Featured Artist: Maryam Sadrolhefazi

Maryam Sadrolhefazi

Online Gallery: www.strikingly.com/maryamsadrolhefazi

Contact: maryam.sadrolhefazi@gmail.com

  

Like many people today, Maryam has a fond love of the visual arts. She says...

 

 This is probably a result of my growing up in Tehran, Iran where I was surround by a beautiful and vibrant culture. When I came to Canada, I decided to pick up a hobby to pass the time while raising my two kids. I had always been interested in stained glass. After a bit of research and a lot of support from my husband I gave it a shot, slowly teaching myself the techniques. After a couple of years I did the same with mosaic art. The rest as they say, is rock and roll history....

 

 

 Today I have turned what started off as a hobby into a business. Aside from my studio work, I teach stained glass and mosaics courses for the town of Richmond Hill. I also run a series of elementary school mosaics programs called "Mosaic Club".

Where were you born? 

 Tehran - Iran

If you could have an art related vacation anywhere in the world where would you go and why? 

I’d go to Italy for the beautiful architecture 

What’s your favourite thing to create and why?

Paisleys because they are a flexible shape that can be designed in many ways

How did you get your start in the world of art?

It started off as a simple hobby and evolved into a career

Do you have go-to paints/colors that you love to use in your art work?

I love the colours of fall

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

Working with the Art Science Collective Canada

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Never say you can’t do something

Thank you Maryam

Featured Artist: Olena Lopatina

  Olena Lopatina

Website: art-3000.com/artist/?id=807

Contact (phone or e mail)   olenalopatina@yahoo.ca

 

Where were you born?

Ukraine

 

If you could have an art related vacation anywhere in the world where would you go and why? 

I will go on trip around Canada. I love Canadian Landscape

 

What’s your favourite thing to create and why?

My favorite always was and is now landscape. Nothing as perfect and so inspirational as nature.

 

How did you get your start in the world of art?

 I started painting on mirror with butter when I was a baby. Russian words for oil and butter are same - 'oil'. And my mom always telling me that I start paint with oil from birth.

 

Do you have go-to paints/colors that you love to use in your art work?

I like warm colors. And even if my work doesn't look warm, they about light and light always warm.

 

 

Who has been your biggest inspiration as an artist?

My biggest inspiration is my mom. She never become a professional artist but she has talent.

And later I found many others artists who became my teachers in art indirectly.

 

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

To talk about my crowning achievements is like writing memoirs . I am not ready for this yet.

 

 

If you could have three wishes as an artist, what would they be?

I wish that all art will be a happy art. Happy art makes people happier.

 

 

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

There are no bad colors, there are bad artists.

 

What colour best describes your personality?

 

blue-green

 

Thank you Olena

Featured Artist Vladimir Lopatin

   Vladimir Lopatin

Website:  http://art-3000.com/artist/?id=1434

Contact (phone or e mail)   (416) 884-0317,  lvilart@yahoo.ca

Where were you born? 

 Leningrad, Russia

 If you could have an art related vacation anywhere in the world where would you go and why? 

 Romania. I love mountains of Old Karpaty

What’s your favourite thing to create and why?

 I love to create art fantasy because I like to be philosophical.

How did you get your start in the world of art?

I saw the sculptures of Erzia in Museum.

Do you have go-to paints/colors that you love to use in your art work?

I love the colors of  a rainbow 

Who has been your biggest inspiration as an artist?  

Stepan Dmitrievich Erzia (Nefyodov). He was a Mordvin sculptor who lived in Russia and Argentina.

November 8 1876 – 24 November 1959

If you could have three wishes as an artist, what would they be?

Love, happiness and understanding 

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Analyze your own mistakes.

What colour best describes your personality?

Ocean blue

 Thank you Vladimir

Feature Artist: Jette Cott

Featured Artist

Jette Cott

Website: www.jetteknudsencott.com 

                        Contact: jettecott@gmail.com

  Jette Knudsen Cott came to Canada from Denmark with her parents and siblings in the 1950s. All her life, she has been passionate about the beauty of the world around her and what she could do to make it more so.


Since 2001, when she retired from her long career as a creative stylist in the hair and fashion fields, Jette has been devoting her time to painting. She works primarily in acrylics and water colours.
Jette draws much of her inspiration from everyday visions such as nature’s scenery, children at play, florals and still life. Her craft brings her incredible joy and the she enjoys the enthusiasm for her work of those who collect it.
She has shown her work at the Mill Pond Gallery in Richmond Hill and participates annually in a variety of juried, group and solo shows. She has been selected in juried shows in Toronto, Aurora, Oakville, Uxbridge, Port Perry and East Gwillimbury. Jette has received numerous awards including ‘Best in Category’.
Where were you born? 
 Odense, Denmark

What’s your favourite thing to create and why?

I love painting floral portraits. Closeups. Animal portraits. Reason is I have had the most success with this. I tend to stay with realism, but occasionally venture into representational abstract images. From still life to landscapes.

How did you get your start in the world of art?
 I did not start fine art until I retired from hairstyling. (1961 to 2001) By chance I came to The Mill Pond Gallery for a weekend show, and signed up to be a member. I'm still there and loving it.

Who has been your biggest inspiration as an artist? 
 My sister who did decorative painting for years. Also the wonderful local art teachers I have taken art classes and workshops with. I love Robert Bateman's work. Helen Lukas's and Bobbie Burgess fabulous florals.

What have been some of your crowning achievements?

Winning twice "best in category" in acrylic painting in Aurora was exciting. However, above that I value most the process of learning art techniques, and finding my own path in the art world.

If you could have three wishes as an artist, what would they be?
 Creating  a real body of work.
                  More time to paint.
                  On location (painting trip), anywhere warm.

What is the best advice that you have received as an artist?

Stick with what you do best.

What colour best describes your personality?
Depends on the day. I'm a rainbow of colours, with lots of sunshine dominating.