shelby has a distinct, colorful style that can turn anyone into an animal lover.

By the time our 20-minute chat ended, I could hear her daughter crying out in the background and I could hear Shelby’s heart wanting to go to her. So, we said our farewells and I hope her daughter will learn as she grows up how lucky she will be to have Shelby’s art available to inspire her.

[Featured Artwork: “Aztec Bear” by Shelby Willis.]

The Louvre Membership

August 27, 2022 / Conal

The world’s most-visited museum is The Louvre. It is home to some of the best-known works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

I’m certain every artist sees themselves visiting The Louvre at some point in their careers. My artist wife is no different.

In fact, anyone worldwide can become a member. For a fee. A very reasonable fee.

Artist Spotlight: Alyson Borycki

August 23, 2022 / Conal

Alyson Borycki is a Toronto-based artist transplanted from the heart of the Canadian prairies in Saskatchewan.

Our recent chat was filled with lots of laughs and plenty of insights from this super-talented contemporary abstract artist, who also has a passion for her house plants (and who wasn’t shy about sharing this fact).

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

[Featured Artwork: “My Oasis” by Alyson Borycki.]

The Giant Bean

August 20, 2022 / Conal

Fe, fi, fo, fum.

In front me was a giant bean… with no giant nor a beanstalk in sight.

The bean was silver, highly polished, and 33 feet tall. It was surrounded by thousands of paving stones covered in hundreds of human beings gazing at it. Further afield, there were towering skyscrapers overlooking it from the west and north.

A month earlier, I had given my artist wife an annual membership to the Art Institute of Chicago for our 10th anniversary.

Of course, living in a western Canadian suburb rendered this gift utterly useless without a trip to the Windy City, which I had previously — and conveniently — booked.

Artist Spotlight: Erinn Evans

August 16, 2022 / Conal

Erinn Evans lives in a suburb next door to mine outside of Edmonton, Alberta. That said, I’d never met her before our recent Skype chat.

A mother of two teenage sons, she is finds time for her art while they’re at school.

During our chat, she had some thoughts and insights that I loved and I hope you do, too, as you get to know her a little better.

[Featured Artwork: “Forest Friends” by Erinn Evans. 20”x24” encaustic painting.]

Artist Spotlight: Claire Coleman

August 9, 2022 / Conal

I chatted with Atlanta-born, New York-based artist Claire Coleman recently.

She had a ton of insight into her unique city. I really enjoyed hearing her perspective on the business of art and how she has access to some of the greatest art collections in the world.

Specifically, she lives in the borough of Brooklyn and takes a lot of her inspiration from the often overlooked objects, architecture and activities that go on in every day life.

I hope you enjoy learning more about her.

[Featured Artwork: “Edge of the Sea” by Claire Coleman. Gouache and pen on paper.]