Summer Attractions...still going Strong!

 Hey there! We hope your week is going well and that you are enjoying August and all the greatness it has to offer no matter where you are living. Here in Nova Scotia, the sunflowers are blooming in full force and artist Catherine Bagnell Styles captured one of many of her blooms. 

                            Catherine Bagnell Styles, Ode to Vincent, 24" x 18", acrylic on canvas

HERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS HAPPENING SOON AT THE GALLERY! DON"T MISS OUT ON ALL THE FUN!

UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP: Agatha the Chicken & Delilah the Dog Some might ask, "Why are we hosting a CHICKEN and a DOG at the gallery this Saturday?"  And to that we reply: " WHY NOT!  It's 2020 and if people's lives can be made happier by a visit from a chicken and a pup that love to hang out together, then why not. Of course, to make it artfully relevant, we are asking folks to drop by and sketch or snap a photo of the duo from 2pm-3pm at the gallery. A great opportunity to draw from life! We are setting up socially distanced chairs outside and inside the gallery. All you need is to bring your own paper, pencils and pens. All ages are encouraged to drop by. While you are visiting the gallery make sure to check out the latest show "HOMESTEAD " by Isobel Hamilton. Below is one example of her painted magic but you can find the entire show online HERE. We also have some paintings still available from Gordon MacDonald's show online HERE. Below is one example of a painting waiting for it's forever home. JUST ANNOUNCED!  GORDON MACDONALD is hosting a MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP in SEPTEMBER. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT AND SIGN UP TODAY HERE! REMEMBER THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 20th ANNIVERSARY and offering 20% any works created in 2019 and prior of $200 or more value AND are also challenging everyone to PLEDGE TO SPEND $20.For each $20 spent you will automatically be entered into our draw for $100.We encourage you to share your purchases with your friends via the hashtag #argylefineart2020 on social media.Thanks everyone! Every purchase matters more than you know! MORE FUN HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY ON THE WATERFRONT WITH GALLERY ARTIST SARAH CANNON!  CHECK OUT THE DETAILS HERE AND WATCH HER FINISH OF LARGE AMAZING MURAL FOR OUR CITY TO ENJOY! NEW ARTIST ALERT!  RJ Ogemah....all we can say is WOW. This oil on canvas, measures 16" x 20" and is simply called "Gros Morne", $885 and is simply gorgeous! UPCOMING NEXT WEEK!  NEW SHOWS BY DANNY ABRIEL AND KERRY HODGSON! CLICK ON THE ARTISTS NAMES TO GO TO THE FACEBOOK EVENT LISTINGS!

Bask in the GLOW of new paintings by Isobel Hamilton

This Saturday we celebrated NEW acrylic paintings by Isobel Hamilton. Everyone who has seen these paintings so far in person, is astounded by their beauty, attention to detail and their life-like and almost glowing effects!

We encourage you to drop by the gallery this week and experience them for yourself. Give yourself an art break....we all need a little self care and art can be your escape from it all for just a few moments.

Artist Isobel Hamilton with her latest grouping of paintings called HOMESTEAD

We hope to see you at the gallery soon! Male a day trip out of it and visit other galleries and small shops downtown! Remember that for every $20 you spend at our gallery until September 10th, you will be entered to WIN a $100 Gift Certificate!  Thanks for supporting small business and our artists!

You can see the entire show online HERE, and we've added a few of them below for you to enjoy too. 

Time Flys when You're Having Fun! Celebrating 20 Years!

It seems like only yesterday that I saw an ad in the Chronicle Herald for a position at the gallery. I tired to locate the teensy little scrap of paper that I had ripped out and put in my purse close to 20 years ago so that I could photograph it for this blog, but alas it's lost to my cluttery "room of hell" that is otherwise known as our "spare room" for now. Anyway, I had been working in an office environment at the time in an industrial park, which basically describes my personal hell. Thankfully after much fluttering about, I caught the attention of the owner and he gave me a job.

The road has been bumpy right from the start if I'm being honest but I stayed with it as I do, and the pay off  eventually was that I was offered a dream of mine to come true: to own a small business. Oh my....I had so much to learn and I am still learning after all those years! Owning any type of small business takes courage and strength but an art gallery?!!  It's not for the faint of heart.

I will be forever grateful to Robert Russell for believing in me,supporting me, saving me and being such an absurd and wonderful mentor. I've also been lucky to have other mentors in my life, including Alma Houston of Houston North Gallery and then crossing paths with Sandra Winter, who were both inspiring women and bosses that would eventually become real confidants and friends. I miss them dearly. I've also been grateful for the kind and creative souls I have worked with over the years and all of the adventures we've gone on together. And of course, the constant support, patience and love of my partner in life, Joe. :-) I often wonder what my life would be like if I took a different path, but I can't imagine it without art. So here I am....I own an art gallery. It's been the most wonderful terrible uplifting exhausting fulfilling experience ever.

The gallery turned 20 years old the other day and I had plans to celebrate largely with our artists and community, but best laid plans and all that....2020 had other plans.We've had to pull up our socks even higher and work harder, while staying flexible, positive and creative!

But rest assured, we are still celebrating the BIG 2-0  and reminiscing for the rest of the year with various events, sales etc. So please send a note of something you have enjoyed about our gallery or a fun experience you remember. It would be great to add them to future blog posts and maybe by then I'll find some memorabilia to share!

MAKE A PLEDGE TO SUPPORT LOCAL THIS SEASON TOO! 

Here's one of our first initiatives, where you can WIN $100 Gift Certificate!