LAST MINUTE GIFT GIVING!

Happy almost  Holiday Times everyone! We are sooooooooooooooooo looking forward to some time off! But before we go, do you need a last minute gift? We've got you covered!  We still have lots of great ornaments, cards, prints jewellery and more ready for gift giving! 

Card by Dan Bray  $6

We also have GIFT CERTIFICATES that you can now purchase online and then send via the internet to friends and family near and far while keeping everyone safe with new art to look forward to in the NEW YEAR! Simply CLICK HERE...just like that! Easy peasy!

Always so much to see! This new painting by Catherine Bagnell Styles just arrived and reminds us that bluer skies and warmer days are in our futures! Relax!

Don't forget to spread some good cheer and love to anyone that needs it!  This resin art heart by Kimberley Eddy is still looking for it's forever home...would be made even better with some jewellery by a local artist.

Resin Art HEART by Kimberley Eddy

Cozy up with your favourite Beverage and a Julian Covey mug!  $50 each

Check out this great new calendar by Kevin MacLean  $20

Inspirational Letters by Roisin Cadieux

 Enjoy gazing upon paintings that almost glow on their own...this one is by Mary Garoutte. 

Stay Safe everyone! We got this!

Holiday Shopping Made Easy At Argyle Fine Art!

 Our holiday shopping roundup continues this week with some quick and easy gift ideas for you to enjoy! The gallery is full of amazing artwork by local artists, with something to offer everyone. From holiday cards, to gifts both large and small to fit any budget. Supporting our local business, also supports the talented artists of our communities!  Lets see what the gallery has in store this week...   

Pat Shattuck delivers these wonderful Halifax Street scenes as matted art prints and greeting cards. Pop them in a frame and you've got a gift to last all year long!  Perfect for family and friends living away from home.  

Julian Covey continues to bring holiday cheer with these ever popular mugs and tumblers.  The perfect stay-at-home gift, enjoy your favorite hot and cold beverages in style with these colorful handmade ceramics.  

Get into the holiday spirit with this delightful holiday display featuring the work of the very talented Jill Babcock.  We've got a great selection of nature inspired ornaments, glasses, and necklaces.  Original artworks, hand engraved in glass!

New to the gallery this year, are the works of Roisin Cadieux. These decorative wall hangings are made from naturally sourced elements, and delicately assembled by hand. Beautifully packaged, and ready to give as gifts this holiday season!

We've also got some amazing original works by local artists. Affordably priced, and easy to ship, these 4" x 5" paintings are the perfect addition to any art collection, and make great gifts.  Make it a yearly tradition!  

Amber Solberg's Cursive Pins are a popular stocking stuffer! Hand embroidered, and available in a variety of styles and colors. Express yourself in style this holiday season!

As always, sometimes the simplest gifts are the most thoughtful. Fun to send and to receive  we've got an amazing selection of Holiday Greeting Cards for everyone on your list.

There's always something new to discover at the gallery this holiday season.  We look forward to seeing you soon!    

Featured artworks are available for purchase, while supplies last!
Be sure to drop by the gallery or visit online at www.argylefineart.com.  

For purchasing inquiries contact us at (902) 425-9456, or via email, gallery@argylefa.com

GIVE ART THIS HOLIDAY SEASON...it's not as expensive as you think!

 We're here to remind you that giving original artwork and  handmade things as gifts for the holidays is possible on a budget! 

One idea we love popping into people's minds is to take any of our cards (ranging in prices of $4 to $9)  or postcards ($3)  in a frame!  Presto- amazing artwork as a gift!  You can pick up an affordable frame at many shops downtown or simply find one at a thrift or discount store near you!

Assembly Of Text Card- Look at that cute cat!

Many of our makers up-cycle things into art. Especially wearable art, like these bottlecap pins by Kassandra Lois. Here are a few examples of some of the pieces she made for the holidays, but we have lots of other designs at the gallery to choose from. These are just $8 each, and are easy for gift swaps at work, stocking stuffers or to simply pop in the mail to surprise a friend. 

A very popular ornament again this year has been the HOME A LOT and the more regional humour of Santa's sleigh getting stuck at the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge (it happens a lot here with big trucks!)  These are both by Chris Smith and are only $14 each, and easy to give as gifts! 

Of course, Basil Doucette (86 years young) is still making his amazing original folk art birds, animals and for the holidays small hand-carved ornaments too! Look at these cuties!  Ranging in price from $15-$20

 

We even have original SOFT SCULPTURE- these little critters are called GREEBS by artist Troy Benoit! They are screen printed and hand sewn using up-cycled fabric...some even glow in the dark! They range in price from $25- $60

Of course, we have lots of original paintings ranging in sizes and prices....like these $20 originals shown below!

Raquel Roth, Acrylic on Canvas

Amanda Ingram, Watercolour on Paper

Of course we have lots of larger works too, in a variety of mediums!  We especially love this new colourful one by Gordon MacDonald- this is still curing but pretty spectacular!

Gordon MacDonald, Norris Point, 36" x 36", oil on board

Or if your tastes are more suited to abstract works, why not check out the art of Paulette Melanson, like this new beauty that just arrived today!

Paulette Melanson, A Time of Transition, 18" x 24", acrylic on canvas

Adorable small Cardinal Paintings by Sabine Kearns are waiting for you! $95 each

POP BY SOON and take a look around or visit us over at www.argylefineart.com for even more art! Don't forget we SHIP WORLDWIDE, SELL GIFT CERTIFICATES ONLINE (right here on this blog)  or in person, can arrange commissions, happy to arrange payment plans up to 6 months on art and more! 

HOLIDAY HOP....don`t forget the SOCKS!

Hey everyone!  We are busy preparing for the holidays, so we haven`t had a lot of time to update the blog postings lately sooooooooo.....we will do our very best to get to it this week, but until then mark our HOLIDAY PARTY on your TO-DO LIST!

Stay Safe and Happy Everyone! 

Determination: The Art of RJ Ogemah

 RJ Ogemah is a young artist we met at the gallery one summer afternoon in 2019. At the time, he simply dropped in to show us a few of his greeting cards he had created and to see if we would be interested in carrying any of them. We were intrigued with his art and took a few of the cards, but asked him to show us some originals of his artwork whenever he had the chance. A few months later he arrived with the most amazingly stunning painting!  It was in the gallery not even a full week without finding a new home. HURRAH!  

Earlier this year, we asked RJ to work on a body of paintings for a solo show to launch in October.He was excited and said YES! What we didn't know was that he was also about to teach himself how to build a house, along with his partner Leigh.  First, the land would have to be cleared and then intensive building was happening every day. In fact, they are both still working quickly to get settled into their new home before the snow flys. 

 Talk about determination! RJ would work through the daylight hours on the house and then after that work was completed, he headed into the forested location behind there, set up a yurt  which he fashioned into an art studio. He painted most of the works you see in his solo show online HERE using just the light of a headlamp and painted in the wee hours of the day.  He could have easily called us up and declined from doing the show but we are so happy he kept on going Hundreds and hundreds of people were able to see his paintings during NOCTURNE last month.

 

You can still see some of  paintings at the gallery, but we expect this exciting emerging talent will be selling a lot in a few years and making a name for himself, so we're here to remind you to pay attention and invest in artists like RJ. Young artists are so important to our cultural community. 

One of the great joys of working at a gallery is watching artists take the first step- putting themselves out there...and sharing their art with others and receiving some positive feedback. Their confidence grows as the work develops and changes over the years. The artworks find homes and new connections and friendships are made!It's such a lovely thing to experience time and time again. 

R.J. Ogemah is an emerging artist originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He strives to cultivate and share an appreciation of nature through his oil paintings.Interested in art from an early age, R.J. was encouraged by his family, friends and teachers to pursue a career as an artist. This path has led him to study at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto Ontario and the Florence Academy of Art in Florence Italy (Funded by the Ontario Arts Council Career Access and Development Grant).

The How-To Guide for submitting to PRE-SHRUNK 2022

It's that time of year again! The highly anticipated CALL FOR SUBMISSION for Pre-Shrunk 2022! We're excited to begin preparing for our 18th year and we want you to be a part of it!

Our annual Pre-Shrunk Exhibition is the biggest “small” show of the year! Our much loved annual group show asks artists to create small works on 4” x 5” surfaces. We encourage submissions from both established and emerging artists in their preferred mediums and all ages of artists, so take a look at the guidelines below the image and start making some art!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Works MUST be on a 4" x 5” surface (no exceptions). Artworks that do not measure 4" x 5” will not be considered! 

So, what about the 3rd Dimension? Good question!  For regular 2d works on flat surfaces (painting, drawings, etc...), we prefer receiving thicker canvases and boards on "gallery stretcher bars" (approx. 1.75" thick)...they're just easier to hang.  

If you are working on paper, it must be archival and mounted on a sturdy 4" x 5” surface that can be hung on the wall. Works done with materials such as charcoal and pastels must be fixed (ie sprayed) to protect the work. (you can ask us about this).

FOR SCULPTURAL WORKS...If you are sculpting, the base of your sculpture must be 4" x 5”, but there is no height restriction!

NO HANGING DEVICES. NO FRAMES.  

We ask that you do NOT attach hanging devices (ie wire, hooks, d-rings, etc). The gallery will take care of this for continuity.

Artists may submit a maximum of 5 pieces. Send photos of all works individually in good lighting (outdoor shots work well)  and if possible send a group shot of all your works together as well.

Submissions must be new and not previously shown.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Please submit (by email) to preshrunk2022@gmail.com

1) Your name

2) Phone number and email address
3) Titles of pieces and materials used to create the work
4) Images in a jpeg format, titled as indicated below:

Last name, first initial, title of piece, number of submission:

Example:

McGuireC_GreenRoom01.jpg 

McGuireC_BlueRoom02.jpg 

McGuireC_PinkRoom03.jpg

Installation View Pre-Shrunk 2020

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SATURDAY JANUARY 8th at MIDNIGHT

If the jury selects your work you will be notified by phone or email the following week.

You are required to deliver the work in person or by mail. 

We will not be notifying anyone of their acceptance in the show prior to the submission deadline and the jury meeting.

THE BUSINESS END:

Pieces that are selected for this year’s exhibition will be priced at $175 each, with the standard 50% commission. 

Please keep this price in mind when creating your pieces!

WHERE TO BUY 4" x 5" WORK SURFACES:

DeSerres (1546 Barrington St., Halifax)  - Some surfaces in-stock! More coming soon!

the NSCAD Art Supply Store (1874 Hollis St, Halifax) - Currently in-stock and offering 10% discount for Pre-Shrunk participants! 

NEW - Lisa-Maj Roos of The Twisted Doorbell Studio Gallery in Bridgetown, NS is also offering work surfaces for Pre-Shrunk as well, www.twisteddoorbell.com/

You can also make your own surfaces to paint on or find surfaces at other locations as well!

***Please be advised that supplies are limited,
and may not be a regular inventory item for these locations! ***

SHOW OPENS TO THE PUBLIC FRIDAY JANUARY 28th from 7 - 9 PM

Not just for Paintings! Pre-Shrunk is open to 3D and Textiles Artists as well!

Please phone, email or drop in to the gallery if you have any questions regarding the show – 902.425.9456. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Get inspired, Make some Art!

Mini Art Sale! Small Art with Big Appeal!

We've got some newly priced miniature artworks available this week for your viewing pleasure! For a limited time these 4" x 5" paintings were once $175, but are now selling for $50 - $95 each! With the Holiday Season right around the corner these colorful gems are sure to make great gifts!  Buying original art is a great way to support local artists in our communities...

Christopher Hall, Yellow Warbler, 5" x 4", acrylic on board, $95

George Spencer, Study Of Three Clementines, 4" x 5", oil on canvas on board, $95

Amber Gillespie, The Cat That Came For Tea, 5" x 4", oil on board, $95

Artists from all different backgrounds and styles are represented here. Each original artwork is unique and created by hand...

RJ Marchand, The Swell, 4" x 5", acrylic on board, $95

Lio Lo, Lupin, 5" x 4", watercolour on wood, $95

Affordably priced, you can mix-and-match to create your own mini art collection! Their small size make them easy to find a place for. Many can sit comfortably on a shelf! Easy to ship, you can treat yourself, or give the gift of art to someone special!

Jessica Gay, Prim And Proper, acrylic on canvas, 4" x 5", $65

Mindy Harris, Anna Leonowens, 5" x 4", hand embroidered cotton on canvas, $95

Amanda Nicholson, Glue, Screen print, 5" x 4", $50

That's just a snippet of what's available in store! Be sure to check out other amazing artworks by dropping by the Gallery or viewing the collection online HERE

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

PRE-SHRUNK 2022 VOUCHER ALERT!

 PRE-SHRUNK 2022 will mark the 18th year for this small but mighty show!

If you've ever wanted to own an original work of art at an affordable price, and be part of the pre - Pre-Shrunk show, this FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29th at 11am is the day to drop by in person , phone or email your request to purchase one of our limited 40 Pre-Shrunk 2022 vouchers!

Read the details below and join in the fun!

WHAT IS PRE-SHRUNK?

Pre-Shrunk is an annual juried show of small works that measure 4" x 5" in varying mediums by artists from all over that happens on January28th, 2022. Each work sells for $175 and last year we had over 300 works to choose from.  

But we pre-sell 40 vouchers at a special price of $150 in October and the number assigned to your voucher (in order of when we receive your visit, call or email) also puts you ahead of the line as well as gives you first looks and first choices the night of the show! You also get to attend our very special VIP reception before the show opens to the public to make your selections. So much fun! If you can't be here the night of, we can act as your proxy or you can send another person in your absence. These make wonderful "experience" gifts as well for anyone on your list who loves art! 

 
ONLY 40 vouchers will be sold this year, and need to be paid for in-full at time of purchase. The price is the same as it's been forever- $150 + tax and can not be used in combination of any other offer, sale or paid for with gift certificates etc. NO HOLDS as these vouchers are in demand! CALL 902-425-9456 OR 902-233-0784

*****If you don't get an answer right away, leave a voice message or email us ASAP  and we'll put your name on the list as we receive it and get right back to you for payment and contact info! Whether you are #1 or #40..there are so many works to choose from, no one is every disappointed and you'll already be ahead of the crowd. ******