You are cordially invited to my Open Studio Days at the Blackburn Studio this June!
For the first time ever, I’ll be opening my heritage portrait painting studio to the public for 2 select days.
Located in an impeccably restored 1905 Queen Anne Revival mansion in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood of Ottawa, the studio is traditionally set up, with a north-facing mullioned window reminiscent of a Vermeer painting.
Experience the dramatic original wooden carved staircase leading to the third floor studio space and that Billy Bishop would have walked daily while living here during World War II.
Art is meant to be seen in person
While the wonders of technology allow you to view my work from anywhere in the world, there is so much detail and nuance lost via computer screen.
- The texture and lusciousness of oil paint.
- The glow of colours that cameras and screens can’t even capture.
- The emotional impact that comes from standing in front of art in person.
None of these things can be replicated by technology.
In a world that seems to go faster every day, where our phones won’t leave us alone, I invite you to step outside of the chaos for a moment.
To slow down.
To look.
To savour.
Watch the process unfold
I’ll be live painting throughout the day. Come find out what goes into creating a painting – see the palette, the brushes and ask all of your burning questions about how I do what I do (no question is too small or “stupid”!)
As a teacher, I have the neat trick of being able to paint and talk at the same time and I love answering questions about art.
Event Details
Date 1: Sunday June 14
Date 2: Sunday June 21
Time: 11am-4pm
Location: 5 Blackburn Ave (corner of Blackburn & Laurier), Ottawa
Link to Google Maps
Parking: There’s plenty of free street parking in the neighbourhood, both directly on the street and on the nearby streets. Please do not park in the building parking lot as that is reserved for the tenants of the building.
Accessibility Note: the studio is located on the third floor of the building and there are no ramps or escalators (this is the unfortunate downside of historic buildings). There are 7 steps to enter the building via the porch, and then 8 flights of stairs to reach the third floor as the ceilings are quite high.
