My first drawing, as far back as I can remember, was done at the age of seven. I had locked myself out on the balcony and started to draw in pencil. I had no idea of what I wanted to draw at that moment, except a great need to draw. Since then, drawing became a way of expressing how I see life, nature, truths and peoples. I remember the first drawing in water color; I had painted in school, caused me tears of frustration because I couldn’t get the fine details I had in mind. Since then, it became my goal to be a realist fine artist. My challenge was to reach the realism style and produce oil paintings. Since then, I have held it as my life’s passion. I used to spend my allowance to buy art supplies (even though what I wanted was chocolates). In comparison however, painting was my ultimate joy and more valuable to me than any amount of chocolate could have been.
Persistent in my artwork, I was surprised by a whole set of oil colors including brushes and canvases that was given to me as a gift from my lovely Mother. I was overjoyed that I started my first oil painting, at age of twelve, of a country scene from my imagination. My family fell in love with the final result and so my dear Mother took it to get framed. Unexpectedly, my Mother came home and happily announced that she sold it to the owner who offered her a good price. My Mother was happy for me but I had mixed feelings. While I was happy that someone loved my painting enough to buy it, I missed my painting very much and as a result, I didn’t want to sell anymore of my paintings for a long time.
However, I started to give some away as gifts to those dear to me. I received several certificates and awards on the fine artwork produced in schools. My goal was to go to the University of Fine Arts which I eventually did. I didn’t go into visual art section, rather, I majored in interior and exterior design. I knew that selling paintings would not be the right path for me at that time because of how attached I became to my paintings.
I led a successful career in interior and exterior design for several years and later was involved in architectural drafting and perspective presentations.
In 1982, I had worked for a Canadian company as a Graphic Artist in Toronto. I was thrilled when I was chosen to produce an oil painting of the "Canadian Constitution Act and this was presented to the Prime Minister at that time, Mr. Pierre E. Trudeau. The painting is now hanging in his home in Montreal. My name appeared in the Toronto Star newspaper as a result of this task. In 1999, I had the privilege of receiving a letter of thanks and appreciation from Mr. Trudeau.
Broadening my art avenues, I took courses in "Commercial Arts, Desktop Publishing and "Digital Media". I have worked as a layout artist and a graphic designer. I also varied my work experience by getting a diploma in business administration and worked for Canada Post Cooperation, Head office in Ottawa.
During this period, I was still painting in my free time and making additions to the artwork on my walls. I had to sell some of my paintings at times, and some oil paintings were done on commission. I also sold two oil paintings out of three in a big Art exhibition contained artwork of 35 Artists in the O'Keefe center, Toronto to raise funds for the Canadian Opera Company. Since then, I have been participating in International Art Exhibition, Nationally and locally.
Canadian Fine Artist, Art Exhibitions histoy
My previous Art Exhibitions:
Florence Biennale International Art Exhibition, Florence, Italy
International Art Exhibition "Landscapes", Estense Castle, Italy, Ferrara.
Juried Art Show, Cumberland Gallery, Centrum Boulevard, Orleans, Ontario.
Juried Exhibition "Tulip Festival at the Westin Hotel" Colonel By Drive, Ottawa.
Juried Exhibition "Rites of Spring", new Gloucester Gallery, Orleans. Ottawa
Art Show & Sale, Glebe Community Centre, Ottawa, Ontario.
2004
23rd Juried Annual Arteast Art & Photo Exhibition, Ottawa, Orleans.
23rd Rideau Valley, Juried Art Festival, Westport, Ontario.
Spring Award Show at National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Juried art exhibition, Cumberland Art Gallery, Centrum Boulevard, Orleans, Ontario.
Ottawa Art Festival, Aberdeen Pavilion, Landsdowne Park, Ottawa Ontario.
2003
Juried Art show, Gloucester Art Gallery, Orleans, Ontario.
The Ottawa Little Theater, Ottawa Art Association, Ontario.
Juried, Ottawa Art Festival, Landsdown Park.
2002
23rd Annual Arteast Art & Photo Exhibition, Ottawa, Orleans.
The Ottawa Little Theater, Spring art show, Ottawa Art Association, Ontario
Juried, Ottawa Art Festival, Aberdeen Pavilion, Ottawa Ontario.
Several Art displays in Foyer Gallery during the full year, Nepean, Ontario.
The Ottawa Little Theater, Fall art show, Ottawa Art Association, Ontario.
2001
23rd Juried Annual Arteast Art & Photo Exhibition, Ottawa, Orleans.
Solo show, Gloucester Arts Council, Ottawa, Ontario.
The Ottawa Little Theatre, Fall art show, Ottawa Art Association, Ontario.
2000
The Ottawa Little Theatre, Spring art show, Ottawa Art Association, Ontario.
1999
Ottawa City Hall - Municipal Art Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario.
1996
Art show, O'Keefe Centre, Toronto, fund-raiser for the Canadian Opera Company
1967
Group art exhibition,in high school and received an honor award from the Minister of the Higher Education, Egypt
1965
Solo Art Exhibition contained original oil paintings, water paintings and pottery, Egypt, Cairo
At the age of 16 I had a solo art exhibition. Funds raised by the show were used to support a charitable organization focusing on the development of youth. I participated in my very first Art & Craft Show at school at the early age of 15. As a young person, it was a thrill to see my name and picture appear in the local newspaper with the heading "A Future Artist.
Publications:
PUBLICATIONS
□ 1982, My name appeared in Toronto Star News Papers for the oil painting I had done of “The Canadian Constitution Acts".
□ Arts in Gloucester 7 Cumberland, Arts news, Volume 15, number 2, March 2001, Page 6.
□ Gallery & Studio, New York, Volume 8, No 1, September-October, 2005 “Featured Artist’Page 4
□ The Arteast Quarterly Newsletter, Volume 12, Issue 1, January 2005, Page 5.
□ Ottawa Community Gallery and Art Sale Listing, News Magazine, April 2005-May 2006 □ Art Ottawa East, Community Art Council, Art News, January 2006, Page 9.
□ Commerce Courier, The News of Eastern Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, August/September, 2007, Page 9
□ Florence Biennale for Contemporary Art Catalog 2007, page 821.
Realist Fine Artist, Artist Statement
Art is a manifestation of love. We love the nature around us, the people we share our world with and even the visible invisible qualities that contribute to the beauty we see daily.
Through arts, we express inner feelings and thoughts. We often use the expressions the art of listening, the art of teaching, the art of communication, and the art of writing -even the art of healing. When we really love what we do, we do it whole-souled and become professionals at it. It can become an art to us. Art has taught me that there is always light somewhere, even when things may seem dark. In my paintings, I focus on the importance of light along with the shadows that complement its beautiful counterpart. By using different subtle tones and applying many fine layers to create depth and soft contrast, I emphasize perspective and composition.
Through painting, I've learned that what we see, for the first time, is not always or exactly what we initially perceive to be there. Having a second and a third look at subjects or matters can reveal more depth, value and beauty to what we thought was there the first time. Having said that, realizing this is what lead me to extend the realism style.
My experiences traveling to different countries and cities, where I've learned about different cultures, has enabled me to widen my perspective on life and become easily intimate with the qualities of our natural world and the people it nourishes. In addition, I find that there is an infinite room for growth and development in my artwork and this is what will inspire me to go on reaching new levels of depth, beauty and diversity in my realism oil paintings. I've worked for over eight years, as a part-time Art Instructor.
At present, I work as a full-time fine artist. I find refreshment in versatility and so I loved teaching because there was giving, helping and sharing whereas in painting, I silently speak to myself on how to improve my giving, helping and sharing in different ways. Presently, I focus on producing more Oil paintings.
I am pleased to share this Digital Art Gallery of my oil paintings and I welcome your comments and questions.
Realist Fine Artist, Education
Certificate of Achievement, Studio P (Electronic Publishing), Digital Media Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Desktop Publishing Certificate
Received Honor Award at First Printing School - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
