Saturday, February 8, 2020
Monday, August 26, 2019
The Life of an Artist
I
find immense joy in painting, but at times there is a lot of frustration and
doubt. It’s such a mixed bag of emotions
as a painting comes to life. When I get
an idea, an inspiration, I am so excited, I can hardly wait to start. The monochromatic starts to take shape and my
excitement grows. Then the colour, and
more excitement, then….the doubt and frustration creeps in as the painting goes
from promising to unappealing, but as the work progresses something happens. Another transformation, from ugly duckling to
beautiful swan and the excitement is back; the motivation is high. Finally, when I am finished, the excitement is
still there; I am so happy to be done, I’ve put my heart and soul, not to mention
countless hours, into the painting. But
then, something else happens, and the excitement turns to worry, doubt is back,
and I work some more, then happy once again.I tell you, sometimes I think I’m going to get whiplash from going from one emotion to another as I work on a painting. Sometimes, I really wonder why this life of an artist is so appealing; I can’t really explain it. If I’m perfectly honest with myself, I can’t even imagine wanting to do anything else. There is a calling deep inside my soul that keeps saying, paint, just paint. So, I paint.
No matter where I am on this emotional rollercoaster as an artist, I feel so blessed to be doing what I am doing. So happy to be able to pick up my paint brush and put oil to canvas, so grateful. When the doubt creeps in, I know I just have to keep going, because at the end of the day it’s about the beauty and the peace my art brings to me, and hopefully to the audience who sees it, to the people who buy it.
It’s not easy being an artist, but it is so worth the emotional journey of each painting.
Up coming solo show at the:
Northern Alberta Jubilee, Alcove Gallery, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada
November 25, 2019 to January 27, 2020
The
Polar Bear
Opening
reception date to be announced.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Jackson and Terri
Some of the most precious gifts you can receive in life are good friends, friends who believe in you, friends who help you on your journey, friends who build you up and watch you soar.
Sometime around 2008, I met such a friend, her name is Sherri DeTonnancour. Sherri co owned a small spa in St. Albert and I found her through another friend. She gave me wonderful pedicures and was always easy and fun to talk to.
During a visit to the spa I noticed they had a number of client business cards on display. She mentioned that if I had a business card I could put mine out also. It just so happened that I had made up a few on my computer with a picture of my very first painting "Ice Time". When I showed her the card she seemed really surprised that it was my first painting and said some really nice things to me. I think I really needed to hear the words she said, as this was a new venture for me. I was reluctant to call myself an artist and I had no idea if I was very good. From that moment she has continued to cheer me on and support my art.
In late 2010, Sherri and her good friend Holly Hayes decided to open up a new high end spa in St. Albert, "Heaven Essence Day Spa". They decided to have their grand opening in March 2011. Sherri asked me if I would like to have a solo art show in their mezzanine room during the grand opening. I had no idea how to put a show on, but I thought it sounded like something I could manage, so with the help of my husband and kids we made a go of it.
I hung almost ever painting I had painted up until that time, with the help from John at Delta Drafting for lending me grids and easels, and a great write up in the Gazette by Scott Hayes, invites to friends and family and all my garage sale sandwich board signs converted to Art show signs, over 200 people, both my contacts and Sherri and Holly's came through the spa and saw the show.
Since then, Sherri and Holly have hung my art in their spa, and continue to cheer me on. For their 6th anniversary they asked me if I wanted to have another solo show, this time I hung my Flower Power Series on the main floor of the spa and keep it up for a few months.
The support I have received from both these two ladies is unmeasurable, and so appreciated.
The support I have received from both these two ladies is unmeasurable, and so appreciated.
In appreciation for all they have done for me I have painted each of them a painting as a gift. Sherri's painting is of her dog Jackson. I painted him as a puppy from a reference photo Sherri gave me. He's getting on in years now, but continues to be a cherished family member with his easy disposition. Sherri has commented that he seems so much younger than his years and they are so lucky he is still with them. I hope this painting will always remind Sherri and her family of what a wonderful dog he is and how adorable he was as a puppy and still is.
For Holly I have painted a painting of her late mother, Terri Paxton. Terri was one of Sherri's clients and had become a good friend and it was through her that she met Holly. Sadly, Terri passed away, but when Sherri and Holly decided to open the spa they felt it was important to include Terri. Knowing that she was watching from above, they named the spa "Heaven Essence". Not only have they built a wonderful business, but also an enduring friendship.
I am so grateful to these two amazing women for their friendship and support, and I thank God for putting them both in my life.
"Jackson", 20" x 16", oil on canvas - Photo Reference - Sherri DeTonnancour, Morinville, AB
"Terri, 11" x 14", oil on canvas - Photo Reference - Lorraine Berube, St. Albert, AB
Sunday, September 9, 2018
The Process
I have met a lot of artists these past few years and everyone is so unique in their style and method of painting. It's interesting talking to them and finding out about their process. Depending on the medium used and style preferred it can take a few minutes, a couple hours, or hours upon hours to complete their pieces.
People have asked me countless times how long does it take me to finish a piece. At first I was a little embarrassed to admit it took hours upon hours; I thought that it was because I was new at it and I really didn't know what I was doing. What I've learned over the years is that you do get faster as you learn more and you paint more, but my style of painting is realism and continues to take hours upon hours.
My method of painting is time consuming not only because of the fine detail, but also because I paint a complete monochromatic first, then I add the colour, so in essence it's like I'm painting the painting twice.
I find the most important thing to get a painting looking right is the values, or in other words, dark, medium and light. This is what gives the painting depth. If you don't get the values right you will have a flat looking painting; this is the purpose of the monochromatic.
I love this part of the painting because it is the most challenging. It's easy to paint a petal or a leaf, but the trick is to make it look real, to make it look like it's coming off of the canvas. When I first started to learn how to paint, the ability to make something come to life in a 3 dimensional look is what hooked me, and it still continues to be my favourite part of the process, not always easy, but definitely worth the time and effort.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
The Easel is Calling!
Where has spring and summer gone? It seems like yesterday I was moving my studio from VASA and planning on working in my yard for the spring and most of the summer. Both things happened, my studio is back at home, my yard is starting to shape up. I have thick green grass in my front yard, who knew that fertilizer worked! The flowers are looking good, definitely time worth spent in the garden, but summer is coming to a close and September is just around the corner. Back to school for one of my kids and back to routines. I really do love September! Allowing myself to take some time off from my art and concentrate on other things around my home has helped me feel refreshed and ready to get back to the easel. I have a lot of new ideas and many pieces to finish, it's going to be a lot of fun to get started.
So it's almost time to put the gardening gloves away and pick up a paint brush, I think the easel is calling. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Change, a Constant in Our Lives
Three years ago, my good friend
Victoria Armstrong tried to convince me to rent a studio at VASA (Visual Arts
Studio Association); at that time, I wasn't ready. I had lost my husband two
years previous and the thought of any kind of commitment, even just a 3 1/2
hours shift was daunting. But as the year worn on I started to see the benefits
of getting back out there, into an organization and into another network of
artists on a more regular basis. Luckily for me, once I decided I did want a
studio one appeared quite quickly.
Two years ago, I rented my first 1/2 studio at VASA. Within a couple weeks a full studio opened up. I set up shop and tried to get to work, but try as I might, I liked the social aspect of the association much more than the work, and discovered that painting in my studio would be too much of a challenge. Another VASA studio opened up after that, one that was more visible, and I took it and set it up as a show studio instead of a working studio. Who was I kidding, I work out of my home studio/gallery and that wasn't going to change. What I really needed was another place to sell my art.
I was hardly settled in when our president called me and asked if I would consider taking on the volunteer position of Director of Exhibitions. She did a pretty good job of convincing me and I agreed to take on the position. What a fun job; I learned so much, met so many other artists and really felt like I was helping and making a difference. I got so wrapped up into it that I was having less and less time for my own art. So much so that I put my brushes away for the summer and worked just on VASA show stuff. That’s when it really hit me, although I really enjoyed this position and I was good at it, I knew my real calling was to paint and if I was going to do that full time, then I couldn’t do both. I gave a 3 month notice the end of August to be finished the Director position the end of November 2017. I also knew at that time, that my time at VASA wouldn’t go on for too much longer, but I wanted to wait until the spring to see how I would feel.
VASA has been good to me. I have gotten to know some friends better and met new people who have become friends. I have really enjoyed my Wednesday afternoons chatting away with fellow artist Carroll Charest, my shift partner who has also become a good friend. We both enjoyed the other artists, especially Miles Constable who .would pop down on a Wednesday afternoon to entertain us, and of course there were actually a few times we got a bit of work done (I did relent and take some work in from time to time). It has been fun getting to know the other artists and our executive director Danielle Gauthier; Danielle is funny and smart and loves to organize. It was such a joy to meet a fellow organizer and Staples (the store) fan! I've had some good conversations with our president Carol Watamaniuk and some pretty good laughs. Bruce Allen's dry wit sometimes perplexed me, but he was always fun to be around. Cheryl Moskaluk, one of the most interesting people I know, always had a great story or some great tidbit of info to share. I would see Connie Osgood occasionally on a Wednesday, and she was always cracking me up; it was a great day when I ran into her. Peg McPherson, what an impressive lady, taught the Authentic Art program and would come in Wednesday to prepare for her afternoon class and have a cup of tea and a chat with us. It was great to talk even for a few minutes with Sharon Abrams and Lorna Harvey, as we changed shifts. Rayma Peterson would come in on Wednesdays quite often to work on her botanical pieces; Rayma is such a gentle and kind person. Of course, there were a few times Vicki Armstrong dropped down for a visit, or I would pop in on Tuesday mornings to see her. Melanie Hsiao had the studio right next to me and was at VASA quite often working on her art degree. I remember her from my early art classes. Many of the artists didn’t come in on Wednesday, but I would see them at our monthly opening or some other activity or when I dropped by the gallery on different days. It didn’t really matter when I saw them, they were all great people and they all made a difference in my life. Being part of this group of people has helped me move through my grief and continue moving forward.
One of the things I have learned, is that the most constant thing in our life, is change, and I knew I would be making a decision by spring as to whether it was time to leave VASA or stay. I've thought long and hard about it, hymned and hawed a lot, went back and forth with the pros and cons, but at the end of the day I knew it was time to leave and concentrate on my art. I know everyone at VASA has different reasons for renting space, a few rent it for showing art, but most of it comes down to working in their studio, networking and socializing. I hope to remain doing the latter, I will visit from time to time, continue to take photographs when I’m at shows, but my work will be at home.
I am starting another new chapter in
my life and I leave this one behind, with fond memories and warm thoughts and
who knows what the future will bring.
For now, I will concentrate on my art, in my studio, as I move forward.
Thank you VASA, for being there when
I needed you, for embracing me, for helping me grow and for encouraging me as
continue on my journey.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
New Painting - Prairie Sky - Up for Auction!
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| Prairie Sky 20" x 30" Original Oil on Canvas Retail Value - $1350.00 |
To start things off the Night of Artists is having a silent auction on Facebook. It is taking place right now and will close at
4:00 pm on Friday, March 16 and will continue until 9:30 live at the Enjoy Centre.
I painted a new painting for the auction titled "Prairie Sky". This painting has had kind of crazy journey, but I am pleased with the end result. When I started to think about what I wanted to paint, I knew I had to paint the sky over canola, but I wanted it to be stormy and turbulent and that's what it started off to be. It progressively got more turbulent but in the end the sky cleared and became less of a storm and more of a sunset. I guess art mimics life somethings, and for me this painting helped me bring forth some of my inner turbulence, so it could pass into something more beautiful. It's funny how art works sometimes.
To bid on this painting go to Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/nightofartists/photos/a.1530889530340186.1073741844.716242615138219/1531253243637148/?type=3&theater
Night of Artist Auction Auction Album on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/nightofartists/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1530889530340186
Night of Artist
March 16 to 18, 2018
at The Enjoy Centre - St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
More info at: https://www.nightofartists.com/show-tickets
Monday, January 1, 2018
Just Below Surface
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| Just Below Surface |
Every year Phil Alain, owner/producer of the Night of Artist and co producer of Mural Mosaic puts out a wonderful high quality magazine. The magazine features not only all the artists who are members of the organization, but also other artful things. The magazine is a free magazine that is handed out at all NOA events but also travels the country with Mural Mosaic. For the past 2 years and including this year, the Mural Mosaic team has been traveling across Canada creating a train mural. Each car has been created in different cities throughout Canada. Where ever the Mural is being created, the magazine goes.
The past two years NOA featured the 150 Mural Mosaic on the cover. In 2014, before the 150 Mural Mosaic was in full swing, Phil had a contest for the cover. I was so thrilled when my painting "Boats at Portsoy ll" was chosen for the cover of the magazine. What a huge honour!
This year, the painting I have entered is titled "Just Below Surface", the second painting in my new Polar Bear series.
Starting today, January 1 and running until January 21 you can vote for my painting "Just Below Surface" on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/nightofartists/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1496532687109204
All you have to do is click on my painting and "like" it, that's all there is to it.
Thank you for your support, thank you for visiting my blog. Please feel free to leave a comment and I hope you will vote for "Just Below Surface".
Just Below Surface
Oil on canvas
30" x 24"
Available
www.memoryroth.com
Night of Artists
March 15 - 18, 2017
The Enjoy Centre
St. Albert, AB
Night of Artist Gala - Friday, March 16
Artwalks Saturday and Sunday - March 17 and 18
More information to come
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases and the very best New Year! May you experience much joy, laughter, love, good health and prosperity in 2018.
Thank you for reading my blog, although I know this past year the posts have been few and far between. Other commitments have not allowed me as much painting or writing time, but things have changed and I am happy to say I will be back full time in my home studio in 2018!
Stay tuned for more art and stories and a chance to win an original oil painting, more information to come in January!
Sunday, April 2, 2017
A Bridge Over Time - The Continuing Story of St. Albert - Book Launch
I'm very honoured to be going to the launch since my painting "Sturgeon Crossings" will be the cover art for the book.
Who would have thought that when I started my new series "St. Albert" that the first painting in the series would received such an honour. I am so very grateful.
Monday, March 20, 2017
New Studio at VASA!
Just over a year ago I put my name on the waiting list at VASA (Visual Arts Studio Association) in St. Albert, with the hope I would get a call to rent a studio. I felt pretty excited when I got the call and took a chance at sharing a small studio for 6 months with another artist, although, I really wanted a studio I could rent for a full year.
Two weeks later the opportunity presented itself. I moved into a larger studio with a great studio partner and set up shop to really get to work. I figured I would split my time between the VASA studio and my home studio....I had every good intention to work at VASA, but for me, working in my own home studio is much more productive. At VASA there is always lots going on and I found myself visiting more than working; I was having a great time, but things weren't happening on the easel.
I didn't really want to give up my studio space, but felt I needed a show studio rather than a working one. This particular studio didn't warrant itself to that, because it was too tucked away and wasn't getting a lot of traffic. Another studio on the other side of my wall opened up and I contemplated moving. It was more out in the open, more visible to the public, but I wasn't sure and I didn't bother to put my name in for it. A new artist rented it, but shortly after she moved in she found out she was moving out of the province and gave notice to move out. This was when I decided it was the right time, this was my opportunity and I put my name in for that studio. I knew this studio would work out as a show studio and somewhere I could hang and promote my new series "St. Albert". I might still tweak it a bit, but so far I like it.
I'm at VASA Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, if you feel like dropping by for a visit to check out my new space. Among other things, I will be featuring my series "St. Albert" at this studio. I have originals, reproductions, prints and cards for sale. You don't have to come just on Wednesday afternoon, VASA is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Out of My Comfort Zone
Anyone who is an artist and is reading this blog knows all about self promotion and how important it is to get your name and art out there, you also know how nerve wracking it can be, and not all that comfortable in the least. I have been doing this self promotion for a while now, and I admit I'm getting used to it a little bit, but it still makes me nervous and feeling silly at times. But when opportunity knocks......
In October of 2015, I was lucky enough to win a half page ad
in our local newspaper. When I first won
it I was super excited, but then I started to think about it, I didn’t really
know what I was going to do with a half page, full colour ad. Sure, as an artist there is a lot of self-promotion
that has to go on, but to put an ad out there about my art just seemed weird to
me, but then it dawned on me, I could use it for the new series I was planning
to unveil at the Night of Artists the following March. Well, things didn’t turn out quite the way I
wanted them to and I wasn’t able to get a good start on the series due to
getting pneumonia. So the ad sat, and
expired. I called the Gazette and told
them about my dilemma and they graciously extended the deadline until March of 2017.
So this is it, Night of Artists is happening March 9 to 12 and I’ve
got a good start on my new series “St. Albert”, and it's time to use the ad. Yes, it’s nerve wracking to promote
yourself like this, and pretty much out of my comfort zone, but I keep reminding myself, it will get more people out to
the Night of Artists and hopefully to my booth to see, and cross my fingers, to
buy my art.
Barring any crazy complications my half page, full colour ad
should be in the Wednesday, March 8 St. Albert Gazette. Yes, this is exciting and feels
super weird at the same time, but I’m going to go with it J
Night of Artists at the Enjoy Centre in St. Albert, AB 101 Riel Drive
Thursday, March 9 - 6:30 pm to 11 - Mayor's Celebration of the Arts
Friday, March 10 - 7 to 10 - NOA 20th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, March 11 - 11 am to 4 pm - Art Stroll 7 pm to 10 pm - La Vida Loca Gala
Sunday, March 12 - 11 am to 4 pm - Art Stroll and unveiling of 150 Mural Mosaic (1:00 pm)
Tickets at www.nightofartists.com and at the door, day time hours by donation
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Painting a Story
Each of my paintings have been inspired by something in my life. A moment captured, a moment brought to life, and a moment I want to share with you.
My inspiration for this painting was photographer April Bartlett, who used to work for the St. Albert Gazette. About a year before I met her I took one of the photos I used for reference for this painting. I always thought she had to coolest job and took amazing photographs.
Being a painter and photographer, it was fun watching her and the other photographers try to get in the best positions for the best shots. I had a media pass, but I was only allowed to photograph from just below the stands area of the rodeo grounds, I didn't have to try to stretch and bend myself into a pretzel to get a shot, all I ever had to contend with at the rodeo was dirt kicked into my face, a bit of mud and trying to find the best vantage point.
As with many paintings, once you start, they take on a life of their own and become more than what they began. As I started to paint I realized that there was so much going on at a rodeo. I remember when I took the reference photos I found it interesting watching the cowboys as spectators and began to wonder what they were thinking when they watched one of their own. It was obvious to me that this was old hat to many and they had that "cool" look about them, as if to say "just another ride". For me, being a newbie at the rodeo, everything was exciting and I hoped it would turn out alright.
Looking at the cowboys and their colourful shirts, the boredom on some, and excitement on others, left me wondering what it was like to be doing their job, what was it like to be the clown ready at any moment to jump in and save the day? The nerves it must take to get on a bucking horse and try to stay put for the allotted amount of time, obviously, this cowboy didn't make it, but what does it feel like when you do? Putting the little boy in was a bit of an after thought, but it made sense to me, a little cowboy dreaming to become like one of his heroes.
This painting is the tenth painting in my series "St. Albert" and I'm sure it will not be my last rodeo painting.
March 9 to 12, 2017, I will be at the Enjoy Centre in St. Albert, Alberta with the Night of Artists for our weekend of art festivities and music. Drop by and have a look, it's where all the action will be!
www.nightofartists.com
www.memoryroth.com
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Serenity and the Guild
During those six years I have participated in five of their semi-annual shows and enjoyed every minute. I helped coordinate two, one with my friend and fellow artist Karen Blanchet and one on my own. Not only have the shows been a great experience, but planning a show, or helping to plan a show is the best way to really understand the process, and has helped me have the confidence I needed to accept the volunteer position I now take on with VASA (Visual Arts Studio Association) as their Director of Exhibitions.
Over the last six years I haven't been involved with the Guild as much as I would have liked, due to my husband's passing and getting involved with the Night of Artists, but the Guild has always been near and dear to my heart.
It's kind of cool being an artist in St. Albert, belonging to such a great organization as the Guild, after all St. Albert's brand is "The Botanical Arts Community", but what is the best part of all this? It's the people, it's the comradery, the kindness and the generosity of the members who make up the Guild. Whether you are an amateur, a hobbyist, an emerging, or a professional artist, you are welcome and you are encouraged to participate and succeed. The Guild helps us celebrate all our successes, big or small, and brings even more beauty to this wonderful city. I am so grateful to all the volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to make the Guild such a special place and I am so happy to be part of it.
Please join me and over 40 other guild artists at the St. Albert Painters Guild 2016 Fall Show and Sale. Come and see my painting Serenity - Maluhia in person.
Serenity - Maluhia
48" x 30"
Oil on Canvas
Not for Sale
St. Albert Painters Guild 2016 Fall Show and Sale
Friday, October 28 - 9 to 9
Saturday, October 29 - 9 to 5
Sunday, October 30 - 11 to 4
St. Albert Place, St. Albert, Alberta
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Painting With Bruce Allen
I have to admit I’m not one who has strayed very far off of
the course when it comes to art. I
started by learning how to paint realism, and in the last 9 ½ years since I
picked up a paint brush, my goal has been to try to master this technique. I’m still working on it and plan to for as
long as I can. I know the trend these
days is to loosen up, but I really like the detail and the end product that
comes from painting tight. It’s more of
a challenge than anything, to see if I can do it, to see how far I can go.
Lately, I have had the desire to learn more, to take classes
and to see what else I can do. The
thought of learning watercolour has always appealed to me, even before I
discovered oil painting. I took a weekend
workshop in Spokane back in November with watercolour artist Stan Miller. He is master at his craft and someone I have
come admire. He is dedicated to his art
and makes no bones about it, he says if you want to be successful you have to
dedicate your time to painting, which is just what he has done with his
life. He is an award winning portrait
artist and his landscapes are fabulous.
He paints quite differently than I thought he would and considers
himself a “value” painter. Perhaps this
is why I like his art so much, I also consider myself a value painter.
I loved the watercolour classes and came home quite
inspired, but as I settled back into my routine the watercolours have pretty
much stayed where I put them. This
doesn’t mean I gave up on them, it’s just that I am trying to make a living as
an oil painter, so back to the oil paints I went.
The desire to learn has not left me and I hope it never
does, with that in my mind and my heart I decided to take some oil painting
classes from St. Albert artist Bruce Allen.
Bruce has been one of my favorite artists from the very first time I saw
his work. He does mostly street and
house scenes and landscapes. Bruce’s
technique has been inspired by the Group of Seven and I love his loose strokes and the dark
outlines that show up in his paintings. Fortunately
for me, I know Bruce; he is one of the resident artists at VASA, a visual arts
studio and gallery that I recently become a resident artist of.
Bruce’s lessons are once a week for a couple hours. He has a very easy way about him, a great
sense of humour and a huge talent. I’ve
painted with him now since January and have enjoy every moment. For someone who loves to paint tight I have
found that painting loose and fast is really enjoyable; I like to describe the paintings we do as little bit "wonky", it's still realism, but in the Bruce Allen way. Our first painting was finished in 3 lessons.
That is huge; 6 hours to complete a painting is unheard of for me.
I wasn’t a huge fan of painting architectural paintings, but
as I learn more from Bruce, a retired architect, I am finding I want to paint more buildings in his
style. It doesn’t mean I am going to
give up my style, but it is fun to learn more than one style of painting.
He has helped me gain more confidence in speed and he has
opened my eyes to more possibilities and perhaps more techniques in the future.
For now I will enjoy my lessons with Bruce, I am hoping to
pick up the water brush again soon, but mostly I will be painting in my own style in
oil, as I work on commissions and my new series “St. Albert” (more about that
soon).
Who knew that straying from the course could be so much fun!
Photo references used courtesy of Bruce Allen (copyright owner of reference photos)
Paintings not for sale - student work by Memory Roth
Sunday, March 13, 2016
The Trestle
At the time he had suggested I paint it in colour, but I was undecided. When I decided it was time to start my new series "St. Albert", I remembered his suggestions and it was one of the first ones I painted.
The trestle is one of St. Albert's iconic landmarks, and one of my favorite places. This painting along with 4 of my new St. Albert pieces were shown at the Night of Artists 2016 show and I am happy to tell you this piece sold quickly.
I'm still painting another trestle painting, the next one will be a winter scene. Stay tuned
The Trestle
14" x 18"
Oil on Canvas - Framed
SOLD
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Perron St. Clock Tower
The Tower was the brain child of Mike Hatzinikolas, an adjunct professor of structural engineering at the University of Alberta. The purpose of building the tower was to study masonry and how it behaved when used in construction.
The clock tower is a popular landmark in St. Albert and the 2nd painting in my new series "St. Albert".
The painting can be seen and is for sale at the Night of Artists weekend art show "Oh Canada" that will take place March 3, 4, 5 and 6th, 2016 at the Enjoy Centre, St. Albert. Tickets and information on the show and artists can be found at www.nightofartists.com
Perron St. Clock Tower
14" x 24"
Oil on canvas - framed
$670.00
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Sturgeon Crossings
My first series "Flower Power" was painted for my first juried solo show and was a real challenge, painting 8 rather large paintings in only a few months pushed me; I am really happy with the results and the feed back. The show has had a three month run with 3 extensions at the Northern Alberta Jubilee in Edmonton, Alberta and will continue until Wednesday of this week. It will be on exhibition at the Southern Alberta Jubilee in Calgary March 15 to April 30, 2016.
Portraits are still my favorite subject to paint, but painting landscapes has been something I have wanted to master for a long time. I have so much to learn and each painting I do helps me towards my goal, although mastering something sounds pretty lofty, but having a goal is a good thing.
My second and newest series is called "St. Albert"; this is the where I live, where my children have been raised, for the most part, and where my heart calls home. It's a beautiful city with a small town feel and a great reputation for raising families. In 2014, "Moneysense" magazine voted it the best small city in Canada to live in and in 2015, the same magazine voted it the best place to raise a family in Canada.
There is so much history in this fair city and so many landmarks to paint. But it's not just the landmarks that capture my attention, it's the people that live here. So this new painting is the first in this series, the first of many. Stay tuned while I take this journey into St. Albert and the beauty that it is.
Sturgeon Crossings
20" x 24"
Oil on Canvas - Framed
SOLD
For more information about the Night of Artists XlX - "Oh Canada" show that takes place March 3, 4, 5 and 6th at the Enjoy Centre in St. Albert, or to buy ticket please visit www.nightofartists.com
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Flower Power Show Extended!
My solo show "Flower Power" has been at the Northern Alberta Jubilee in Edmonton, Alberta since October 23. It has now been extended until February 3, 2016.
Northern Alberta Jubilee: 11455 — 87 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Alcove Gallery - 1st Balcony (2nd floor) - open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm - Monday to Friday and during performances
Hope you get a chance to see it!
Sunday, October 25, 2015
And What a Night it Was!
My solo show "Flower Power" at the Northern Alberta Jubilee had it's opening night on Friday, October 23, 2015.
It was a fantastic night! The Jubilee really knows how to put on an opening!! Thank you to Tarryn Koll and all the Jubilee staff for the excellent reception, and to everyone who came out to share in the evening!
The show continues until January 29, 2016!
It was a fantastic night! The Jubilee really knows how to put on an opening!! Thank you to Tarryn Koll and all the Jubilee staff for the excellent reception, and to everyone who came out to share in the evening!
The show continues until January 29, 2016!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
The Show Starts Tomorrow!
Thanks to Scott Hayes of the St. Albert Gazette for a fantastic article that was in Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 edition!! (See below)
Memory Roth is on the verge of her big début at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. The same place where you could see bands and ballet on the stage you can soon see one of St. Albert’s favourite painters with work on the walls up on the first balcony in a brand new exhibition space called the Alcove Gallery.
“It’s very, very exciting for me!” she exclaimed. “This is my first juried solo show.”
Local visual art enthusiasts will note that the performing arts centre has the Kaasa Gallery in its lower level. It’s a big space, she noted, so when she was approached a few years ago to gauge her interest in showing her work there, she balked at the scope.
“I just couldn’t do it. It was too overwhelming to me. I didn’t paint in series. I painted whatever I felt like painting.”
It was only when the facility decided to open its own Alcove Gallery to match the one at its southern counterpart that Roth figured the time was right. It’s still big, but it’s a smaller space, she continued.
“I can manage that. I just had to come up with a series.”
That she did, as she produced some very large and very beautiful flowers on canvas, hence the title of her exhibit: Flower Power. Perhaps she should have called it Desert Rose, considering her inspiration first blossomed in dusty Las Vegas.
Soon after she started her painting career, she and her husband had travelled to the gambling city and visited an art gallery.
“I saw this really large rose. I just fell in love with it. It was all in whites and creams. I thought to myself, ‘I want to paint one of those.’ From that day till 2014, I had been looking for my rose. Everywhere I went, I took pictures of roses. Pictures and pictures … but nothing really appealed to me.”
So she started painting other flowers. One day, with a canvas already primed and poised on her easel, she decided that one more visit to the St. Albert Botanic Park would set the right mood.
And that’s when she saw it: a magnificent rose off in the distance.
“There it was, this beautiful pink and yellow and orange rose. It had dewdrops and it was just gorgeous. I came home and thought, ‘That’s it. That is the rose.’”
That piece first got its moment in the public eye during the Night of Artists event back in March. It was so well received that she immediately set to work on completing the series.
Located in the public mingling space outside of the theatre proper, the exhibit is free and open to all.
Flower Power runs from Oct. 23 to Jan. 4. An opening reception takes place on Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The artist will be in attendance.
The exhibit will then travel down the QEII Highway to take up the Alcove Gallery in the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. That will be on display from March 15 to April 30.
The Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is located at 11455 87 Ave. in Edmonton.
Written by Scott Hayes, St. Albert Gazette
http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/Jubes-Alcove-full-of-Memorys-flowers-20151021
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Flower Power
 |
| Begonia in Orange Cascade |
Ninety square feet of canvas, over 200 linear feet of frame,
countless tubes of oil paint and hours and hours of work are finally ready to
take to the stage, or in this case the gallery walls.
It’s been a long journey, a long time coming, and a bittersweet accomplishment.
Having a solo show at the Northern Alberta Jubilee has not only
been a dream of mine, but also a dream of my late husband Bernie.
Most people I know have hobbies they love; they find relaxation
and a great deal of enjoyment in these interests outside of work, my husband loved
to work. He loved to work so much that his hobby was working at the
Northern Alberta Jubilee part time. Although, he enjoyed his full time
job, worked with great people, and met each challenge head on, it was a stressful
job and consumed a lot of his life. He
wanted sometime to do in his time away from the job that would be fun and
stress free. When our children were
involved in sports and other activities that kept both of us busy, we loved it,
but once our children got to the age that they gave up some of their activities we found we had more time on our hands; I could always find something to occupy my
time, my husband on the other hand found himself restless.
Besides having a full time job, one of his sister's worked part
time at the Centrium in Red Deer.
Whenever my husband and her chatted about her part time job he would
tell me that it sounded like so much fun, wouldn’t it be great if he could find
something like that to do! It just
happened at that time the Northern Alberta Jubilee was looking for staff.
I remember Bernie’s boss, Bonnie telling us at his funeral that he
was the best employee she ever had; I could totally believe it. He was so dedicated and hardworking and so
much fun to be around. She told all of
us about the day he came in for an interview for a job. The interview went well, but before she could
say anything to him about getting back to him, he said to her something along
the lines of “When do I start?” I’m sure
she was surprised by his confidence, it never occurred to him that he wouldn’t
be hired, but that was my husband, never arrogant, but totally confident.
He started the job in September of 2005 and loved it. He
spend as much time as he could at the Jube, so much so that I asked him to put
a limit on it. He wanted me to apply and come and work with him, but our
youngest needed someone home in the evenings.
I always looked forward to him coming home at the end of his shift and
sitting down and hearing all about the evening.
He would always have an interesting or funny story about the events and
antics that took place. I knew from the
very beginning that this was a special place to him. Somewhere he felt he belonged, a place where I’m sure given half the chance he would have worked
full time.
A couple years after I started painting in 2006 and my art started
to get some notice, he mentioned to me that the Jube had a gallery in the lower
level, the Kassa Gallery, and he thought I should apply to have a show. I was curious about the gallery but didn’t
feel ready to apply. I went to the Jube
one day with him to have a look anyway.
It was a big space and I knew I needed to increase my inventory before I
could ever even think about applying; I put the thought aside. Over the course of a few more years while I
continued to paint and he continued with his hobby he mentioned over and over
to me to apply to the Kaasa Gallery. His boss also mentioned to him that
she thought I should apply for a show. I knew that one day I would, but I
wasn't sure when that would be.
After Bernie passed away in 2012, Bonnie and the staff at the Jube
were very supportive to me and my family. I knew they cared deeply for my
husband and thought highly of him.
Bonnie and a few other staff continued to encourage me to apply for a
show. Last year I was told that the Jube would open a new gallery on the
1st balcony, the Alcove Gallery, this gallery would be smaller and it might be
a good fit for me. But I knew if I wanted to apply for a show I would
have to paint a series.
It’s all good and fine telling yourself you have to paint a
series, but when you are a painter like me and just paint anything that you
feel like painting, from portraits of people and pets, to landscapes,
waterscapes, boats, signs and flowers, how do you pick? I started to think about my art and what I
wanted to be known for, but that in itself was hard. I didn’t want to pigeon hole myself, I wanted
to paint anything and everything, but as I started to really look at my art I
realized there was a pattern. I painted
mostly portraits, not just people, dogs and other animals, but also boats and
flowers. Most of my paintings, other
than landscape, had a singular subject. Once I figured this out I decided to go
ahead and paint some flowers for my first series. I had recently finished a rose that was well
received and a great deal of fun to paint. This particular rose was large,
three feet by three feet and I decided to keep to that size theme. I knew from my photography that I would have
lots of reference material and if I fell short I could always go and take more
photos. |
| The Rose |
I decided that it was time, I went to the Jube and met the person
in charge of the shows and had a look at the new gallery space. I felt confident that I could fill it. I told her I was going to send in an application
for a show. She said that was great and
explained how the jurying process worked….wait a minute….there was a jury, I
wasn’t a shoe in? As it turned out once
you send in an application it goes through her and then it goes to a jury of
the board members of the Jubilee, well, I didn’t know any of them, what if
after all this time I was turned down, what if after all this time I didn’t get
accepted? I sent in the application
and waited nervously.
 |
| Christina |
As all of this was taking place I heard back from the Jube, I was
in!!! The board liked my work and gave
the thumbs up. I was slated for November
and December of 2015; the first artist in the new gallery with eight months to
paint, which for me, is not enough time, but I was going to give it my all!!!
 |
| Serenity - Maluhia |
I was on a roll, I had everything figured out, how much time I
needed for each painting, how many hours I needed to work each day. Things were coming together, I was working
like crazy and had only two paintings to complete when just a few weeks before
the start date of the show, it was pushed back due to some issues with the
hanging rails, after all this is a new gallery and hiccups were pretty much to
be expected….but I was on a roll and now I had six additional weeks to work…………have
you ever met a procrastinator? Well,
hello. I took three weeks off, why you
ask, because I could. I actually did
have good reasons, I had to do the books for my son’s business, get them to the
accountant, work on my yard a bit, which I had planned to do once everything was
finished, read a book or two and think about painting. The show dates were now
October 19, 2015 to January 4, 2016, lots of time to work. Which in the end I did work. Once I got back into the rhythm of things the
paintings came together. But then
another hiccup emerged and as it has turned out my show starting date has been
moved back to the opening reception date of Friday, October 23, 2015, which is
not a bad thing, more time to fine tune things.
It’s getting close and I’m getting more excited. Only one more painting to touch up and
frame. I’ve been working on the
promotion, the marketing and have had two interviews with Scott Hayes of the
St. Albert Gazette. Bryan Young of the
Gazette came over in the summer and took photos of me and my art and Scott
plans on putting something in the paper next Wednesday. It’s been hectic, it’s been a lot of work,
but most of all it’s been fun. I’ve
never painted so large, I hope I can get the painting in my van, I guess I
should have checked that a while ago…
I look forward to next Friday evening with the hope that my
friends, family and supporters will come out to the opening reception to see my
art. I look forward to having the
patrons of the shows who go through the Alcove Gallery see my work over the
next 3 months.
It’s been a long time coming since the first day my late husband
told me I should apply to have a show at the Jube. Well, I did and it’s almost here. I hope it’s successful, I hope it’s well
received and I hope I did him proud and I wish he was here to share in this
moment.
Flower Power
A Solo Exhibition by Memory Roth
Northern Alberta Jubilee - Alcove Gallery
1st Balcony
Edmonton, AB
October 23, 2015 - January 4, 2016
Opening Reception - Friday, October 23, 2015
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
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