In December's newsletter I am offering 2 free copies of exhibition books - a copy of 'The Grandmothers Project' and a copy of 'Woman's Work'. If you are interested in one (or both) copies, please get in touch via my 'Contact' page here. If you are interested in joining the newsletter please click here.

For #the100dayproject I completed 100 miniature portraits of 100 historical female artists (plus a couple of extras). What a joy it was! Using a limited palette of 3 colours, I painted a portrait a day and shared their stories and then they were packed into mint tins to be exhibited at Sparrow Artspace. They are now available through the shop in my website here. And they fit perfectly into the mini frames available at Michaels. :)

“There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe,
a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude and peace.”

~ Sigurd F. Olson

As I've been painting these miniature interiors, I keep thinking of Virginia Woolf. Her book titled 'A Room of Her Own' is one that I read often as it inspires me to remember how important it is to have my own space in this world.

The bottom right painting is actually a spot in my studio and, funnily enough, is filled with free furniture...a chair I picked up off the street, cleaned and repaired; a fireplace mantle that a neighbor was going to bring to the dump; an area rug that belonged to my daughter; a stool that a friend passed along before moving. Nothing here was an investment of funds nor did it come quickly, and yet it is one of my favourite spaces.

The painting in the upper left is s spot in my daughter's room - her chair was once a wedding gift that my mother-in-law passed along to us and which I recovered with a remnant piece of fabric from my sister-in-law; the cabinet was given to us by my parents, and much of the fabric inside it was gifted to my daughter by friends and family.

Though the items in the other two images were purchased throughout the years by my husband and I, they still came slowly so that we could choose items with care. Our homes are important places so surrounding ourselves with things that mean something to us is vital. It doesn't have to cost a lot (if anything at all) but it just needs to make us feel comfortable, welcome and safe.

I am so honoured to have the 'Extraordinary Women' project exhibited at the Museum of Wayward Girls alongside Mandy Stobo's paintings (she's also the creator of 'Bad Portraits'). It is such a privilege to be included in such wonderful company and to be represented by such an amazing woman. Rebecca Melenka, curator and author, can be found on her website at The Absinthe Minded Curator and her fabulous space at Shedpoint which is an incredible collaborative space in Calgary.

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EXHIBIT: November 10 - December 10, 2023

It's been three years and the 'Nasty Women' project is still being featured in each issue of 'In Her Studio' magazine which fills me with so much joy! That project was a huge undertaking, consisting of 100-8x10 inch portraits of women that I was connected to in just 100 days. It was amazing to be able to paint these women as I believe that being seen is an important part of feeling grounded in this world. Thank you 'In Her Studio'...it is a real privilege.

Join me to paint a canoe using a limited palette and a variety of tools.
Now available on the Mastrius YouTube channel...you can watch it here.