Christmas is Almost Here!

Have a look at the new GlassArt stocking stuffers made at Posers Gallery:

Halloween 2011!

Here's my grandchildren, Tristan (as a ghostbuster!) and Stella (as a pink poodle!)!

Fall Fusing Clases at Posers!

Check out this fall's students' fusing glass projects!

Niagara Falls and Peninsula Vacation!

My husband and I just returned from six days in the Niagara Peninsula which included Niagara Falls. We had a great time. We visited many, many wineries and brought back a good selection of Ice Wine. I love Ice Wine! One of the wineries we visited was the Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery. Here is a picture of that Ice Wine we picked up there.

Luncheon Baby Shower for Meredith & Stella!

Customize a free digital scrapbook

The Masters Exhibit - Art History Month

We have a real exciting exhibit for the month of May!  Reproductions of the Classic Master Artists!  Here's the line up:  Dali, Klimt, Monet, Waterhouse, Van Gogh, Magritte, Manet, Kandinsky, Leighton, de Lampicka, and (if it comes in time) Picasso!  Posers Gallery  has added a brief art history write-up on each artist to brush everyone up on their historical events.  Remember these are reproductions, not the originals.  What is a reproduction?  A reproduction is a 100% hand-painted oil painting on canvas done by art masters, in their own right, to create the same brushstrokes, colour tones and style of an original fine piece of artwork.  They are beautiful to see and even more enchanting to own.  Come down to Posers Gallery during the month of May to view these 18 pieces of art.  Here is an example of what you will see:

"Elements" Premiere Exhibit Friday, March 18 7-9 pm

Tonight we will see a new unique form of art - "metalart" by the artist Chris Peters. He's local and will be showing us what he can create from steel. He has a background in metal and welding, but tonight it's all art!

Joining Chris will be Corneleus Friesen, acrylic artist. He has been yielding to his passion of painting this past year and we will be able to see the results.

Sunday At The Gallery! Posers Gallery That Is!

Posers Gallery is trying something new! Music at the Gallery on a Sunday afternoon - this Sunday afternoon, March 6th from 2 to 4 pm. Janna & Friends will be here for your artistic browsing entertainment!

Janna Banman is a singer/songwriter from Morden. She has been writing songs since she was 17 and expresses herself through her lyrics and melodies. She is now studying music at the University of Manitoba, and is involved in musical theatre and choir, as well as her own solo work in classical music and original tunes. She has been all around Canada and Manitoba singing in choirs, and is travelling to Finland and Sweden this May with University Singers directed by Dr. Elroy Friesen.

Over the past year, Janna has performed at coffee houses and open-mic events in Winnipeg. Joining her this Sunday will be Steven Webb on piano, Elle Salvalaggio on vox and Nathan Roberts on violin.

Join us for the first of maybe many this year at Posers Gallery!

Sparkleberry Boutique in Altona

I just put two and two together! Sparkleberry Boutique (which I bought a crocheted hat recently for my soon-to-be granddaughter to be born May 4th!) is in Altona! Not far away at all! Check out her blog:

http://www.sparkleberryboutique.blogspot.com/

Also the photographer for her hats is Kristel Buechert! If you remember our Fundraiser for the 2010 calendars for Pembina Pregnancy Care Centre? The photographer was Kristel Buechert! Small world! Some of the children in her pictures for the hats are Kristel's girls. Check out Kristel's website here:

http://www.kristelbueckertphotography.com/

"With An Artist's Eye"

3 Venues, 4 Art Forms, 5 Artists!

Explore the varied ways artists view the world and express themselves through their chosen art form!

Get to know three of the creative businesses in Morden Saturday, March 19th from 10 am to 5 pm.

Posers Gallery - Chris Peters - metalwork artist; Corneleus Friesen - artist; Esther Hildebrand - acrylic artist;

Pembina Hills Art Centre - Judith Voth - photographer;

Quilters' Den - Cynthia England - textile landscapes.

Visit ALL 3 venues to enter a draw to win a value of $75 in gift certificates.

Something Spring? Something Bamboo?

Painting with liquid glass is becoming very rewarding for me. I really enjoy the finished look, as you can see with this liquid glass painted bamboo image on a fused glass plate.

More Glass Coasters

Glass Coasters!

Of course Posers has been creating glass coasters for the past year and a half, but now we've created a new take on the glass coaster. Why not bigger for a more decorative look by your computer, at work, and on the kitchen counter? Look at these cute 6" glass coasters for $21 CAD the next time you need a little gift for someone special or for yourself!

When all else fails...

Use "The Instant Art Critique Phrase Generator"!

http://www.pixmaven.com/phrase_generator.html

Critiquing Artwork!

I am, all too often, being asked to critique artwork! Me, a "jack of all trades" artist! My brother would immediately laugh out loud. I quickly say to people, "everyone is a critic in their own right" and conclude with "just because I own an art gallery, this does not make me an art critic". But nothing ever deters the oncoming response, "but I would really like your opinion!" So I gently proceed with, "if you wish to send me pics by email, I'll see what I can do". Artists are so eager to hear critical opinion, and yet what will they do with it? Some actually use it to better their craft, others feel it's their right to debate you, while yet others secum to the end result, "maybe I'm just not good enough".

I know what I think I like on any given day! Is that critical enough? It certainly makes me sound critical, critical enough to be misunderstood. But I like what I like when I see something I like! Most people are this way. When you have to make it a function or force in your life to find out why and what you like, then it changes into a formal critique, and that's what the artist is wanting I suppose.

If you need criticism from people: strangers, onlookers, anyone who dare, then remember where you live, who you are, the time of the year, who you are asking, which venue you are needing, the reason for your search, and just accept it as just people's opinion. I truly do not understand what makes one person's art better than another based on some formula. Because individual opinion is always part of it and how do you distinquish it apart from the art itself, other than using some pre-formed formula. And price is another breed of intrepretation all its own as well! We won't go there today.

Well, this is what I think all artists need to do: Enjoy the time they work at their art, always take continuing classes to better their work, put it aside for a few days and then look at it again for editing, adding or junking it, and then when all is said and done, feel good about the decision they've made with the end result of their artwork.

Artwork is its own retreat for an individual. It may be you will do this art/craft for a season in your life, maybe as a "holiday" away from stress periodically throughout your life, as a need to complete something unfinished in your life, or just simply because you enjoy it. Writing, painting, or constructing are all part of what makes us an individual.

Art is personal - and if it becomes popular, then there is something in the air that more than one person inhales at the same time, making it a viral affect catching groups into a frenzy of ectasy needing to have that item!

This is my critique on critiquing artwork!

Fusing Classes Begin Again for 2011!

A new group chooses to learn how to fuse glass and express their artistic creations through glass! Wait to see their new artwork! Here's mine for the first in 2011!

New GlassArt at Posers!

Happy New Year!

We are back from Christmas Vacation and trust everyone had a great holiday season - ready for another new year!