JONATHAN BALL, "Untitled", acrylic, #32

Johnathan Ball was born in 1983, in Toronto, Canada. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in 2006. Living and working in Toronto, Johnathan has received acclaim for his illustrations, graffiti and paintings. He works primarily in oil, but also uses mixed media, aerosol, and airbrush. His artwork reflects his unique mixed heritage, as well as, his love for graffiti, pop culture and occult themes. Due to his often controversial content, some of his pieces have been banned from display.
Johnathan was born with a diverse background which enriches his work. His mother was born in Kalkuta, India and was the daughter of a wealthy Anglican print factory owner and an Iraqi Jew. His father was born in Newfoundland to Protestant parents. As a child he was introverted and found fitting in to be very difficult.

He developed a passion for visual arts at a young age. Since his youth, he has consistently painted as well as taught illustration and fine art. Johnathan drew inspiration from his rich heritage: a heritage that had contributed great influence.

WILLIAM BIDDLE, "A Visit to Newfoundland", watercolour, #24

 

 William Biddle was born and raised in Hamilton. His interest in art began at an early age and this same interest led him to an apprenticeship in the design department of a lithographic firm, followed by studies at the Art Student’s League in New York City.

 Bill ran his own illustration studio in Toronto until 1988. Today Bill works from his Dunnville studio, inspired by such artist / illustrators as Norman Rockwell, Lyndecker, Corwell, Flagg, Sargent and Homer. Now retired from the Ontario College of Art & Design, Bill teaches classes in both drawing and watercolour at his Gallery William Biddle in Dunnville, Springbank Visual Art Centre and the Dundas Valley School of Art. His watercolours are rich in detailed observations of nature, architecture or human behaviour.

 Artist’s Statement:

 “For me, a sense of Nostalgia seems to strike a cord close to home, directly for some, and imaginary for others, providing a story-telling quality that makes the viewer feel a greater part of the scenario.”

HAROLD TOWN, "The Galaxy" single autographic print", # 42

Harold Town (1924-1990) was a very important Canadian painter, draughtsman and printmaker. He was born in Toronto and studied at the Western Technical School and the Ontario College of Art. He exhibited widely, holding over 100 one-man shows beginning in 1954. His vast body of work comprises paintings, etchings, lithographs, collages, drawings and works in other media. He was a founding member of Painters Eleven, the group of artists who helped to introduce Canadians to abstract art in the 1950’s. This group of Toronto abstract expressionist painters which included Jack Bush and William Ronald took their cues from contemporary post-war American artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothe, and Willem de Kooning. Throughout his career he remained a focus of controversy for his original artwork, flamboyant public persona and outspoken opinions.

   Town gained international recognition for his technically inventive "single autographic prints" which he made from 1953 to 1959. They won awards in Ljubljana (Yugoslavia) and Santiago (Chile), were acquired by the Solomon Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (both New York City), and led Alfred Barr of the latter museum to consider Town one of the world's greatest printmakers.
   Collections: AGF Management Limited, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada Council Art Bank, Cineplex Odeon Corporation, Coopers & Lybrand, Imperial Oil of Canada, Imperial Life Assurance Company of Canada, London Regional Art Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Montreal Museum of Art, New York, National Gallery of Canada, Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, Sarnia Public Library and Art Museum, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery.

TOLLER CRANSTON, "The Yes or No Twig", serigraph 31/200, #37

Toller Cranston, born in Hamilton, Canada, is widely acclaimed as the most influential figure skater of this century. His birthday falls between the astrological sign of the sportsmen (Aries) and the artist (Taurus).

Toller is something of a modern-day Renaissance man. A lifetime of remarkable achievements make this artist extraordinary: Olympic medalist; Member of the Order of Canada; three-time world free-skating champion; Canadian Athlete of the Year; internationally-known painter, illustrator, author, designer, choreographer, commentator and star of award-winning television specials and films. These credits are merely the tip of the creative iceberg. As an artist, Mr. Cranston is highly respected by his peers and has exhibited in many prestigious galleries around the world.

Truly the "skater with the painter's eye," his skating and art have always been interconnected, with one passion feeding the other. His paintings - like his skating - are vibrant, bold, and dramatic. Many of his internationally recognized paintings deal with skating themes; his work appears in the World Figure Skating Museum, and the International Skating Union hosted a one-man exhibition of his work in conjunction with the 1997 World Championships.

Now in his early 50's, Cranston splits his time between his home in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and his loft in Toronto, where he paints canvases for sale at his Toronto art gallery.

MAUREEN STEUART, "Beach Picnic", oil, #14

 

Maureen Steuart as a nurse in training in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on more than a few occasions, crept out of the nurses’ residence to attend art classes. Later in life, while still nursing; she discovered the Dundas Valley School of Art. It was at D.V.S.A. that Maureen was taught printmaking by Jean Maddison.

Several years later, after working in Print coops, she finds herself at Dundas Valley School of Art, happily teaching printmaking. She continues to explore various methods of printmaking.

Artist’s Statement:

 “It’s all about line to me, the puzzle of breaking things down to the essence of the line, the finest of details. Because of my love for the line, pen and ink line and etching are very comfortable media for me.”

WAYNE CARDINALLI, "pot with lid & pedestal", stoneware, #31

 Mississauga based potter Wayne Cardinalli’s ceramic works are invitingly tactile: each bearing the indelible mark of the artist’s hand. Wayne holds an M.F.A. in ceramics from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia and teaches at the Dundas Valley School of Art. His work is widely collected and has been exhibited in the U.S. and Canada.

Artist’s Statement:
 “Almost all of my work originates on the potters wheel. Many of the pieces are staunchly functional, but at times I depart from this to create pieces of more sculptural concern. However, there is not a clear line separating the two; rather there is always an element of each in both. Regardless of the intent of the work, the elements that remain constant are an exploration of direct gestural distortions of the freshly-thrown form, and a subtle painterly approach to the glaze surface.”

ROSS DREVENY, "The Cove", acrylic, # 27

 Ross Dreveny, a self-taught artist, was born in rural Saskatchewan but moved to Toronto when he was 10 years old. He currently resides in Cobourg. He has been painting for as long as he can remember and works in egg tempera on paper and acrylic on gesso board and canvas. Ross especially likes the spring when he can go sketching in the woodlands.

 His technique and temperament bring a quiet peacefulness to his work. His paintings can be found in private collections across Canada, the US and Europe.

Artist’s Statement:

  

“I take images from the world around me, and I enhance these with my imagination…I am just painting a dream…and being a very curious person I do not stick to any one theme...the only consistency in my work is the pursuit of excellence.”