City, Forest, Birds, Shorelines... OH MY!

 It has been a busy week at Argyle Fine Art while we get ready for TWO NEW SHOWCASES!

Come on down Wednesday September 17th from 6:00-8:00pm

FOR SURE - HEIDI HOLLOWAY

We are preparing our eyes for the beautiful paintings Heidi Holloway has been working on. She has taken inspiration from Nova Scotia's shoreline, her new collection depicts many coastal birds in their natural habitat.

Heidi Holloway, By Luck in the Morning, 24x30, Acrylic

Heidi Holloway, Anchored in the Sandflats, 18x24, Acrylic 

We had the pleasure of hearing from Heidi for one of our Sunday Studio Days, where she goes into the process behind the work and a little about her adventures in the Nova Scotia wilderness.

READ ALL ABOUT IT 

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We also received new work from Jack Ross!

PASSAGES: JACK ROSS

Jack has been doing many of his city scenes but this body of work he has been experimenting with new places and techniques! You have to see them in person, pictures don't do the art justice.

Jack Ross, Lion, Barrington Street, Acrylic on Wood Panel, 10"x10"

Jack Ross, Crossing the Brook, Bluff Trails, Acrylic on Wood Panel, 24"x36"

Jack gives us some inside info on his studio and advice for new artists.
READ ABOUT IT HERE

We are SO EXCITED to show you more but for now this is all you get.
Link to the full show will be live on TUESDAY!
Don't Miss it.

Follow us on Instagram/Facebook for updates ☺

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS - Rebecca Wilson AKA Lucky Sprout Studio

 

Welcome to another...

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS!

This week we will be featuring the studio of artsit & writer Rebecca Wilson also known as Lucky Sprout Studio.

Rebecca in her studio space

We ask Rebecca:

When/how did you get into art?

I was always very happy making art but I never studied it formally. In graduate school I would paint as a way to shift gears from translating Latin. I started working as a self-employed designer a few years later doing book design, and I learned to do digital art so I could illustrate book covers. Over time I started to feel safer about doing more traditional art and now I’m painting full time. It was a long and extremely gradual process to build the skills and the confidence. 

What’s a typical day in the studio look like to you?

I usually come in to the studio after breakfast and deal with admin in the mornings. Eventually I work on some painting or design projects. Every day is really different and will depend on things like upcoming deadlines, time of year, and how I’m feeling. I try to finish art pieces in a single sitting because I’m not great at continuity, so that usually means painting for a few hours straight. I like to clock out late afternoon and get out of the house for the evening!

Do you have a pet/friend that hangs out in the studio with you?

My studio manager is Blueberry. She is a lop/lionhead mix rabbit, and is a senior lady at 9 years old. I adopted her last year and am completely obsessed with her. She has a lot of attitude and only really likes me (guests are tolerated). She does a wonderful job of keeping me in my studio (I’m always afraid she’s lonely if I’m not here) and encourages me to take breaks from working for snacks and cuddles. She’s honestly been great at keeping me focused on my art. You can see how bunny-centric my work has become since getting her.

Studio Manager - Blueberry

What’s your favourite thing/part of your studio?

Aside from my rabbit, who is an obvious choice, my favourite thing is probably the view. I have big windows that look out on a forest and I love watching the seasons change from here.

Do you listen to music/tv/podcasts while you work in your studio? If so, what’s your favourite!

Definitely! I don’t like working in silence. I’ve usually got YouTube on in the background. I like watching artist vlogs and content by other creatives; it’s like having co-workers, kind of!

Where do you get your inspiration?

Vintage picture books, traveling, and spending time in nature. I’m constantly mining my own childhood for inspiration, remembering TV shows I loved, books I read, and little details like the wallpaper in my childhood bedroom and the feeling of being safe in my bed. Safety, imagination, and nostalgia are themes I like to explore a lot.

Snaps of Rebecca's space

Who’s your favourite local artist? / a local artist you admire?

It’s so hard to narrow it down, but I’ll pick two - Erin Hollingshead and Julie Pantoja (Julep & Trubbs Studio)! They both make work that inspires me so much. They work in different mediums than me typically, so I feel a bit of awe around their art. 

How do you decide what to make/paint/draw?

Everything grows off the previous piece. I’ll paint a bird and some flowers, then really like how the flowers looked, so I’ll do a floral piece and add a bee in, then imagine a world of bees and try that, and so on and so forth. Sometimes I’ll paint the same thing several times until I feel like I execute the idea correctly. I don’t try and push myself out of my comfort zone, really. I just meander and see where it leads organically. I like to paint like I’m taking a leisurely walk. I can look back through my work and immediately know where I was on the “path” when I did it. I guess I see an invisible thread running through everything I make. I’m not sure if it translates to others. I used to worry about painting things cohesively or finding my “style”, like something that connects all my work. I gave up on that and decided I was the connecting factor. After accepting that, it all organically came together anyway, so now I just trust my intuition and know it will lead me somewhere fun and creative.

Do you have any advice to offer/ best piece of advice you’ve received?

The advice I’m trying to follow right now is to be clear about your overall goal and don’t spend too much time worrying about how to get there. Just keep trying the next right thing. There is never a straightforward path that you can plan so it’s best to embrace the strangeness of the journey, while keeping that overall goal in mind as your North Star. In retrospect it will all make sense. At least that’s what I’ve heard.

What is something people may not know about you?

I’m a huge wrestling fan. I watch many hours of it every week and have travelled several times to watch big events!

What activities outside of your art practice do you like to enjoy?

I love going to the beach, especially up in Kingsport. I’m always showing up at my relatives’ houses to hang out and go on little adventures. I read through a good stack of library books each month (mainly in my hammock if the weather is warm) and I love hanging out at home working on projects. Right now I’m painting a little wooden cabinet with an apple cut-out in the door. I thrifted it and I think it’s going to go by the front door.

Thank you so much Rebecca & Blueberry!

Drop by the gallery to see more work from Lucky Sprout Studio.

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS - Erin Hollingshead

Happy...

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS!

This week we chat with artist, surfer & teacher Erin Hollingshead.

Erin in her home studio surrounded by art

We asked Erin...

Where do you get your inspiration?

My current body of work is inspired by direct observation from my personal experiences! When I am not at my day job (teaching the youth!) or in my studio, I am in or near the ocean.

I am currently fascinated by objects (seaweeds, shells, and ocean critters) that I find on my beach walks, what the water looks and feels like when I surf, surf and surf culture, and folklore stories and mythical beings from the ocean and other water bodies. I will walk the beach and collect items of interest and at the end of my beach walk, I will create still-lives that I photograph and turn into paintings. Sometimes I will collage together multiple images from different beach walks to create a composition. Lately, I've been making gouache paintings of people on the beach where I use this collage technique. Sometimes when I surf or snorkel, I will take a GoPro camera with me so I can capture the water to make my water surface paintings.

Sometimes I like to include a figure interacting with the water, which I will often use my own perspective (my own hand) for. When these images are used as references for my paintings, I am using my own point of view and perspective to bring the viewer to the water - to try to get them to imagine being there and transport them to the ocean.

Erin Hollingshead, Ripple, oil on board, 10"x10" (2022)

My current favourite folklore is that of the Selkie - a mythological female being that can transform from their seal-form to their human-form, who feels that the ocean is their true home and place to be. My current series of Selkie themed works are lino-cuts, as I really enjoy the illustrative nature of this medium for these pieces.

Selkies Lino-Cut Print

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on a series of water-surface oil paintings. The goal with this series is to paint the water at dawn, mid-day and dusk to capture the different moods of these times of day on the water. Some pieces will include figures, and others won't. I hope to have this series completed by next summer (2026). I am a slow painter - because I only have around 2 or 3 hours of studio time in a day, but mostly because I really like to make my paintings meticulously detailed. I've been working on collecting reference images this summer and then I will spend my winter painting. 

Erin Hollingshead, Marooned, oil on canvas, 12"x16" (2021)

What's a typical day in the studio look like to you?

In the summer months I am on my break from teaching and I will work full-time in my studio - I usually use this time to start projects and organize myself so that I have a clear path set for my work over the course of the next teaching year.

A typical day during this time has me starting my morning slowly and enjoying breakfast and coffee while I make a to-do list for the day. I can not live without my to-do list - just a pad of sticky notes I keep on my desk. I try to do admin-work, creation and then "other" tasks each day to balance everything out. I also use this time to collect reference images for my paintings, illustrations and lino-cuts.

From September to June, I work in my studio for a minimum of 2 hours each night. Each day looks different in my studio as I try to cover all my bases - from creation, shipping artworks, organizational tasks, admin tasks, and social media. I could spend my time packaging and shipping artworks - which involves me sitting on my floor cutting cardboard, taping everything together and yellow envelopes everywhere. Or I could spend my time sitting down with a movie, show, podcast or a favourite album and working on carving lino-cuts, drawing or painting for a couple of hours. I am also always trying to film my process so I can make videos for social media and my YouTube channel. No matter what task I am trying to cross off my list, my studio time always has me comfy, caffeinated and thinking about the ocean.

Lino-Cut printing in progress

The Surfer Lino-Cut

Thank you so much Erin for giving us such insight to your practice.

Want to see what works we have available from Erin Hollingshead?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for reading this week's Sunday Studio Days blog! 

Stay Tuned for more behind the scenes & creative spaces next week!

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS - Annie Murray

Welcome back to...

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS!

This week we jump into the studio evolution of Annie Murray. Annie writes about her studio growth and the impact it has on her art over the years. Lets dive in....

Annie in her old studio space

I’ve had many studios over the years, each one reflecting a different stage of my life and my art.

My very first studio was back in high school on the dairy farm where I grew up. We had an unused garage that once held tractors, with a dusty attic and a big old paned-glass window. When I was sixteen, craving a quiet escape from my big and busy family, I cleaned it out, hauled up my dollar store paints, and sat on a blanket on the floor surrounded by a million very emotionally driven teenage angst paintings. I would paint for hours, lost in my own little world.

Annie's first studio in high school—a dusty attic above her family’s dairy farm garage, where she spent hours painting as a teenager

Since then, I’ve always needed a space separate from where I live to create. In Toronto, I rented a 10x10 space at Akin Collective, surrounded by other artists. When I moved to Halifax, my first “studio” was actually a converted walk-in closet—wildly small but perfectly sufficient at the time. I painted it “Italian Ice Green,” and it was just too cute. After that, I rented a bedroom in someone else’s apartment, painted “Peach Parfait,” and filled with the most beautiful sunlight.

My current studio, though, feels like a dream. Before I moved in with my partner in Fairview in 2023, he fully renovated his unfinished garage into a spacious, light-filled studio just for me. It was such an incredible gesture, and I still look around in awe of the room I now have to create. It’s my oasis.

Here he is working hard installing drywall in the new space

Having a dedicated studio allows me to “turn off” my artist brain when I need to. I can step out of the space and leave behind thoughts like whether the neon-green underpainting was a mistake, and just be present in the rest of my life.

The finished studio. Open, bright, and full of potential...

Inside the studio, I work mostly in solitude, fueled by coffee, tea, and purple Bublys. Music is non-negotiable. I’m deeply affected by it emotionally, and the mood it creates often seeps into my work, influencing the depth, nuance, and boldness of each piece. My playlists range from pop and R&B to celtic folk, and when I find that flow state, it’s the best high. The privacy to be messy, experimental, and fully myself is everything. I’ve even got a mini-fridge and a couch in here, perfect for long Pinterest breaks.

The couch where I unwind, flipping through art books or scrolling Pinterest for inspiration.

That said, I do occasionally invite friends over for wine-fueled paint nights. I’ve been teaching one friend the magic of the projector, which I honestly couldn’t live without. I’ve often thought about hosting community paint nights, live drawing sessions, or even teaching alla prima painting in this space. It hasn’t happened yet, but I can see it on the horizon.

My favourite thing in the studio might be my collection of art books. From Sorella’s Masterworks I bought after seeing the exhibition in Ottawa, to Mary Pratt’s biography (a gift from my mother, a fellow admirer), to a stack of Gucci art books my friend snagged from a gallery in Montreal (my favourite being the 2017 edition featuring Ignasi Monreal’s work) I flip through these more often than I expect, finding endless inspiration in their pages.

Right now, I’m working on pet portrait commissions (@petsbyannie on Instagram) and just wrapped up my “Girl Dinner” series at Argyle Fine Art. Next up is a new body of work that’s been brewing since spring—an exploration of my newfound love for gardening, combined with large-scale portraiture and touches of the hyper-realism I explored in my 2024 “Lips” series. I’m beyond excited to dive into it.

Annie Murray, Ear to the Wind, Acrylic on Canvas, 8"x8"

Outside the studio, I’ve been gardening—mostly perennials like roses and hydrangeas—and recently picked up poetry again after a decade away. There’s something about both practices that feels similar: the patience, the quiet reward of seeing growth over time.

I sometimes imagine myself years from now, sitting at a small wrought iron table in a rose garden I’ve built, with a studio close by. A place where art and life flow together naturally. For now, planting those first roses feels like a simple, steady step toward that future, and something that keeps me creatively inspired outside of the studio.

Annie Murray, A Garden For the Ghosts in My Heart, Acrylic on Canvas, 16"x20"

Want to see what works we have available from Annie?

Check out more HERE!

Thank you for reading this week's Sunday Studio Days blog! 

Stay Tuned for more behind the scenes & creative spaces next week!

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS - Heidi Holloway "open-air studio"

 Happy Sunday you beautiful people!

Welcome back to another SUNDAY STUDIO BLOG.

We have something a bit different today, artist Heidi Holloway brings us into her process and explains how she connects with our beautiful Nova Scotian landscapes.

Heidi & her dog Shylo canoeing in the back-country

Open Air Inspiration and Studio

When reflecting on my art practice and my studio, I considered my entire process for creating and decided to highlight my “open-air” studio/inspirations. The portion of my process and practice that starts within the open air of nature.

What some readers may not know about me is that I am passionate about immersing myself in nature. I delight in exploring new landscapes and revisiting familiar ones with a fresh perspective. Whether it's through a casual walk, a long hike, a day trip by kayak, or a multi-day back-country canoe trip, I find joy in every adventure. Being deep within the land allows me to experience uninterrupted nature, bringing a silence so profound that my ears are uncertain of the experience. My senses are put in order, my heart is at peace, and my cup overflows with inspiration.

Nature has a unique way of grounding me, providing a sense of tranquillity that is hard to find elsewhere. Each journey into the wilderness is an opportunity to disconnect, unplug, strip life down to its essentials, and reconnect with the natural world. The rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds,  the flutter of wings, and the gentle flow of water all contribute to a symphony that soothes the soul. These moments of solitude and reflection are not a hobby but a vital part of my creative process.

I often create art during my back-country endeavours. Sketching and carving are my preferred methods when I'm in the wilderness. I carry a small black book, a tin with sketching essentials, and a carving pen with me. These art tools may not be on everyone's wilderness packing list, but they are essential in mine.

There is no distinct rhythm to when I sketch on paper or carve on rock. Sometimes it may be after a fresh morning coffee, while sitting on a sandy shore, or resting in a hammock with an evening breeze. I often sketch based on what I experience during the back-country adventure. A loon swimming nearby, a warbler bouncing between branches, or even my sleeping dog, Shylo. It is a relaxing form of expression for me, with no expectations of outcomes, no audience, no grand scheme, just pure expression.

My wilderness sketchbook is full of stories in the form of images from my trips into the bush over the last 10 years. There is a secret that I have not told others, though there may be a few who are accidentally aware. The secret is that there are back-country sites across this province that hold pieces of my art. A paper sketch hidden away in a log box or a carved rock sitting just up from the shoreline. A series of “Easter Eggs” scattered across the wilds of this province to hopefully be enjoyed onsite by other nature enthusiasts for years to come.

It is likely no surprise that every nature endeavour includes watching the beautiful diversity of birds who are either passing through or call these natural environments home. These glimpses and interactions are often the main themes of my work. To capture the existence of the birds within the habitat, to showcase their essence, or to demonstrate the feeling that their presence gives.

The inspiration received from these adventures do not only inspire art in the moment but is also something that is carried back with me into my home studio. I bring inspiration back with me through photography reference, memory from mental snapshots, and sketches. The sights, sounds, textures, and colours of my experiences in nature greatly influence my work. Whether that be specific subject matter, colour palettes, or an undertone of emotional expression.

This nature-based inspiration in my work will be distinctly seen in my September 2025 showcase at Argyle Fine Art. Like all other Nova Scotians, I need to adapt where and how I engage with nature. Changing outdoor habits due to the absence of access to a particular type of land. Moving my range of natural landscape away from the woods and to this province’s water bond lands exclusively.  This shift in natural landscape exposure and wildlife experiences will be strongly observed in my upcoming exhibit. As all depictions will be based on my experiences of connecting with Nova Scotia’s shorelines and shorebirds.

I look forward to sharing with viewers the beauty that came from this adaption. Showcasing the colour palettes, coastal moods, and diverse species of birds that our shorelines have to offer.

Heidi Holloway, Morning Song, 24"x24", Acrylic on Canvas

Heidi Holloway, High Landing, Acrylic on Canvas, 30"x40"

Heidi Holloway, Yellow Warbler (Setophaga Petechia), Acrylic on Canvas, 6"x6"

We are so excited to see more work from Heidi in her new show, opening with us September 17th.

If you want to explore more from Heidi CLICK HERE

Thank you for reading this week's Sunday Studio Days blog! 

Stay Tuned for more behind the scenes & creative spaces next week!

 

SUNDAY STUDIO DAYS - Belle DeMont

 It's Sunday... You know what that means... Another SUNDAY STUDIO TOUR!!!

This week we will be featuring the work of Belle DeMont

Belle in her Studio

Belle is preparing for her first ever SOLO SHOWCASE with us titled: When the Veil is at it's Thinnest, happening at Argyle Fine Art in October.

Getting ready for the show, we asked Belle...

How do you decide what to make/paint/draw/etc?
I am constantly taking pictures of things outside that inspire me and sketching in my sketchbook. After I have my various ideas, I just narrow it down to what I am most inspired by. And I am always looking at other artists for inspiration.

What’s a typical day in the studio look like to you?

I like to wake up early with my cat Hazel and then we make coffee and get to painting! I find my best work comes in the morning. 

What’s your favourite thing/part of your studio?

Probably that I have all my things around me. I have so many trinkets and candles and little crafts I’ve made. I am sure it would be a minimalist’s nightmare, but I love being surrounded by all my things.

How would you describe your art process in three words or less?

Energetic, Fickle, Obsessive

Do you have any advice to offer/ best piece of advice you’ve received?

“You come from a long line of people that work really hard at whatever they’re doing, so you should probably do the same. “ -My mama! I used to run on the idea that art was this free, intuitive thing, which I now know to be false (for me at least). I now study and practice and plan and organize and it has made my art practice much better.

What is something people may not know about you?

I have two published children's books! One of them I wrote (I Love My Purse) and the other I illustrated (Little Tree by the Sea).

Who's your favourite local artist? / a local artist you admire?

Oh my gosh, too many to pick a favourite, so I will say two who inspire me in my own practice. As a landscape painter, I must lead with A.F.A’s own Gordon MacDonald, who is the master of cloud paintings. I can’t wait for his show later this month.

I also must mention Susan Wood, who was both my professor at NSCAD and a truly profound and inspiring artist who was deeply connected to the natural world.

Belle DeMont, The Fog is Rolling in, Oil on Canvas, 24"x30"

THANK YOU SO MUCH BELLE ♥ WE CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR SHOWCASE

Want to see what works we have available from Belle?

Check out more HERE

Thank you for reading this week's Sunday Studio Days blog! 

Stay Tuned for more behind the scenes & creative spaces next week!

Have you met SABINE?

Sabine Kearns showing off her paintings in the gallery last Summer, 2024

Meet artist SABINE KEARNS!

Sabine is a self-taught artist, she enjoys painting in acrylics using bold, vibrant colours and clean lines.

Born in South Africa and moved to Canada in 1997 with her husband and two young boys. After living in British Columbia for 21 years, she now calls beautiful Nova Scotia Home. Sabine resides on the South Shore, finding endless inspiration in hidden coves, white sand beaches and sheltered harbours.

"My art is happy art and reflects my peaceful life. It’s a privilege to create something that brings joy to others and I hope that through my art I can make someone smile and maybe help make the world a little brighter." - Sabine Kearns

Stop by the gallery and take in her newest collection of paintings titled "Shoreline Meanderings" beginning this Saturday afternoon! Drop by to meet Sabine for yourself, she will be at the gallery August 9th from 2:00 - 3:30 answering all your questions!

If you can't make it we have a few sneak peeks of the show...

Shoreline View, acrylic on canvas, 12"x12"

Summer Mood, acrylic on canvas, 24"x24"

Small Blessings, acrylic on canvas, 16"x16"

THE FULL SHOW WILL BE ONLINE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT 

https://www.argylefineart.com/

 

SEE YOU SOON! ♥