Saturday, August 31, 2013

GORDON MACDONALD, ON WHY HE PAINTS SKIES

We asked Gordon why he likes to paint skies, and this is what he said:

What some people get from a belief system or meditation, I get from simply opening my eyes and looking up. I remember looking up since I was a kid at 9, when I started using oil paint. Walking to school, I  clearly remember thinking "how I can I paint what's in front of me?" As my mind grew, thoughts became more abstract and life became more complicated, but I could always look up at the sky and connect with the visceral part of me that was 9 or 10 years old.

We all live under the sky and that's one thing that is completely universal. Some people miss the ocean when they move to a city, but what I didn't realize was how much I would miss the sky. Living in Toronto, I looked up and saw slices of it blocked by buildings and it would make me wonder if there wasn't something fantastic just out of view.. It became just another "thing" I had to ignore while living in a fast paced city. Eventually, I just forgot.

When I moved back to the east coast where I grew up, I looked up and saw the drama that played out living at the top of the Gulf Stream. It was as if someone gave me CPR.I've attended 4 art schools and none of them encouraged landscape painting, let alone depictions of skies. What did encourage me in the end, were the people who liked and purchased my work. I realized that this was all I needed to continue, and now 12 years later, the most flattering thing for me has been when someone says, " Ever since I bought your work, I look up. I was driving home the other day and I saw this sky......"

Below is one of Gordon's favourite pieces to paint, s from his current show on display at Argyle Fine Art until September 14th. 
"
"Between Windsor and Wolfville" Oil on Board  36" x  36" Gordon MacDonald

Thursday, August 29, 2013

If you LOVE Argyle Fine Art, show your love with a VOTE for us, pretty pretty please....

Best of Halifax!


The Coast has just released its 19th annual Reader's Choice Awards to celebrate who, what and where is the Best of Halifax, with categories such as  Best Gallery and Best Visual Artist. Last year Argyle Fine Art won BEST GALLERY...GOLD...! We were THRILLED and can't thank all of you enough for voting! We'd love your support again this year!

The entire survey consists of 109 questions but you only need to answer a minimum of 10 questions to participate. As you can imagine, we strongly encourage everyone to vote!

Voting is currently open until Sunday, September 22. Results will be announced in The Coast Thursday, November 7. The big awards celebration will be that night too, so start polishing your party hat.

Please keep in mind that your choices must be local, which is to say shops, events, or craftspeople here in Halifax although you can be living at a distance and still participate in this vote!


THANK YOU in advance for voting for Argyle Fine Art in advance...if we win GOLD again this year, we promise an afternoon of delicious cake for all..or virtual cake for those of you living affair. 

You can vote online by heading to this link: http://posting.thecoast.ca/halifax/Survey?survey=3953545

THANKS EVERYONE..and have a great Long Weekend too! Drop by and say hi if you're walking around downtown,

Adriana Afford and Crystal Ross
Argyle Fine Art
www.argylefineart.blogspot.com
www.argylefineart.com

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

TIMERAISER: A great way for ARTISTS, COLLECTORS and NOT-FOR PROFITS to work Together!












The first time I heard about TIMERAISER, I thought it was just the greatest idea ever. What is Timeraiser you may ask?


Timeraiser  may just become your favourite silent art auction with a twist! This year will be it's second year in Halifax, returning on October 10th! Timeraiser raises volunteer hours by auctioning off local art for volunteer hours instead of money.

HOW IT WORKS? Artists submit artwork which goes through a jury process. The selected works are then purchased from the artist, then displayed at the Timeraiser art auction night, and you , the art lover, can buy art without using money but volunteer hours. At the reception, not only do you get to select from a wide array of styles of art, but you can learn about the not-for-profit groups that are in need of your help throughout the year, in our community.

Now isn't that great! Everyone WINS! The artist gets paid, local groups find the extra help they need from volunteers and YOU, the purchaser can acquire art without any $$$ exchanging and the great feeling to support local artists and groups in need, not to mention this wonderful idea!.

Watch the very short video that explains it ALL here:  http://www.timeraiser.ca/index.html

PS- ARTISTS....deadline is September 2nd and it's easy to submit, so what are you waiting for!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Now Showing: GARY GRANT

The light continues to shine here in the gallery... yes, we're still glowing from last week's successful opening reception. You came out in droves, and from what I can hear, your reactions to Gary and Gordon's work have been overwhelmingly positive - Thank you to everyone who stopped in!

If you aren't fortunate enough to be able to visit the gallery and see Gary Grant's work displayed in our front windows, then my poor attempt at photographing his pieces will have to suffice for now. You'll have to use your imagination though, because these photos really flatten Gary's rich compositions. In real life they sparkle with sophistication:















Friday, August 23, 2013

TONIGHTTONIGHTTONIGHTTONIGHTTONIGHT

Make sure you include us in your plans this evening between 7-9pm to help us celebrate two incredible new bodies of work by Gordon MacDonald and Gary Grant. We're so pleased to have both shows together in one room, and I think you'll agree that Gary and Gordon compliment each other very well. So gather up your art loving friends and make your way down in the next few - we'll be waiting here in the meantime, admiring the view.




 

 


Thursday, August 22, 2013

GORDON MACDONALD show opens TOMORROW, AUGUST 23rd

And we're back at it again. The gallery has been thoroughly transformed with Gordon MacDonald's long awaited annual solo show, Mid-Ground, and we cannot wait for you to see it in person. His is always a powerful exhibition, but I can promise you that this year's display is one of the best yet - Gordon's latest series of oils are heart wrenching in their beauty, and I find myself gasping when I find the time to look closely. Soul churning skies, and landscapes that narrate the intimate moments we have with our region. It's a difficult show to describe, so get yourselves into the gallery and experience it for yourselves.

Also on feature will be a rich display of glass hangings by Gary Grant titled "Broken Hearts and Board Feet"
so stay tuned for more info on those pieces shortly..we'll get pictures online as soon as possible. It's a full exhibition, brimming with beauty and feeling, and we hope you'll join us for the opening reception tomorrow from 7-9pm


or contact Argyle Fine Art 902.425.9456 gallery@argylefa.com 
1559 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia




Thursday, August 15, 2013

New Work by Karolina-Anna Hajna

She's in the final stretch of her final semester at NASCAD U, and goodness knows she's working hard to get her final projects polished up and handed in before the bell tolls. Her drive is admirable, although I often worry about young artists who push themselves so hard... Even in her hustle and bustle, she found time to visit us at the gallery, and offered up a number of exquisite new pieces. We've got a GREAT collection now, which includes her line of floral, gold, and cream coloured geometric ceramic jewellery pieces, along with a new line of sphere lanterns. Come in and have a look at what we have! She's an incredibly promising emerging artist, and we're delighted to be able to showcase her wares.







Tuesday, August 6, 2013

NEW WORK!! Prints by JANE ROVERS!

In the main gallery space, you'll find a series of limited edition prints by artist Jane Rovers that will coax your hearts to sail away into vacation land. These dreamscapes have a definite sense of calm and liveliness wrapped together into one with the use of rich, saturated colours paired with hazy skies. Each piece is printed in a tiny edition of 5, making each print extra special! Sizes range from 28" x 38" to 28" x 28" and they're framed in simple, white matted frames. Gorgeous. COME AND HAVE A LOOK SEE!! 













Friday, August 2, 2013

NEW WORK! Prints by Michelle St.Onge!!

Michelle St. Onge has expertly captured the sights and sounds of the city once again, this time in the form of screenprints on paper. These are very limited editions, so make sure you hop hop like a bunny, down to the gallery asap and see them for yourselves. Measuring (on average) 15" x 15" these lovely scenes make beautiful keepsakes and represent the city (and province!) so well..











Thursday, August 1, 2013

Pugs and Cats and Octopus, OH MY!

I remember once when a gentlemen came in, desperate to find octopus related artwork. Sadly enough, the only cephalopods we had in the gallery were of the giant squid variety... but, if that same man came in today, how happy he'd be!! Thanks to artist and crafter extraordinaire Isabelle Pineau, we now have HAND DRAWN brooches set in resin depicting pugs, cats, and octopi. Did I mention they're H_A_N_D  D_R_A_W_N?! oh, I guess I did.. but let me emphasize that again, because it makes these little art pieces extra special: