Flight Sergeant L. J. O. Roberts was a WWII bomber pilot brought down in May 1942. At the time, his younger sister was only around 12 years old and for over 70 years she kept an envelope in her dresser of her older brother’s items and various military keepsakes. Recently, her son Lloyd brought in the collection of military memorabilia … Read the article
Oil painting and the history of landscape art
It is commonly known in the artistic community that oil paint is used for its stability, depth of colour, flexibility, textural variety and slow-drying nature. The medium can be used in a range of techniques, from thin glazes diluted with turpentine to dense thick impasto. This enables artists to work on a painting over several days. Added to these benefits … Read the article
The Art of Stone Carving
Initially, stone carving was believed to have been created in the Paleolithic era – 10,000 BC. However, there have been subsequent discoveries, one of which was the stone sculpture – the Venus of Hohle Fels, which was discovered in southwestern Germany in 2008 and was made between 33,000 and 38,000 years ago. Another known ancient art, is a set of … Read the article
Beautiful Autumn Colours Depicted in Art
Autumn is an inspiration for many artists to paint due to the season’s transitionary nature. The Fall season is symbolic of plenty, ripening, harvest, and abundance, but also a symbol of decay, decline, old age, and even death. It has associations of things being past their prime. It is also a time of contemplation and celebration of life in a … Read the article
The History and Art of Landscape Painting
In essence, landscape painting is the depiction of nature and natural scenery. Landscapes have been painted since ancient times with the Greeks and Romans creating wall paintings of natural scenic elements. The independent genre of landscape can be found as far back as 4th century China. However, it did not emerge into Western culture until the Renaissance in the 16th … Read the article
Graduation – You earned it – why not display it!
Graduation is a momentous rite of passage for our children, whether they are attending school, college, or university. It celebrates their hard work, dedication, and perseverance and is a visual and tangible representation of their academic journey. The individual regalia also highlights an appreciation for the knowledge, guidance, and support of the specific institution. This life event is worth celebrating … Read the article
Happy birthday Canada! – Discover where the word Canada comes from
This year the 1st of July marks the 156th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. There will be celebrations across this vast continent for many people. The celebration itself was initially known as Dominion Day, the national holiday of Canada. It was brought about after discussions on the possibility of a confederation between the colonies of British North America throughout the … Read the article
History of Miniature Paintings
In honour of our upcoming Masterpieces in Miniature Exhibition in May 2023, we are looking at the history of miniature paintings. The origins can be traced back to the 9th – 10th century Western India, where images were found on palm leaf manuscripts in the Buddhist Pala period. These were thought to be influenced by mural paintings. Subsequently, during the … Read the article
What do you know about art? – Here’s an easy way to learn
Life is a constant learning curve with many topics, as well as experiences and art is no exception. We can all appreciate a painting by merely looking at it. What is not known, by mere sight, however, are the plethora of styles, mediums and compositions. After all art appreciation centers around the ability to view art throughout history, focusing on … Read the article
Emergence into Spring
As Albertan’s we know the length of our winters and the ‘false’ spring’s that promise warmth and then dash our hopes. When the actual release of winter’s grip arrives there is an emergence, much like a bear from hibernation, into the outside world. The first flush of chlorophyll is a welcomed sight with leaf buds unfurling on grey branches, and … Read the article