Thursday, November 29, 2018

TONIGHT TONIGHT! We have POWER! 6pm-8pm

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! We're bustling around getting ready for our Holiday Party tonight! Please drop by from 6pm-8pm for TAX FREE shopping on purchases $50 and over. WAHOOOO!


We have a new show launching tonight called "Postcards From Home" which you can now see HERE at this LINK. 



 PLEASE DONATE!
Attending our events and visiting the gallery is always FREE but tonight we are raising funds for the Christmas Daddies Telethon so please leave a  monetary  donation behind for them tonight or tomorrow afternoon if you visit as well! We will be presenting the donations collected on CTV Saturday afternoon between 2pm-2:30pm. 

 Don't forget each Saturday in December between 1-3pm we'll be hosting special events at the gallery. This Saturday meet artists Kim Eddy, Lil Crump and Kris Webster. CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Giving Back this Holiday Season

If you're on the hunt for some Black Friday deals, you won't find any here at the gallery. This year in lieu of celebrating Black Friday we are collecting donations for the Christmas Daddies, a not-for-profit organization that helps provide a better Christmas to children in need within the Maritime provinces.



The Christmas Daddies has been around since 1964 (you can read more about the organization's history here), and their annual telethon has become a well-known tradition around the Maritimes. We will be collecting donations from today until next Thursday (November 29th), and all donations will be delivered directly to the telethon site, and will be broadcast LIVE on CTV on Saturday, December 1st between 2pm-2:30pm.


Collaged bird cards by Angela Doak

Supporting local charities is a really great alternative to accumulating more unnecessary "stuff", and makes a positive impact on our community. Every little bit helps, and together we can make a big difference.

Holiday card by Miyoshi Kondo

On Tuesday, November 27th, we are facilitating another opportunity to connect with a local charity: the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Zeus the Red-tailed hawk will be present at the gallery along with his handler John and a couple of volunteers from the centre. This is a great opportunity to learn about some of Nova Scotia's wildlife, and the ways in which how you can offer support to local wildlife requiring rehabilitation assistance. A great learning opportunity for all ages!




Hand-carved and painted hawk by Basil Doucette


It's easy to get swept up in the busyness of the holidays, so remember to take some time to slow down and maybe even re-think the ways in which you choose to shop and "gift-give" this year.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

TONIGHT! ARGYLE ART NIGHT OUT! Open until 9pm

Tonight we're trying something NEW!  We've heard from many people visiting  earlier this year that they wish we'd be open later hours! Well, beginning tonight, Wednesday, November 21st and continuing into the new year, we are planning on THIRD WEDNESDAYS where we will be open until 9pm, with special events, artists, food tastings and more for FREE!


This evening you'll meet Angela Doak and will have the chance to pick up your brand new book published by Nova Scotia publisher, Nimbus Publishing. Get it signed by her for that special someone on your gift list-great for all ages. We also have a great selection of prints and cards by Angela. Come see how she creates these works using simple candy wrappers, magazines and lots of patience!



We'll also have a POP CULTURE colouring wall, courtesy of artist Jodie Hansen, so colour your stresses away and add your mark to our walls while nibbling on treats.  Pick up some cards, stickers, wrapping paper and more from her! Lots of holiday inspired ones available.


And tonight will be our first LIFE DRAWING session with model Carol Dill in our lower gallery, beginning at 6:30pm until 8:30pm. The first part of the evening will include clothed modeling, the later half will include longer nude poses.  Serious artists only for this latter part of the evening. A suggested donation of $10 is requested to pay the model. We hope to continue this each 3rd Wednesday of each month as well. Bring your own supplies, but some seating will be provided.


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Add ART to your Holiday Wish List

We're starting to gear up for a busy holiday season here at the gallery with a number of exciting events happening in November and December. We encourage you to simply CLICK the UPCOMING/EVENTS tab to get all the latest details (such as our first ARGYLE ART NIGHT OUT next Wednesday, November 21st , a HAWK visiting the gallery on November 27th or our Artist Saturdays in the month of December), but we wanted to alert you to a few other special things here as well:


WEEKLY SPECIALS ON SELECTED WORKS: Each week we'll offer selected works by our gallery artists at special prices! In fact, today we're starting with the painting shown below by Gordon MacDonald.  This painting is an older painting by Gordon, painted in 2007. It's called "Woody Point", of Newfoundland- you can see the Tablelands off in the distance. It measures 48" x 24", oil on canvas.

This size of work these days would sell for $3400 but we are offering it for the price it was in 2007: $2400 -25%  which makes it $1800. A STEAL! And Breathtaking! 

* However this painting is a nightmare to photograph and is so so much more amazing in person. We can provide additional images of the work if you  live at a distance; in different lighting conditions and close-ups.


GREETING CARD SALE- From NOW until  November 21st, we have ALL of our cards at 15% off! Time to pick up the perfect card by a number of local artists! Holiday and Non-Holiday cards are included.



GIFT CERTIFICATE SALE- Until they are gone! We have 20 gift certificates set aside for special pricing at 20% off. In other words, a gift certificate valued at $100 will only cost you $80!  Gift certificates make great gifts for everyone on the list, never expire and can be used for all sorts of purchases and workshops at the gallery.



Saturday, November 10, 2018

Exploring the Ocean by Night

Have you ever been to the ocean at night? If the moon is out, you may be able to see tiny slivers of it's light reflecting off the oceans surface. On a dark, moonless night, it may be nearly impossible to see much at all. The sound of crashing waves and scent of the salty air seem amplified, when they become your only way of taking in what you struggle to see in the darkness.

Katharine Burns, Constancy, 30" x 30", oil on panel

 Katharine Burns' latest body of work, "Eventide" offers us a glimpse into the magical world of the ocean at night. Through each piece, we are transported to the ocean's edge, standing before the great untameable force of the water. In her paintings Katharine captures the nuance of each wave as if it were a living, breathing creature.

Katharine Burns, Flux, 30" x 30", oil on panel

 Katharine often begins with a photograph as inspiration for her works. However, capturing night scenes with a camera can be very challenging, so she had to improvise, creating areas of light and shadow from memory and imagination.

Katharine Burns, Moon's Pull, 30" x 30", oil on panel

The realist qualities Katharine achieves in her work are effortlessly convincing, even in works where the source of light feels mysterious. In her closer up depictions of waves, the foreground is illuminated in stark contrast to a completely darkened background, creating a sort of intimate viewpoint that almost feels as if we as viewers are shining a light out into the dark water.

Katharine Burns, Reverie, 30" x30", oil on panel

In her painting "Reverie", Katharine draws an interesting parallel to photography in the way she creates a "sharpened" focal point that draws the eye to a particular area of the composition, while the foreground fades into a soft blur that appears "out of focus". It's really interesting to see this effect in a painting!

It's evident that the works in this show were created by someone with a deep connection to the water. From the vast array of blues and greens in the chosen color palette to the incredible movement present in the works, Katharine is able to convey every aspect of the ocean like it is a dear friend. Seeing the works in person, it's not hard to conjure up the sounds and smell of the ocean, as if you were truly there.

Katharine's work is on view at the gallery now, so hurry by to see it all for yourself!

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Moments in the Landscape

We've been working with artist Gordon MacDonald since the beginning of Argyle Fine Art! We've been representing Gordon for 18 years, and it's been so fascinating to see the evolution of his work over time.

If you've set foot in the gallery at any point, it's very likely you'll have seen one of Gordon's paintings -they are hard to miss! He has become known for his vibrant oil paintings that capture landscapes that feel both familiar and special. Setting eyes on one of his paintings feels like having the impossible luxury to linger in one of those fleeting moments of beauty where the colors splay across the sky just perfectly, or the clouds are illuminated in the most intriguing way. Gordon is able to capture the Maritime landscape in ways that remind us what a beautiful corner of the world we live in!

Gordon MacDonald, The Choice to See, 36" x 48", Oil on canvas, mounted on panel

Over the past few years, Gordon has become known to paint directly on copper sheet as an alternate painting surface. The effect is quite unique, and creates a luminosity that seems to enhance the vibrancy of his works. Gordon's paintings on copper are smaller is size, offering a bit of a more intimate glimpse of the landscape, with a refined copper edge subtly framing each scene.



Gordon MacDonald, Outer Harbour, 6"x8", Oil on Copper

Recently, however, Gordon has taken a leap in the scale of his works, and has completed a number of larger scale paintings on canvas that we are really excited about. We haven't had any works available in this size in quite some time! The expansiveness of each scene seems to transport the viewer directly on set, as if it were possible to take a step forward right into the painting.

Gorodon MacDonald, New Brunswick in the Distance, 36" x 48" Oil on canvas, mounted on panel


Gordon MacDonald, Glacial Erratic -Peggy's Cove, 36" x 48", Oil on Canvas Mounted on Panel

    

Gordon MacDonald, From a Bridge Near Windsor, 30" x 40", Oil on Canvas Mounted on Panel


 If you've ever had the chance to chat with Gordon in person, you'll know that he is very knowledgeable about painting materials and techniques. He's also very generous in sharing what he knows, which often helps us to understand and appreciate his work even more.


Gordon MacDonald, Gaspereau River, NS, 36" x 48", Oil on canvas mounted on panel.

 For Gordon, a painting never comes to fruition without many preparatory sketches to explore different compositions, and color palettes. Sometimes many smaller works or "studies" are created before Gordon will undertake a full-sized painting. As a way to offer us a glimpse behind the scenes into his creative process, Gordon is currently offering a quarterly "sketchbook subscription". Each subscriber will receive  four original small works on heavy-weight archival art paper, with a variety of mediums. No work will be the same, and each will be an active study for a future painting . ONLY 20 subscriptions will be made available.


If you've been following Gordon's career over time like we have, this subscription would be an amazing addition to your collection. It's also a really unique opportunity to gain insight into the process of a renowned local artist. You can read more about the subscription .HERE

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Broken / Beautiful -New Works by Michelle SaintOnge

In her latest body of work, "Broken / Beautiful" artist Michelle SaintOnge celebrates breast cancer survivors using a powerful and visually beautiful metaphor: seashells. At a quick glance, the works appear to be just that- a stunning collection of seashell paintings. Beyond the surface, however, they are much, much more than that.

Michelle SaintOnge, "Mothers and Sisters", 9" x 12",  Watercolor on Paper




Upon close inspection, the shells Michelle depicts are not perfect; some are cracked, some are broken or perforated. Nonetheless, each shell is profoundly and uniquely beautiful, and tells a story. Through these works, Michelle hopes to "highlight the beauty of change that comes from a long hard journey." She draws inspiration from the strength of survivors of breast cancer whose bodies bear traces of a battle fought, and are forever changed by treatment. 

Michelle SaintOnge , "Thirteen Rounds of Radiation", 24" x 36", Watercolor on Paper, Mounted



With titles like "Thirteen Rounds of Radiation", "Early Diagnosis", and "Tough and Ambitious", the shells are instantly laden with new meaning. One of the larger pieces, "Lost the Battle, Won the War" features a single shell, instead of a pair. The shell is covered in tiny holes all over, each crevice so vivid it feel as if you could reach your hand out to touch a perforated surface. In addition to the strikingly realistic quality of the painting, this piece is both painful and triumphant, and one that is cause for much reflection.




Michelle SaintOnge, "Lost the Battle, Won the War", 22" x  28" Watercolor on Paper, Mounted


Michelle's work is certainly not meant to be sad, but rather a celebration of the strength and beauty of those affected by breast cancer, and changes that occur to the body as a long term effect. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer, and most people would probably agree it's no battle to fight alone. We need to cheer each other on -before, during, and after. We need to talk more about the importance of regular examinations, and we need to practice more empathy in helping those dealing with long term effects. Each one of Michelle's paintings is a reminder of this.



Michelle SaintOnge , "May, June and July", 15" x 30", Watercolor and Gouache on Paper, Mounted
Michelle SaintOnge, "It Takes a Village", 9" x 12", Watercolor on Paper, Mounted.


Broken / Beautiful will be on display until November 10th. Swing by the gallery to see the pieces in person, as there are some subtle details like the sparkly sheen of iridescent paint that Michelle has used on some pieces that cannot be properly captured with a camera! A portion of sales from the pieces in this show will be donated to the Look Good Feel Better Foundation. 

You can view the entire show online HERE.




Michelle SaintOnge , "Ladies Take a Stand", 16" x 20", Watercolor on Paper, Mounted