In an Instant: Polaroid Painting with Mary Garoutte

FLASH FLASH FLASH! 

What are you doing this Saturday, May 5th, between the hours of 5pm and 7pm?   If the answer is "I have no idea!"- then why not sign up for our blast from the past workshop with artist Mary Garoutte- where you get to take a photo with a very retro device: the polaroid camera and then take that image even further with paint. All the supplies are included and you don't need any experience- just bring yourselves and have fun!

 Mary describes the workshop: 

This workshop is a fun & quirky way to merge both painting and photography. Utilizing the photographic source through classic Polaroid film, one can explore its unique limited palette and adaptability to be painted on. Topics explored will also cover composition considerations, as well as using this format as a preliminary work before embarking on a larger work or project.

Mary has been testing out her ideas and making some amazing creations..we can hardly wait to see what you create too!

Love the effects she is achieving with photo and paint....

This one is so ethereal and is a beacon to anyone living in HRM...the "cloud machine"..aka...Nova Scotia Power towers

Mary Garoutte is a local artist well known for her luminous oil paintings of buildings and people, with a very unique way of framing up images; almost magically playing with shadow and light. This workshop is different from others that we've hosted to date as the participants will get to explore the city with Mary and work with a variety of mediums.

TRY SOMETHING NEW.....life is about experiencing new things! Get in touch with us via gallery@argylefa.com or call 902-425-9456 and start your weekend off with art walking, talking, photographing, painting and general awesomeness.Cost is just $65!

ECMA Red Carpet: WE WON! Which means now YOU can WIN a night at the ECMA's!

We just found out that we WON first place in the East Coast Music Awards contest for BEST WINDOWS- where we are featuring shoe sculptures by artist Kim Danio that have come to life as the musical heroes they are!

We've got them all dressed up as Stan Frogers (Stan Rogers) and Joel PlasCAT Veternary Emergency (Joel Plaskett Emergency)! Here's one peek below...yes, that's a bee playing drums and Joel PlasCAT is playing a Canadian  Maple-Leaf-a-fied guitar and suitcase adorned with stickers showing his love of Dartmouth and the north end of Halifax too. 

Joel Plascat Veterinary Emergency ...from shoes by Kim Danio

HOW DO I WIN TICKETS FOR TWO TO THE AWARDS SHOW?

If you haven't seen the windows yet, make sure to drop by and snap a photo and post online using the hashtag #ECMA2018 and tag the gallery when you post to social media- Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! In return, we'll enter all entries into a draw to WIN two tickets to the red carpet affair on Thursday, May 3rd, 8pm.  ***DRAW WILL BE AT 2:30pm on THURSDAY.***

 We'll also be monitoring re-tweets and shares online so that even those not in the area can help spread the word...each one will be counted as one more entry to become the winner to what is sure to be an amazing night of music and humour, Nova Scotia styled this Thursday night!

GET SOCIAL MEDIA-ing! We can't wait to see your pictures too!

CLICK HERE to READ ALL ABOUT THE SHOW YOU CAN WIN

Stan Frogers playing at an old fashioned Nova Scotia kitchen party

A nighttime snap of the windows last week....

 

Get Outside with Danny Abriel

Oh my goodness, could it be? Is it finally, actually Spring? To help celebrate today's jacket-free weather we we're sharing some of Danny Abriel's paintings from his most recent show, Radiant Days, which is currently on at the gallery. You can see all of Danny's paintings from this show by clicking HERE.

Danny's works all feature local lakes and hiking spots, and we thought we'd help you get there! Here are some of the spots featured in Danny's pieces...

Grand Lake

First, Grand Lake! Located in Shubenacadie between Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Hants County, Grand Lake is the largest lake in the Shubenacadie Canal!

Grand Lake also features not one but two provincial parks - Laurie Provincial Park and Oakfield Provincial Park. (Click on the park names for more info about them.)

Sambro Head

Next up we have Sambro Head, which is located in the HRM between Ketch Harbour and Sambro. If you click HERE you can find some of the great trails around the area, that range from easy to moderate hikes.

Molega Lake

Then there's Molega Lake, which is located outside Bridgewater. Molega Lake is an interesting area as it's home to several endangered species, including the Eastern Ribbon Snake that doesn't have any significant populations anywhere else east of Quebec, and the Blanding Turtle, which nests in the area. You can explore Molega Lake along the Adventure Trail, more info HERE.

William's Lake

One of Halifax's hidden gems, William's Lake, located in Spryfield, makes you feel like you've left the suburbs behind despite behind perched atop them. A great little spot to go for a swim, William's Lake is a favourite amongst locals. HERE's cute little review of William's Lake by a visiting swimmer.

Point Pleasant

If you can't get out of the city fear not, Point Pleasant Park is your escape from the city within the city. Just adjacent to downtown Halifax, located in the cities South End, Point Pleasant Park is a great place to find some peace of mind when you need to get away from the business of the city and want to pet some cute dogs.

Danny's show continues until May 5th! Pop down today to see it when you're not on the trails!

Yada Yada Yada!

Pop culture of the past and present is artist Jodie Hansen's favourite thing to illustrate on her popular cards, prints, bookmarks, stickers and now even gift wrap! Yes- for just $6 you can own a 24"x 36" sheet of gift wrap of your favourite TV or Netflix stars, from the selection below:

Of course, you can get creative and use this gift wrap for other projects around the house where a touch of Seinfeld or Star Trek is needed. :-)  Some suggestions include using the sheet as a colouring sheet, using the paper in a decoupage project or you can pick up an inexpensive frame and hang the full sheet on the wall. ART doesn't have be expensive to be great and you are still supporting a local artist when you pick up one of these darlings.

The entire frame and gift wrap came in at just under $30...not too shabby!  Pair that with some stickers and a card, and you've got the best gift for a pop culture fan of all ages.

Happy Earth Day with New Art!

Tomorrow is Earth Day- April 22nd! A day to remind us to treat our planet with love and respect. We thought we'd share some new paintings by two emerging artists.

The first is artist Barbara O'Neil. These paintings are fresh and filled with lush green fields and open skies.

Storm Approaching, 16" x 16", Oil on Canvas by Barbara O'Neil

 
We met Barbara a few years ago, when she first submitted to our annual Pre-Shrunk show and ever since has also contributed to other group shows from time to time. We love meeting new emerging artists; it's so exciting to watch them develop and grow!

Out on the Dykes, 20" x 20", Oil on Canvas by Barbara O'Neil

We also just recently meet artist Catherine Bagnell-Styles and these two paintings below are fresh off the easel today!

Wharf Colours, 18" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas by Catherine Bagnell-Styles

Summer Light, 11" x 14", Acrylic on Canvas by Catherine Bagnell-Styles

We hope to host a series of talks with a few of the other commercial galleries beginning next month. Our topic will be all about emerging artists- as they have become our specialty. :-) Watch for the announcement on this exciting line- up of art chats about art!

Two Shows Opening Tonight- Join us!

Make sure to join us for the opening receptions for Danny Abriel and Sharon Cave tonight- Friday, April 13th, 6:30-8:30pm.  If you aren't able to make it in person, you can visit anytime throughout the duration of the show, which continues until May 4th.

VIEW the full shows  by CLICKING HERE

NOTE: Artist Sharon Cave is hosting a really interesting talk about her crow paintings and especially her muse- Mike the crow this Wednesday, April 18th, 7-8:30pm. All Welcomed!

Crows and City Birds with Sharon Cave

Artist Sharon Cave is busy as a bird in her studio at the moment! Not only does she have her show, "Conversations with an Urban Crow" opening on Friday, April 13th from 6:30-8:30pm, and an artist talk on Wednesday, April 18th, but she's also giving a workshop on drawing urban birds with pastels on Wednesday, May 2nd!

We're exhausted just thinking about it, but not Sharon. This talented artist is excited to show and share with you! Sharon has been busy working away in her studio getting ready for her show, which features her "pet" crow, Mikey.

Mikey

Sharon works primarily in oil paint and soft pastels. Known to many at the gallery for her series of wonderful chickens, Sharon first introduced us to her love of crows a few years ago during Pre-Shrunk 2017. Here Sharon talks about Mikey in her own words.

I like to think I have come to understand Mikey and understand his moods a little over this time. I enjoy trying to capture his personality and body language; his tilts of the head and facial expressions. The more I see, the more I tend to anthropomorphize… The more I want to connect.

Mikey having a snack.

As mentioned above, in addition to her show and talk Sharon is also teaching a workshop (more info about our workshops HERE), about drawing city birds with soft pastels. Here are a few examples of Sharon's city bird soft pastel studies...

Starling

Seagull

Sharon's workshop is filling up fast, so give us a call today to register (902-425-9456)! And we'll you on Friday the 13th for the opening!

Anatomy of a Frog

Artist Kim Danio is like no other we know. Who else makes incredible creations out of shoes? Now that Spring is here the earth is slowly waking up and we can almost hear the peepers chirping!

Shoe Toad by Kim Danio

This Earth Day (April 22nd from 11am-2pm) we invite you to join Kim for her workshop where she'll teach you the tricks of her exclusive trade by teaching you how to make a frog or a toad out of a reclaimed shoe! All supplies are included for only $75. It's a great way to repurpose, learn a new skill and make something special for yourself or as a gift for someone you love. For more info on Kim's workshop, and our other workshops by clicking HERE or on the WORKSHOPS in 2018! tab above. Call us to register today!

Strawberry Poison Dart Frog by Kim Danio

Kim has generously shared some froggy process shots of creating a cute Red Eyed Tree Frog with us to share with you! This isn't your high school science class...

The beginning...

Interesting, interesting...

Oh, I see what you're doing there...

And then there was form!

A little coat of paint...

I think it needs a hug?

Almost there...

Ahhhh! Hello buddy!

Wow! There really is no other artist like Kim! Sign up for Kim's workshop today to create a cute hoppy critter, to keep unwanted shoes out of landscapes and celebrate spring and Earth Day!

Also hop into the gallery to see more of Kim's new shoe pieces, or see them by clicking HERE, like THIS UNICORN!!!!!

My childhood dreams and desires captured in one fantastic art piece!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

.....This just IN!   Because a bunch of us have celebrated our birthday's in the span of just a few days of one another (Adriana, Caitlin and Gordon MacDonald) we will be serving up delicious eclairs for anyone that drops by this Saturday, March 30th from noon until they are gone- made by our neighbours, The Old Apothecary! 

EGGspecially if you are a fellow ARIES like our cutie GREEBS like this little guy featured below (lots to choose from btw)! You simply must drop by!

Please drop by and celebrate with us, and while here pick up a locally made card or print, an Easter gift, some chocolate or choose from a variety of works of art ranging in prices for everyone. Just look at these EGGstra special bookmarks by Jodie Hansen where you get to decorate your eggs with sparkles!

Join in our EASTER EGG HUNT from noon until all the eggs are found....one will include a gift certificate for $50...but all will have chocolate, so everyone is a winner!  

See you soon from all of us chicks!

HOP for Joy: New Works by Kim Danio have arrived!

It's almost Easter weekend for many, and look what just hopped into the gallery? These adorable bunnies by Kim Danio! All made from re-purposed shoes and gloves. Isn't it so interesting that each of these little darlings seem to have a very unique personality?  Each bunny is just $95 and looking for a new home...perhaps with you?

We've also just received two llamas- also made from shoes. Actually in this case, a pair of fuzzy boots. We are constantly amazed at how Kim keeps outdoing the last thing she created!

We also just met these goats! Awwwwwwwwwwwww....

And last but certainly not the least, ....the UNICORN! 

Honestly, if the art of Kim Danio doesn't bring a smile to your face, you need to really consider what's wrong with your life. :-) Such happiness art can bring!  

Let your imagination run wild- let Kim's art inspire!

Chocolate Party: Art made from Chocolate with a Techy Twist

Finally you can have your ART and eat it too! Join us for our Chocolate Party with Chocolate Hackers on Saturday, March 24^th, 1:30-3:30pm and see a work of art made up of  “pixels of chocolate” and their Gaming Egg just in time for Easter. 

 

For just $8+tax you can experience for yourself the unique flavours of their chocolate made with the finest chocolate of Madagascar as well as cute chocolate bars that are naturally colored and flavored with REAL fruits & flowers. Buy tickets in advance at Argyle Fine Art or drop by the day of for the tastings. Limited tickets will be sold, so best to reserve ahead of time at 902-425-9456 or emailing us at gallery@argylefa.com  

Meet the makers Cecile and Stan Mozoluk and learn all about their products and process. They will be chatting a bit about what makes their chocolate different from others!

 The chocolate painting will be on display in our gallery windows from March 23^rd-March 29^th. It will also be for sale, along with some other bars and treats egg-specially for Easter.  We don't have a sneak peek at it yet...but can hardly wait!

Upon meeting the Chocolate Hackers, of course, we wondered was there a connection to computers and technology? In this era of Minecraft , we found it interesting they are using blocks of coloured chocolate much like in digital imaging, with pixels which are  minute area of illumination on a display screen, one of many from which an image is composed.

“We take our inspiration from the challenges of modern technologies. With the emergence of data and AI, a revolution is coming that will affect our jobs, our lives. When robots are threatening to think, create, write better than we do, we just want to seek for happiness & fulfilment in making. Something real, shaped with our hands. Avid chocolate & food lovers, we’ve created Chocolate Hackers to express ourselves with our favorite material chocolate, willing to reconnect innovation & nature.”

So make sure to HOP on over next Saturday to pick up some Easter treats, cards, lots of new art and more – all by local artists.

We’ll also have our annual Easter Egg art hunt, within the gallery where we hide eggs with special treats and one BIG egg with a $50 gift certificate inside.