by Sally Hansen

There is a very simple explanation for Kate Ryckman’s happiness — this young woman is well on her way to achieving her two most important goals. “All my life I wanted to be a mom and an artist,” she tells me, when I pursue the answer to the “Why?” question on her Artist Trading Card.

Ryckman is already an accomplished artist, with her imaginative, light-hearted artwork currently featured at the 3 Yellow Tulips Art Shoppe in Pakenham. She will be participating in the Burnstown “Affair of the Arts” the last weekend of May, and in the West Carleton Art Society Show on Thanksgiving Weekend. The collection of lively and whimsical images on her website at www.kateryckmanart.blogspot.com reflects her love of colour and her passion for creativity. Her fresh treatment of standard subjects — chefs and flowers are among her favourites — captures your attention and curls the corners of your mouth upwards. This is a good thing.

Continue reading "Kate Ryckman — Creating Her Own Little Masterpieces" »

Posted on April 15, 2008 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Sally Hansen

The paint was barely dry on their studio walls when theHumm showed up to welcome and interview the newest participants in the annual Pakenham Maple Run Studio Tour. Pastel artists Guy Cranston and Sharon Fox-Cranston recently relocated from White Rock, just south of Vancouver, to return to the area where Guy’s family has multi-generational roots.

These two accomplished artists are an exciting addition to the wealth of artistic talent living in the Pakenham environs. Both are active members of the Federation of Canadian Artists, and both have had paintings shown in the Federation’s gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver. Sharon’s Lane way near Gordes received an Award of Excellence at the Federation’s “Works on Paper” show last spring, and the same painting was featured on the July/August 2007 cover of “Art Avenue” magazine. Also last August, her Poppies at Les Ferriers received an Honorable Mention at the Pastel Artists of Canada’s 16th Annual Open Juried Exhibition titled “Purely Pastel” on Salt Spring Island. Shortly before leaving White Rock last fall, they held an Open Studio and sold 32 pastel paintings in one weekend.

Continue reading "Guy Cranston and Sharon Fox-Cranston — A Pastel Duet" »

Posted on April 15, 2008 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)