Mother's Day is Coming...Send some LOVE in the mail along with these Artful Ideas!

It seems that Covid-19 may keep many of us from getting together with our moms, but we can still show and tell them how much we care for them by sending some old fashioned love their way with a phone call, or the more recently popular heartfelt ZOOM meet-up or an even more waaaaay old fashioned way...sending something beautiful in the mail! 

Here are just a few of the affordable, easy to mail options for Mom....we'll be posting more soon too, but if you ship this week (or get us to ship for you) it should arrive just in time.We also offer doorstep delivery in HRM for most items when possible. Happy Browsing!

First up, why not send this HEART pendant, lovingly made by Chelsea Legge. It can also hang in a window when it's not being worn and sparkle until  it's heart's content. This is the ONLY one we have left at the moment (the first batch of pendants and pins went fast!) , but we will have more of these before next weekend!

Hand beaded Pendant by Chelsea Legge, $20

Chelsea made these beautiful earrings that may strike your fancy too.They would be beautiful to wear while...hanging around at home, special dinners, gardening (ha)  or glam up the Zoom meetings!

Assorted Hand Beaded Earrings by Chelsea Legge, $35 per pair

Our eldest artist, Basil Doucette has been busy making lots of new folk art birds for you all out there. Here are some of the latest mini birds he brought us this week. They are only about an inch or so long and high. So adorable! Also they are all unique...never two are the same. Just like moms!

Mini Folk Art Birds by Basil Doucette are just $15  and brighten any place in your home. Especially window sills or near house plants! 

Of course, many moms love to receive flowers this time of year. We have these flowers by Deb Bromley that are original watercolour paintings on paper, sure to make Mom smile. Best of all, they never die,can be enjoyed forever and are just $20 each! 

 We also have this darling painting by Raquel Roth from our Pre-Shrunk show, measuring 4" x 5"  still available! We keep asking ourselves why it's still here...it's a staff favourite for sure! It was $175 but is $85 right now and part of our on-going END OF THE WORLD sale. See more works HERE.

Drop by this blog later for more suggestions! Please follow us over on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM or TWITTER FOR DAILY posts and upcoming events!  We can't get together right now, but that won't stop us from creating new ways to fall in love with art and to keep connecting!

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS: Gordon MacDonald

Welcome to the fourth installment of our Sunday Studio Days series.  This week we'll be featuring the studio of gallery artist Gordon MacDonald!

Gordon has been busy preparing for his upcoming solo exhibition in July.  We're excited to see what he conjures up for us this year...

Inside Gordon MacDonald's Studio.  Halifax, NS

"...I work at home, I paint. Like most people, I want to go to the beach but other than my weekly visits to Argyle, I'm pretty content at home painting and extremely fortunate to have this." 

Gordon is always painting.  Here's a glimpse of a work in progress...

"Adriana has given me a show every year since 2004. I'm painting because I can't predict even a month from now, let alone 3, 4 or even a year ahead. If things start to open up and I'm without work, I will have wasted the time I have now...I would paint on a desert island, so there is no difference." - Gordon MacDonald

For inspiration, Gordon likes to surround himself with books and art...

Here's a couple of recent works by Gordon for your viewing pleasure;

Gordon MacDonald, Antigonish, 36" x 48", oil on canvas

Gordon MacDonald, Saskatoon Airport, 7" x 9", oil on copper on board

Featured paintings are available for purchase. For details contact the gallery at (902) 425-9456, or via email at gallery@argylefa.com

To see more of Gordon's works, follow the link to our FLICKR page HERE

New Arrival! "Pink Buoys" by Lio Lo

We're thrilled to share this amazing painting with you by artist Lio Lo. Known mostly for her watercolour paintings, this particular piece is a large acrylic on canvas depicting a familiar scene to anyone living on the East Coast of Canada.

Lio has been a contributor to Pre-Shrunk exhibitions in the past, but this is the first time we've had a major work from her. "Pink Buoys" is 27" x 40" and is available for purchase through the gallery!

Lio Lo, "Pink Buoys", 27" x 40", acrylic on canvas, Available NOW!

Lio Lo is an elected member of Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC). Born in Taiwan, she studied at the Art College of Tainan for before immigrating to Canada. Lio now lives in Shelburne where she continues to portray the beauty of coastal Nova Scotia. Her paintings can be found in collections all over North America.

Installation view for "Pink Buoys" by Lio Lo

"...My main goal in painting is to express whatever grabs me and touches me from the first impression. The unspoiled beauty of the coastlines and rural life of Nova Scotia are what inspired me on a daily basis. My paintings are the reflections of what surrounded me." - Lio Lo

You may remember Lio's work from previous Pre-Shrunk Exhibitions; 

Lio Lo, Pre Shrunk 2020 Exhibition, SOLD


Lio Lo, Pre Shrunk 2019 Exhibition, Currently Available for $85 (Each)!!!

Contact us at (902) 425-9456 (Mondays & Wednesdays),
or via email at gallery@argylefa.com

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS: Anna Whalen

Happy Sunday Everybody!  Here's the 3rd installment of our "Sunday Studio Days" series where we feature the creative spaces of our many talented artists.  This week we'll be exploring home studio of Anna Whalen.  

We were first introduced to Anna and her work in this year's Pre-Shrunk exhibition.  She has since contributed to our recent "Instafamous Dogs of Halifax" exhibition.  We look forward to seeing more of Anna's work in the gallery soon!

Interior view of Anna Whalen's studio.  The space features an amazing natural light source, and a workspace surrounded by art.   

"My studio space is quite small which keeps me mindful of cluttering it up. Actually,  I can make do with just about any space (‘maker doer’ I like to say). On the left is my kijiji air filter that draws the bit of oil painting unpleasantries quickly away..."

Detail view of Anna's workspace, showing paintings nearing completion...

"...Right now I’m dreaming of bacon and layering a glaze each day on that. I’m still working on my pop culture series and a few other ideas that have scooped my curiosity. I try to paint everyday, listen to podcasts and keep my feet on the ground, with my dog Alice (lovely studio mate) nearby."

Anna Whalen recently contributed to our "Instafamous Dogs of Halifax" exhibition, featured here are two pieces from her Pup Culture Series; (Left) "Littlest Hobo to the Rescue", and (Right) "Max, Bionic Woman", 5" x 5", acrylic on board (each)

We were first introduced to Anna's work earlier this year in our 2020 Pre-Shrunk Exhibition.  Here's "Consumable Culture 4" from the self-titled series,  4" x 5", acrylic on board...available now for only $85!!!

Who could forget the "pup-ularity" of Anna's  "Casey and Finnegan" painting, reproduced here as a postcard for our Pandemic Postcard Series"

Featured artworks available for purchase,
contact the gallery for details!
(902)425-9456, gallery@argylefa.com

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS: Rachel Reeve

Our second Sunday Studio features the creative work space of gallery artist Rachel Reeve!

Based in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, Rachel is an interdisciplinary artist with a BFA from NSCAD. She’s also an educator who has been teaching art in schools and in her own community for over ten years.  We were first introduced to Rachel's work back in 2019, and she has been providing us with new and exiting paintings ever since!

Rachel Reeve Studio View, Annapolis Valley

Rachel often incorporate a Japanese printmaking technique into her paintings.  "Gyotaku" involves using an actual fish as a plate from which the print is drawn.  The fish is inked with either a traditional sumi ink, or a water based equivalent, on Washi paper.  The fish prints are later collaged onto the canvas, and incorporated into the finished painting.

You can see more of Rachel's "Gyotaku" series paintings in background...

“I strive toward innovation and resourcefulness in my practice, being receptive to the new. Whether it consists of ideas or methods, an open mindset is a key ingredient in the creative process...I think this way of working echoes the diversity in nature.” - Rachel Reeve

Look at the light coming in through those windows!, a quiet inspiring place to create art!

Rachel Reeve, "Gaspereau Stripped Bass", gyotaku, acrylic, Japanese paper on canvas, 36" x 48"

You can view more of Rachel's available works HERE

Argyle Art Doodle Just in Time for Easter Fun!

YES! 

We are soooo EGGcited to bring you ARGYLE ART DOODLE! A great Easter gift..doorstep delivery in HRM! ( chicks shown not included🐥) Get a bag of supplies including various papers, pencil, eraser, coloured pencils and an ink pen. ( we can mail these out anytime too..not just for Easter!)You will also receive chocolate eggies and stickers for the season and here's the best part....EXCLUSIVE YOUTUBE LINKS released this Sunday to all purchasers to doodle with artists: 

Melissa Townsend, Gordon MacDonald, Caitlin McGuire and Craig Baltzer!  

Great for all ages! We seriously can't wait for this!

Gordon and Craig may be using puppets in their videos and lots of laughs, Melissa will be there with her son doing some drawing and Caitlin will doing some "in home wildlife" drawings!
Yay!! Staying Home just got better!

ORDER YOURS TODAY FOR DELIVERY TOMORROW or FRIDAY BY CONTACTING US HERE!  Just $25! 🐥🐇🙂 Have lots of supplies at home and just want to draw with the artists? No prob..for $10 we'll send you the links to the drawing sessions with our awesome artists!

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS: Sharon Cave

A few years ago we started sharing an online look into many of our artist's studios each Saturday and called it Studio Saturdays! It was really popular and we're not even sure why we stopped it. Well it's back again beginning today and since it's SUNDAY (in case you were not aware) we are calling this new series SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS!

Basically each Sunday we'll post some images of studios from our artists and a few words from them too. Keep engaged and tune in each Sunday to see the neat art spaces that these wonderfully creative people work in. Stay Inspired and Stay Safe everyone!

FIRST UP- we are taking you on a trip to Sharon Cave's studio. Many of you know her artwork- she loves painting animals and birds with personality, especially crows. Sharon is working on a solo show of paintings we hope to feature just as soon as we can all get outside again.

Here's a snap shot of her studio as it's looks right now....

Here are a few words from Sharon:

My life during this weird time hasn't changed that much. I'm not sure what that says about me!

To try and stay focused and motivated, I planned and organized (somewhat) my days early on by allocating my work time (painting), my leisure time (non-painting hobbies) and the stuff I don't enjoy but needs to get done anyway!

As for art, there are new animal paintings on my easel and in my head and lots of sketching going on. Illustrating (and writing) children's books has been a dream of mine and now seems as good a time as any to make that happen.Other than visual art I keep myself busy continuing my studies in piano and French.

 

Check out some art by Sharon Cave HERE  

Sharon is more than happy to make a special painting for you any time as a commission too. Just get in touch with us and we can help you make that happen. 

Here's a new painting by Sharon that would make the perfect Easter Gift for your home and family to enjoy during this time of extreme home-life! HOP HOP HOP!

Rhett, oil on board, 16" x 12", Sharon Cave