Dave and I just returned from the annual Portrait Society of America Conference. We had a blast and met many amazing artists. Congratulations to all the finalists and prizewinners in the competition! This year for the first time the PSA hosted a secret art sale. Past prizewinners and finalists in the annual portrait competition were invited to paint a 6x9 painting to be donated to the art sale fundraiser. The identity of each artist remained secret until the painting was purchased. The whole sale was over in about fifteen minutes flat, even though there must have been a hundred paintings. The painting I donated is Lucy in three fourths view, a study for a future painting.

I am now represented by Howard Schepp Fine Art in Palm Desert, California. It is a beautiful and inviting gallery located right in the heart of the gallery district.

I have been notified that “Olivia” has received Honourable Mention in the annual Portrait Society of America Members Only competition.

Dave and I will be participating in the Salon des Refuses in the Robert Macklin Gallery in Kingston, Ontario. The content of the show will be portraits and figures by Canadian artists and will coincide with the Kingston Portrait Prize exhibit. The original concept of the show was to exhibit artists whose work did not make it into the finalist tier of the Kingston Portrait Prize, but has expanded to include many portrait artists. Dave’s drawing is featured on the invitation below.

My painting “Old Music” was recently in Southwest Art Magazine. I was a finalist in the Annual 21 Under 31 Competition, which showcases twenty-one emerging artists under the age of thirty-one. My friend Kristy Gordon was also a finalist with her painting “Raven.” We were the only non-Americans to make the cut (high five, Kristy!)

My episode of Star Portraits will air on October 24th on Bravo! All episodes can be watched on the show’s website for free after they have been aired.

Dave and I are both ecstatic that we have been invited to participate in this year's Hudson River Fellowship led by Jacob Collins of the Grand Central Academy. It will be a rare opportunity to study with some members of the next generation of realist painters, not to mention to study under Jacob Collins himself. We will spend the month of July in the Catskills of New York painting and drawing from nature and retracing the footsteps of the original painters of the Hudson River School.

Filming for a new tv show called Star Portraits has wrapped up and will be aired in Fall 2009. The program is brought to us by PTV Productions, Inc. and Bravo!, and is hosted by Louise Pitre. The concept behind the show is that in each episode a Canadian celebrity is recruited to model for three Canadian artists. The celebrity picks the winning piece after the artist has had two weeks to work on it. It's a great idea and it's nice for Canadian artists to get a chance to shine in mainstream media. Or bask in the reflected glory of the celebrities--however you see it.
I was paired with Debbie Travis, "The Queen of Paint," who proved to be a very interesting and engaging sitter. Two weeks went by quickly and the paint had barely dried by the time I had to deliver the painting. It was a very interesting experience and I can't wait to see the show.

I recently donated one of my Firefly giclees to the 1st Annual Hamilton Timeraiser. It was a unique concept, wherein volunteers bid hours for pieces of artwork. It's been an interesting experience donating giclees to various fundraisers and causes.

Opening night of the first annual members' salon of the Canadian Society of Classical Realism was spectacular. The place was packed, the food and wine were amazing, and the show itself was presented beautifully. Many thanks for the Behind-the-Scenes work of Gary Roy and Rosa Graci, and for the cooperative and willing spirit of all the artists involved. I think the first salon made a splash.

I am participating in the annual Portrait Society of Canada members show. Details are as follows.

My husband and I will be participating in the first annual members' show of the new Canadian Society of Classical Realism, which will be held at the Carrier Gallery. We are very excited to be participating in a show with all of the other amazing artists who have been invited to be a part of this unique organization. My studio-mate Mina dela Cruz is among them and will also be participating.

I have received an Honourable Mention for my painting "The Firefly" which was recently entered in the Portrait Society of America's annual Members' Showcase Competition.

I was in an interview with journalist Robyn Young in Metro Toronto on December 8th. My husband Dave sat in on the interview and gave his two cents on Robyn's questions about the art biz. It was a fun experience and my thanks go out to Robyn for writing a wonderful article.

This post is a little overdue, but on the December 6th I was awarded First Place for my self-portrait in the Portrait Society of Canada competition. I was also awarded People's Choice award, bringing in $1000 and $500 in prize money respectively. Among the judges were Veronica Tsyglan, Dan Thompson, Yuqi Wang, Juan Martinez, and Marjorie Morton. From left to right in the photo below is Marina Dieul in second place, Mahmoud Meraji who took Best in Show, myself, and Kristy Gordon in third place. Thanks to Canadian Brushstroke Magazine for the photo.

I've just been awarded Best in Show for the current Richeson 75: Still Life and Floral Competition. The competition was judged by marine artist Donald Demers and the prize is $3000 cash.

I've been accepted into the International Guild of Realism! This is great news. Being a member opens up a whole new network to me and will grant me some very interesting exhibiting opportunities.

I've been reading International Artist Magazine since I was in junior high and now I finally have a piece of my own in it. I came in as a Finalist in the recent Still Life and Floral Competition with my painting, "Blossom." Below is my page from the October/November 2008 issue.

"Old Music" has been selected as a finalist for the Richeson 75: Still Life and Floral Competition and show this fall. It has been shipped to the Richeson gallery where it will be eligible for an award on November 17th.

"The Inspired Line" was a success and the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts staged an excellent and inviting show with the help of the Roys. We were even lavished with faint praise in the Hamilton Spectator. Below are some photos from the opening night.

As I said in my last entry, Dave and I will be participating in a show at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts. Below is the invitation with the details printed on the reverse. The opening is September 5th from 7 to 9:30 pm. I hope to see some familiar faces.

My husband and I will be participating in the upcoming group art show at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts. Opening night is September 5th and coincides with the Hamilton Art Walk, so it is well worth the trek out to Hamilton if you are Toronto-based. Keep posted for the invitation postcard, which will appear here in a day or two.

The creators of "Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing Light and Shadow" will be issuing a second book, and I have just been notified that my drawing of Maddy has been accepted into this new publication. I am honoured to have been chosen and look forward to appearing in the book along with my husband, David Gluck, and my studio-mate, Mina Dela Cruz.

My drawing of my sister, "Jill", has been awarded first place in the mixed media category of the Richeson 75 Portrait and Figure Competition. "Jill" will be hanging in the Richeson gallery until August along with my painting "The Firefly". As well, my studio-mate Mina dela Cruz placed first in the drawing category--more information is available here. Two points for Adelaide Street Studio!

I will be participating in the very first show of the brand new Galleria 814. The opening celebration is to take place on Thursday, June 18th from 6pm to 10pm. Please see the map below. Swing by and take a look at what I've been up to lately!


View Larger Map

I have just been notified that I have been selected as a finalist for the Richeson 75: Figure and Portraiture Competition. All three of my submitted pieces have been accepted into the juried show which will take place in June. The winners will be selected at that point.
My painting, "The Firefly," will finally get a chance to be displayed, as well as the drawing of my sister, "Jill". "Papa (frontal)" will not be shown, but all three will appear in the hardcover catalogue.

The Portrait Society of America Conference in Philadelphia this past weekend was incredible. It was an amazing thing to see so many well-known artists all in one spot. Better yet, I got to meet several of them. This is where I should shamelessly name-drop, right?




Above are the recipients of the Award of Excellence. I am the second from the left.

Below, Dave and I mug for the camera.

I have just been notified that I will be receiving a Certificate of Excellence for my self-portrait from the Portrait Society of America. This is amazing news and Dave and I can't believe it. We will be attending the Art of the Portrait Conference in Philadelphia in April, where the awards ceremony will take place.

The Expo was a success and I would like to extend thanks to everyone who came by. Dave, the self-proclaimed Chief Director of Sales, sold three of my paintings.

Thanks go out to Mina and Adina, who generously helped me set up at the Expo, and to Adina and Pat for the beautiful frames.

I will be exhibiting in the Toronto Art Expo this March. Most major paintings from the past year will be on display and for sale. The opening night is Thursday, March 6, and the show runs until Sunday. If anyone would like a get-in-free invitation, please get in touch soon. For more details, visit the Toronto Art Expo website.