Toronto Artisan Market At Twist Gallery

This Sunday October 24th, the Twist Gallery will be hosting the Toronto Artisan Market open from 11:00am to 5:00pm. The Toronto Artisan is a non-profit organization who provides a platform for local artists to sell and promote their works such as art pieces and handmade crafts! The organization strives to promote local sustainable products to support local artisans, as well as to practice diversity and inclusivity by incorporating various businesses.

@Jaketobindraws

We will have a plethora of vendors to showcase this Sunday! Here are some of the talented local artisans who will be at the market:

Lisa Maxwell Jewelry

Lisa Maxwell’s jewelry business utilizes the healing components of crystals which she styles into rings, bracelets, and necklaces. She started her business after making jewelry for her brother as a gift, and has been drawn to the energy of the crystals ever since. 

Lisa’s favorite crystals to work with are the moonstone, labradorite, and pink opal.

https://lisamaxwell.ca/blogs/news

Artglas

Artglas creates handmade glass jewelry products by using heat to manipulate the glass into an art form. The company consists of two artists, David and Sarah, who both came to this craft in different ways. David was inspired by his father who was a stained glass artist and decided to turn his hobby into something more. Sarah was interested in studying natural science through art, and uses this business to combine her favorite things.

An interesting aspect of Artglas is that handmade pieces will not be identical to the other, creating a unique original piece every time.

Mirror Doodles

Mirror Doodles’ Eden and Ava create unfiltered borderless art using different shapes, textures and colours. Mirror Doodles is a proudly Queer and BIPOC owned business; in fact, Eden and Ava contribute ten percent of their profits to supporting organizations in the area. Pieces can also be custom-made using your own mirror!

Mirror Doodles strives to make art more stress-free and fun

https://www.mirrordoodles.ca/about-us

Over the Luna

Over the Luna is owned by Quennie and consists of handmade paper flower boxes. Initially, Over the Luna was simply a creative outlet for Quennie until the COVID-19 pandemic when she decided to pursue her dream full time. Very soon she was receiving inquiries from customers and her works gained popularity. Quennie named her business “Over the Luna” because she wanted people to be ‘over the moon’ when they received their flower gifts.

https://overtheluna.com

Soi BioLuxe

Originally from Quebec, Marie-Eve discovered the wonders of organic products and the dramatic impact it can have when she was in Australia. She quickly learned how to produce the ingredients and when she moved to Toronto she discovered a mass appreciation for organic goods. She inspires everyone to be their authentic selves and each product can be used toward different skin needs.

https://www.soibioluxe.com/about

Andie & Co.

Andie & Co. is a candle business and was created by Alexandria Blanche in 2018. Andie & Co. strives to incorporate scent and memory in their products and always choose their ingredients with care. Whenever possible, Andie & Co. collaborates with other local Canadian businesses to get ingredients for their candles.

https://www.andieco.com

We have so much more to come with a ton of vendors, the rest include:

1. Lisa Maxwell Jewelry @lisamaxwelljewelry

2. Love & Light Jewels @loveandlightjewels

3. Sue B Designs @suebdesigns_

4. Artglas

5. Art by Shimoni @artbyshimoni

6. ThotfulDog @th0tfuldog

7. Watercolour Impressions 

8. Art Speaks Studio 

9. Natalie Gallery @nataliegallery

10. Jaketobin illustrations @jaketobindraws

11. Mirror doodles @mirrordoodles

12. Yaelly Designs 

13. Teo Vibes @teovibes

14. Carolyn Laidley Art @carolynlaidley_art

15. Backyard Studios @backyardstudios_ca

16. Over the Luna @overtheluna

17. NorthxNorth designs @nothxnorthdesign

18. Sadelmager @sadelmagerdesign

19. Soi bioluxe @soibioluxe

20. H by Hiroko @hbyhiroko

21. Kingdoms of the Horn candles @kothcandles

22. Harleys @sucs4u

23. Andie & co. @andieco.candles

24. Salt & Mustard 

Come Check all of these great vendors out and enjoy, you can purchase fresh baked goods, coffee/tea and refreshments. When entering the gallery please remember to bring a mask, masks are mandatory throughout this event. We hope to see you there and have a great time!

Toronto Artisan Market Website: www.torontoartisan.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/torontoartisan

Sandra Di Leo and her use of colour instead of words

 Sandra Di Leo was born in Wawa, Ontario and moved to Toronto in 1997. She graduated from George Brown College in 2000 in Graphic Design. She has been a designer ever since, meanwhile also establishing herself as an artist. Sandra has been painting ever since she was child. She is known for her contemporary abstract expressionist artwork. She took part in our July Kaleidoscope Exhibition and we got to ask her some questions.

Do you have a favourite medium? What materials/tools do you use the most and why?

I work solely in acrylics on either canvas or wood, I prefer the fast-drying nature of acrylic paint and the flexibility that it offers me.

When did you first start painting and why?

I've been drawing and painting since childhood. Painting allows me to express moments of emotional intensity through colour instead of words, it gives me the ability to document my life through my art and offers me an in-depth process of self-discovery.

What inspires you to paint?

I am inspired by many things — my paintings are an introspective exploration of moments/memories that I am recording visually through my art. My deep affinity to nature which is rooted from my upbringing in northern Ontario has a significant influence on my work. 

Do you have a favourite painting in the collection you're exhibiting? Could you explain the meaning and/or process behind it? 

My favourite piece in this exhibition is "Bang, Bang, Kiss, Kiss" . This colourful artwork is composed of rich textures on a wood panel, the fluidity and spontaneity of the black paint drips and colour layering in this artwork are reminiscent of some street art techniques. This piece is filled with euphoric energy.

Has your art changed at all during the pandemic?

Yes, most definitely, like most artists, I have used this time to focus on my work and explore new directions. I’ve recently released a series of paintings with a calming palette to soothe the soul and emanate comfort and harmony. Blue is a prominent colour in these pieces as it evokes serenity and stability. The body of work engages with viewers mindfully and offers a sense of well-being. This was an important direction for me to explore as an artist, during a time of so much distress and uncertainty.

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Sandra’s participation in the Kaleidoscope exhibit is not her first time showcasing her artwork at Twist Gallery and most definitely not the last one.

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Meet Raquel Fuentes!

Raquel Fuentes is a Venezuelan born, mostly self-taught abstract artist. Since she was young, she had a love for all that was artistic, and now she is a featured artist of our July’s Kaleidoscope Exhibition. Let’s get to know more about Raquel Fuentes and her artwork!

What inspires you to paint?

So many things. There is inspiration for me everywhere: feelings, emotions, different energies that surround us. Sometimes listening to a specific song, looking at a landscape or even memories may spark an emotion, a feeling or connection which may inspire me to paint.   I also love painting as a way of mindfulness and to connect to my inner self, as a mediation and/or journal.

What are your favourite techniques when creating new work? What materials/tools do you use the most and why?

I have been enjoying working with acrylics. I like the versatility of it as there are so many different effects and textures you can achieve. I love using thicker paint, as well as gel mediums for thicker texture. I also really like to use other tools aside from brushes. I really like using the palette knife but one of my favourite tools that I love using is a rubber squeegee and exploring its different effects. 

Do you have a process/method when painting?

I always start my painting session with a short mediation and usually set an intention usually to let things flow. When picking colours I usually go with my intuition in picking the initial colour palette to start off and then work around those colours later in the paint to add in more colours or build different shades/layers. I really love using colour and playing around with different colour combinations so I really just go with my intuition. Sometimes I may have in mind to start the painting with two specific colours but then the rest it is usually just go with the flow and intuition. 

Do you have a favourite painting in the collection you're exhibiting? Could you explain the meaning and/or process behind it?

Flow. I love painting when I get to that point where things just flow and I’m just trusting. Its fun and really bliss. However, I have sometimes really struggled with not letting that overcritical mind and frustrations take over. With Flow the whole process it just flowed. I felt such a strong connection with the whole process and that feeling is the best for me.

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You can view and purchase Raquel’s work at our Kaleidoscope exhibition from July 2nd till July 31st.

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Tanmay Parashar and His Passion for Colours

Tanmay Parashar is a Toronto based self-taught contemporary artist, who is passionately in love with colours. His venture into the joys of merging colours with canvas began recently, in July 2018. He enjoys creating abstract art, using acrylics primarily, and tries to evoke a sense of beauty and inspiration through the interactions between colours as they find their place on the surface he is working with. He endeavours to create pieces that produce the same passion for colours in others that he has always felt. 

Source: Personal Trainer Pioneer

What made you want to start painting?

I always wanted to paint. I just never thought I could. One of the biggest inhibitors for me was my own understanding that to paint, I should be able to draw - draw a portrait, draw a scene. Back in July 2018, I joined artist Catherine Shea's abstract art workshop and I haven't looked back since then. I realized that colours don't need to exist in a shape or a form - they can be joyful and beautiful even without a specific form.

Source: Personal Trainer Pioneer

 What influences you and your art?

My love for colours is my biggest influence. I love colours and my work shows that. The other thing that drives me is my desire to constantly keep evolving. I will probably never have a signature style - because I am constantly trying new things and then moving on. If you look at my small body of work - you can clearly see the various styles I have adopted, and then moved on from.

Source: Personal Trainer Pioneer

 Do you have a favourite colour? If so, what colour and why?

I don't have a favourite colour because it is impossible for me to pick just one. I am the kind of person that sees a colour and feels like crying with joy because it looks so breathtakingly beautiful. I think I may have a few colours that are not my favourite though - Browns - I rarely use them, except for mixing with something else.

Source: Personal Trainer Pioneer

 What techniques do you use for your artwork?

From the very beginning I have used non-traditional tools for painting. Almost all of my early paintings were done using credit cards. Some of my most time-consuming paintings have been painted using the edge of a credit card. More recently I have been using brayers to apply paint. I love creating layered pieces. 

Source: Personal Trainer Pioneer

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This is the second time Tanmay participates in our exhibition and, hopefully, we will see him more in the future!

If you would like to see more of Tanmay’s work, you can visit our Twist Gallery for the Kaleidoscope Exhibition in July!

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Meet Robert Saffer

Robert Saffer is an abstract contemporary symbolist artist. He works with all visual mediums. His stark, textured aesthetic has a fierce expressive power with a sense of movement and menace. As a symbolist, he aims to express moods and emotions rather than the world around him. He does not dismiss realism. Rather, he selects symbols by intuition, heritage and study developing paintings in rich hallucinatory colour in line with radical practices of the 21st century. His compositions represent a more lyrical style, aiming to awaken the spiritual experience in abstract phenomena. 

 Currently, he has engaged in performance and installation art, which he sees as a part of today’s mainstream art world. He believes it symbolizes an essential truth: our emotional condition.

What are your favourite techniques when creating new work?

My work begins with rendering and translating inner scenes (thoughts, feelings and intuition). In this collection, I have experimented with the building blocks of emotional landscapes utilizing various colour schemes and textures…aiming to evoke a sense of sublime in the hopes of creating an intense authentic charge. Of great intrigue and importance are both the subtle and dramatic depictions of light and colour, form and texture, always mindful of the light and dark forces in our genetic makeup. Materials handily woven always play a role in creating this narrative.

What brought you to painting as a medium rather than another form of artistic expression? 

Schooled in fine arts and having spent many years as a ‘creative’ in advertising, painting was a natural evolution of my skills, somewhat of a stand-in for depicting reality and reframing my experiences. 

Art induces and unleashes feelings. It’s a way to document and process. Art doesn’t necessarily have to be logical or structured, but deciding what a piece is going to say is. Who it is going to speak too, will depend on who is open to each pictorial journey. This somewhat ambiguous format is the very essence of what brought me to painting abstract structures. 

What makes your work unique? 

An aura of investigative measures are being portrayed in my work. I try to challenge my own conceptions of the human condition. An endless range of effects runs through wild colourful terrains on the canvas. Automatic strokes balance and anatomic designs create a highly emotional aesthetic experience. Paint formations build up into a panacea of creatures and doorways of energy (spirit).

Wendy Teasdale's Intuitive Style

Wendy Teasdale is a participant in the Kaleidoscope exhibit. Her paintings are intricate and eye-catching, we love her work. We asked her a couple of questions about her style and processes which you can read below!

Do you have a favourite medium? What materials and tools do you use the most and why?

I love working in acrylic inks and high flow acrylics for the background of my paintings. I enjoy the blending process and layering of colours using solid, translucent and metallic. My favourite archival ink pens are micron black and uni-ball signo white.

Do you have a process/method when painting?

My painting process is very much an intuitive one. I usually start with a colour in mind and the next one almost chooses itself! I find painting and drawing to be meditative, it’s really my therapy. I have very much relied on my art during these pandemic months for a little escape. Being creative everyday helps to stay sane!

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Thank you Wendy for exhibiting you beautiful works at Twist Gallery!

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Meet Courtney Senior!

Courtney Senior is one of Twist Gallery’s featured artists this month for the Kaleidoscope Exhibit. We have all heard about Art Therapy and how it can be used as a means of self-expression and a way to cope with stress, but does it work? Courtney first started painting 12 years ago as a mean to overcome anxiety when she started painting landscapes.

“The attention to detail and the focus it requires helps me escape realities of my day-to-day” says Courtney. She further explains how her painting subsided with her anxiety, but she started painting again after a family tragedy 8 years ago. She goes on to say, “This time, the painting routine stuck. While I’m not a full-time artist, I spend every free minute I have painting and building my business.”

Courtney is a minimalist when it comes to tools and mediums. She uses fluid acrylics and a Catalyst wedge. “The catalyst wedge is the perfect match for fluid acrylics as it allows you to create a lot of movements. The wedge is also great for creating texture and adding depth amongst the layers.”

Courtney likes to experiment with new mediums and tools, but she has yet to find anything that has made it in into her regular repertoire. 

The process

Take a look at her painting process. The natural progression with which she paints is incredibly relaxing and therapeutic to watch!

The inspiration

So what inspires Courtney to make these beautiful pieces of art? Other than using painting as a creative outlet, she is inspired by motivation and positivity! She started painting as a way to cope with anxiety but now she paints whenever she’s feeling happy and inspired. 

“When I am full of positive vibes, the paints are out, and the 90s music is on.”

Courtney’s personal favorite

“My favourite piece in the collection is Tomorrow Island. There is something about neon colours on a large canvas that gives me life. It is so vibrant and full of positive energy.”

Artist: Courtney Senior

TOMORROW ISLAND

36”x48”

Tomorrow Island is a part of Courtney’s Neons and Neutrals series. This theme came to life after she reintroduced herself to 90s dance music. The energy and nostalgia of the music immediately had her piecing together a bold color palette. 

We absolutely love Courtney’s journey as an artist and the way she uses art as means of self-expression. Check out her paintings at the Kaleidoscope Exhibit at Twist Gallery!

David Brown and the Encaustic Method

This month, Twist Gallery’s Kaleidoscope exhibit features David Brown, an artist who uses the encaustic method for his paintings. David shared images of his work and studio, and taught us all about the encaustic method.

Meet David Brown:

David Brown graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 1992. He has a 25+ year award winning career in the international art and design industry; honoured by Toronto’s Design Exchange in 1996. David’s work was included in Type Culture, an exhibition of top designers chosen for their pivotal influence on Canadian Typography. David Brown taught Industrial Design at OCADU from 1996 to 2006 while also operating a successful product design studio. David is the founder and managing director of Toronto’s SpeakEasy Events, creating networking opportunities for established and emerging artists since 1996. In 2013 he initiated the Five Star collective aimed at facilitating member participation in international art opportunities which have included Aqua Art Miami, Clio Art Fair and Fountain NYC.

David’s abstract encaustic paintings have been shown at numerous galleries and museums across Canada and the U.S. Recently he mounted a solo exhibition at The Painting Center in Chelsea NYC. His paintings are held in private and corporate collections in North America, Europe and Asia. The products he designed have been sold across North America, and his work has been published in books and magazines throughout Canada and the United States, such as Azure, Canadian Art, Style at Home and The Toronto Star to name a few.

What is the encaustic method?

Encaustic painting is an ancient art form and was practiced by artists as far back as the 5th century B.C.. The word encaustic comes from Greek and means “to burn in”, which refers to the process of fusing the layers of paint together. The technique uses heated wax to which coloured pigments are added. The molten wax is applied to a firm surface–usually prepared wood, paper or canvas.

Encaustic has a long history, but it is as versatile as any 20th century medium. Brushes are used to apply and shape the wax before it cools, then it can be polished to a high gloss; it can be modelled, sculpted, textured, and combined with collage materials. The wax cools immediately, so that there is no drying time, yet it can always be reworked. Encaustic paintings do not have to be varnished or protected by glass.

David painting with wax

“But will it melt on a hot day?”

I get asked this question all the time. The answer is No. The working temperature for the liquid wax is 225 degrees fahrenheit, so unless you are living in an oven the work will be fine hanging in your living room. But, just like any artwork, it is not a good idea to keep it in an area where it will be exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.

What materials/tools do you need for the encaustic method?

Because the encaustic method is such an ancient technique, it is really very primitive.  Basically you need beeswax, some colour, a heat source and a few simple brushes and tools. The Egyptians and Greeks would melt large urns of wax over an open fire and used natural pigments for colour. Today we are blessed with many more modern options. Encaustic paint has become so popular that art supply stores now sell a vast array of both the clear medium and coloured waxes. But I still choose to make my own paint, partly because that is how I learned and partly because I like the alchemy of the process. I use a pharmaceutical grade beeswax, mixed with damar resin (a hard natural resin that comes from a family of deciduous trees that grow in the East Indies), and for colour, I add powdered pigments. I melt the wax on two very large electric skillets in metal tins and baking pans. I apply the wax with natural bristle brushes and I use metal scrapers, knives and sculptor's tools to sculpt and manipulate the paint after it has been applied. I use a plumbers torch, electric iron and a heat gun to “fuse” the wax after each layer has been applied.

The materials I use to make encaustic paint. Bees wax, Damar Resin, Powdered Pigments.

When did you start using the method and why?

I graduated from OCAD in 1992, at that time I had never heard of encaustic paint or the technique. I happened to meet an artist working in the medium and she showed me the basic materials and process and even gave me my first chunk of wax to try out. I went back to my studio and taught myself how to paint with wax. This was before the internet, and before the technique was as popular as it is now. I found a book that was very helpful, but mostly I learned through trial and error. Since then I have fostered an incredible relationship with the encaustic paint and it has become my medium of choice.  I often say “the wax and I paint together,” and I truly love this collaboration. The wax has a very strong personality and will usually tell me what it would like to do. There are very defined borders where the wax can not go, but within those boundaries it is extremely flexible. Many painters can't stand working with the encaustic medium because you have to be willing to let go of a certain amount of control. I don't see it that way, I feel like I am learning everyday and that helps to keep the work fresh and exciting.

What influences your art making art practice?

Painting is really just an ongoing series of decisions, one after the other, especially in the kind of work I do. I am an abstract painter. I use a method called encaustic painting. I make my own paint from melted beeswax to which I add ground up pigments. This is a very ancient art form but I use it in a modern context. I draw imagery and inspiration from the people, places and things around me. Life in the urban setting has been a common and ongoing theme that I always return to. I have been told my work seems to have a "Canadian flavour". I take that to mean that I am able to somehow reflect the interesting juxtaposition that we (Canadians) see ourselves living in a vast wilderness, but something like 90% of us live in densely populated urban centers close to the southern boarder. We are an urban society that relates to our vast and wild country. I paint from within, trying to capture the essence of a place, a feeling, or an emotion. I don't plan my pieces, I just build them as I go. I have been working this way for long enough that I trust myself and the process I have developed.

If you’d like to see more of David’s work, you take a look at each piece under artwork showcase or take a virtual walk through our gallery here!

Crossing Boundaries Exhibit 2021

I think we can all agree, everyone misses being able to travel! Although border restrictions remain tense amidst the pandemic, Crossing Boundaries, may remedy everyone’s desire for exploration and travel. During March 2021, Twist Gallery will feature 8 talented and local artists, who’s works perfectly reflect the beauty of all the various places in the world.

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Caroline Piette

Caroline Piette, Vaybe, is a visual artist largely inspired by the 90’s culture which surrounded her as she grew up. Early internet era, video games, and anime are all elements from her childhood which frequently pop up in her works. 

Initially, she began painting to express her desire to escape the conventions of the real world. However, she now aims to consolidate expression, colour and simplicity through her canvases. 

Through her art, Vaybe evokes feelings of nostalgia which she hopes resonates with her viewers as well. 

Farzaneh Ali Hosseini

Farzaneh is an oil painter who uses her talents to explore the realm of fundamental interactions between forces which govern life. Through her expressive representations of landscapes, Farzaneh wishes to tell the story of life. 

Nature and it’s perpetual metamorphosis as a factor of human development and expansion are only one among the many great inspirations Farzaneh has top of mind. All in all, Farzaneh wishes to inspire viewers to look at their surroundings differently.

Hayoung Jung

Hayoung Jung is a well established artist with works featured on book covers, a variety of awards and recognition, and multiple art exhibitions and fairs attended within his artistic career.

Hayoung’s work draws back from his personal experiences as he expresses his desire to escape to a place of his own. The various worlds he paints are meant to show the beauty of silence and peace, and evoke an endless sense of serene for his audience.

Katherine Muir Miller

Katherine Muir Miller is an impressionistic realism artist, born in Montreal, Quebec with a gallery in Perth, Ontario and a home studio in Ottawa.

Katherine's use of vibrant colours in her Canadian landscapes greatly accentuates her canvases, adding an element of boldness and playfulness.Ideally, she wishes her viewers to feel movement, mood and simplicity through her work. Katherine's inspirations include; life adventures of friends, family and clients. Being able to connect her work to their treasured memories is her greatest pleasure.

"It's all about the story behind the painting, that's what inspires me."

Madeline Greenwald

Madeline Greenwald, is a travel enthusiast, whose works are largely inspired by the sensations of her excursions. Through her paintings, she explores her personal perspectives of her journeys and hopes to accurately depict her feelings for both herself and her viewers.

Aside from depicting travel, movement, shapes, and light are elements which Madeline is intrigued by and heavily considers when creating.

Sarah Pais

Sarah is a visual artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her work largely consists of renderings of her favourite cities’ urban structures.

During the international lockdown, Sarah began her series, “Grounded” which utilizes new and old photographs from travels across the world of her friends, other artists, and her own. The concept behind the project was to invoke a sense of short-lived nostalgia through her paintings. 

Shelly Amor

Shelly Amor is a fauvist artist who incorporates various colour combinations into her pieces. Shelly’s work is inspired by her experiences throughout her creative career, including landscape architecture, teaching art, and wearable tech design. 

Much of Shelly’s work exhibiting in Crossing Boundaries was referenced by her own personal travels to Australia and New Zealand throughout February and March 2020. Initially, she had planned to travel all year long however, due to Covid, her trip was cut short. Even so, this presented Shelly with the opportunity to focus on her talents which essentially helped keep her spirits up throughout her quarantine experience.

Tahereh Tina Nazarali

Tina is a self taught modern-realism artist from Iran, who was inspired by her father to paint in elementary. After completing highschool and getting accepted into a university for electrical engineering, she ceased her creative endeavours. However, upon coming to Toronto in Oct of the late 90’s, she reinvigorated her creative passions and began to paint once more. Her favourite sources of inspiration today are both nature & cityscapes. 

Though, our gallery doors remain closed, due to quarantine procedure, all artists’ works will be showcased on our site here.

Small Weddings Can Still Be Great

If we reflect back upon our younger years, we can likely pinpoint the exact first memory off what we believed our ‘perfect wedding’ was going to entail.  

Was it a huge princess dress that would wow every person in the congregation?

Was it a cake with multiple tiers and two small cake toppers placed on top?

Was it a church or chapel with large high ceilings, stain glass windows and an aisle long enough to make a significant entrance?

Or was it the music that would play in the background whilst you had your first dance with your significant other?

As we grow and mature, often what we dreamt of can change and ideas we initially had, no longer hold the same importance.

As long as you are marrying the person you love surrounded by your nearest and dearest, this becomes the only thing that matters, right?

With the addition of a worldwide pandemic this has admittedly caused a lot of uncertainty and change in our lives, especially regarding important life events like weddings. However, not everything needs viewed as a negative consequence of the pandemic.

So, with events now only allowing a capacity of 50 guests & less, known formally as a micro wedding, what are the advantages that this could bring in the year 2020 and beyond?

One of the most obvious advantages of this new normal is the ability to downsize without offending potential ‘would-have-invited’ guests.

There was no cap pre pandemic on how many could be invited and often brides and grooms spoke of their anguish when creating the invite list and seating plan.

Now there is less stress and no obligation to invite individuals who you are unsure off. The ability to downsize with a valid excuse such as a worldwide pandemic is reasoning that very few people could find fault with.

Now with much fewer guests in attendance, the bride and groom are able to chat to all their guests much more than what they would have before. There is little need to spend the entire day ‘doing the rounds’. Your wedding day is meant to be fun right?

With a more intimate setting, you are also able to spend more time capturing the special moments when it comes to picture time. With exhibits running monthly, there are always beautiful pieces of art to feature as a quirky wedding picture opportunity.

Lastly, another huge advantage of a micro wedding is that the financial burden placed on the bride and groom during the planning of their special day is decreased substantially.

In 2019, weddings were found to be on average $34,000.

More often than not, what begins as a ‘simple’ wedding can soon have significant price tags attached as every little detail can become expensive.

The ability to have a wedding in an event space like ours at Twist Gallery, immediately alleviates some of the costs involved with a regular wedding.

So on that note, embrace the new normal and the fact that micro weddings are a new trend that will likely long surpass the end of this pandemic due to the many advantages of having one.

An intimate micro wedding can still be extremely special and all you ever wished for when picturing how your wedding day would unfold. It might be significantly smaller, but this can make it so much more personal. With a smaller group of people, those guests are those absolutely nearest and dearest. The necessity of having a large space to host both reception and weddings is no longer a requirement. Overall overhead costs have been dramatically reduced, and now the most important requirement is to have a beautiful wedding day, filled with love, laughter and joy. All the rest, doesn’t matter!

A Look into our September Exhibition: Water & Earth

Are you ready to explore the depths of water and earth by diving into the newest exhibit curated by us, at Twist Gallery?  As the name suggests, ‘Water and Earth’ is a stunning concept that brings together an array of earthy greeny, blue tones with pink and orange hues on never ending landscapes from eight Toronto-based artists. Each artist uniquely encapsulates their interpretation of the beauty of nature, water and earth.

Running until September 29th, this free exhibit will transport your mind and soul to a new unseen destination in a time where travel is scarce.  Lose yourself in the rolling waves and find peace in the tranquil sky.

Each artist has spoken about the inspiration they have drawn from Canadian landscapes, like that of the Hudson and Georgian Bays, expressing strong emotional attachment when they are at one with nature.  During this time of social and physical isolation from friends, peers and loved ones - the artists speak about the comfort and solace that they find in nature.

We had a chat with one of our artists, Celina Melo, to explain these concepts through a more personal lens.

How do you use colour to express emotion in your work?

Well, because I’m also working from photographs, that’s my jumping-off point--but while I’m painting, based on how, I guess, how I’m feeling intrinsically, colours will become more vibrant or more subdued and I feel that we start to learn a bit more about ourselves and the state we were in while we were painting. Even when we’re just letting it go and letting it flow, it doesn’t have to be necessarily such a cerebral process where I’m really thinking about, “Well, I want to give this feeling or this one”, because sometimes you get to just… show what’s happening in our mind without us actually knowing which is part of the interesting psychology of, of working with art.

Artwork by Celina Melo

Can you describe your interpretation of the symbiosis between Art & Nature?

Well, they’re both very symbiotic, art and nature--the symbiosis between the two of them has to do with that… there’s the rhythms in nature and the lifeforce and everything that we’re all so connected with. And so, even just the act of painting is so rhythmic that it’s the same feeling as, like, the breathing in nature and so, one of the things I really like to replicate is that sensation of being there in that moment and I find that water especially, in nature, is so calming to me. And hearing the rhythm is so meditative. When you’re there by the water, you can’t help but be calm when you’re listening to the waves come in and out, and I try to… give that type of sensation through my artwork by using pouring medium to replicate the gestures and the movement, the vibration as well as the sheen. I’m trying to really… play with that idea of a symbiosis, which is actually--that’s what I’m trying to achieve.

Do you have any advice for artists starting out?

I would say… don’t be afraid of criticism. Be given a critique as a gift to you. So really consider that when somebody gives you constructive criticism, don’t take it as an affront of who you are or what you achieved, or that, you know, “I’m terrible” or “Who is that person who would say that to me?” Take every piece of critique as a gift for you to improve.

A big thank you to Celina Melo for talking to us about emotional themes, the relationship between art and nature, and her advice for new artists. Come by the Water & Earth exhibition here at Twist Gallery from September 2nd to September 29th to see the earth tones and calm natural themes by local artists for yourself!

Thank you to all our featured artists for being a part of this exhibition. Artworks by: Hayoung Jung, Marina May Raike, Neerja Trehan, Robyn Carmago, Carolyn Sharp, Celina Melo, Janet Christie, and Jacques Descoteaux. 

Powersurge: Carolyn Sharp

Hudson Bay: Marina May Raike

The Rising: Neerja Trehan

Icescape VII, Winter’s Breath: Celina Melo

Light of a Low Sun: Jacques Descoteaux

Very Private Space: Hayoung Jung

Breaking Waters: Janet Christie

Ortus: Robyn Carmago

MEET THE ARTIST, SANDRA DI LEO

Sandra Di Leo was born in Wawa, Ontario and moved to Toronto in 1997. She graduated from George Brown College in 2000 in Graphic Design. She has been a designer ever since. Meanwhile, also establishing herself as an artist. Sandra has been painting ever since she was a child. She is known for her contemporary abstract expressionist artwork. She primarily paints using acrylics.

Sandra’s experience with graphic design and exploring her childhood themes, helps give foundation to her art inspiration. From her childhood her inspiration that she explores is imaginary and real, through colour, composition and texture.

During Sandra Di Leo’s artist career, she continues to grow and evolve. She has participated in several exhibits in galleries, art shows and private collections both in Canada and the the United States. Since 2012, Sandra Di Leo, has been in over 30 art shows. Sandra gives back to the community by donating her artwork to charity such as Design Hope Toronto, Sunybrook and Isand.

Check out Sandra Di Leo’s artwork in our Kaleidoscope Exhibit here https://www.twistgallery.ca/artwork-showcase-1

Source: https://sandradileoart.com/

MEET THE ARTIST, SARAH RUTLEDGE

One of our artists from the Kaleidoscope exhibit is Sarah Rutledge from Ontario, Canada. She has grown up always inspiring to be an artist. Once she started experimenting with abstract art, she had realized that she found her true passion. The different layers of colours in her pieces is intended to give the viewer the experience of looking through the painting. Sarah has participated in many exhibits throughout her career as an artist, with both solo and group exhibits, mostly in Guelph, Ontario. 

Sarah Rutledge is a master of acrylic painting and depth with her different techniques! Her inspiration comes from the endless possibilities of ways that creativity and expression can be shown. Sarah uses her art as a way of communicating and creates opportunities for individuals to connect with art and themselves on a deeper level.  

We have a video here, showing Sarah painting one of her pieces for the Kaleidoscope exhibit!

What is/are your favourite techniques when creating new work?

My favourite method of painting is to build up thin layers of acrylic paint to create depth and visual interest.

What brought you to painting as a medium rather than another form of artistic expression?

I paint because of how physical it is. I love using my hands and different tools to move the paint around the canvas.

In your opinion, what makes your work unique?

My work is unique because of the variety of techniques that I use to create texture and depth in my paintings.

You can view and purchase her artwork here, follow her @sarahruteledgeart or visit her website for more!

MEET THE ARTIST, ROBERT SAFFER

Robert Saffer is an abstract contemporary symbolist artist. He works with all visual mediums. His stark, textured aesthetic has a fierce expressive power with a sense of movement and menace. As a symbolist, he aims to express moods and emotions rather than the world around him. He does not dismiss realism. Rather, he selects symbols by intuition, heritage and study developing paintings in rich hallucinatory colour in line with radical practices of the 21st century. His compositions represent a more lyrical style, aiming to awaken the spiritual experience in abstract phenomena. 

Currently, he has engaged in performance and installation art, which he sees as a part of today’s mainstream art world. He believes it symbolizes an essential truth: our emotional condition.

What are your favourite techniques when creating new work?

My work begins with rendering and translating inner scenes (thoughts, feelings and intuition). In this collection, I have experimented with the building blocks of emotional landscapes utilizing various colour schemes and textures…aiming to evoke a sense of sublime in the hopes of creating an intense authentic charge. Of great intrigue and importance are both the subtle and dramatic depictions of light and colour, form and texture, always mindful of the light and dark forces in our genetic makeup. Materials handily woven always play a role in creating this narrative.

What brought you to painting as a medium rather than another form of artistic expression? 

Schooled in fine arts and having spent many years as a ‘creative’ in advertising, painting was a natural evolution of my skills, somewhat of a stand-in for depicting reality and reframing my experiences. 

Art induces and unleashes feelings. It’s a way to document and process. Art doesn’t necessarily have to be logical or structured, but deciding what a piece is going to say is. Who it is going to speak too, will depend on who is open to each pictorial journey. This somewhat ambiguous format is the very essence of what brought me to painting abstract structures.

What makes your work unique? 

An aura of investigative measures are being portrayed in my work. I try to challenge my own conceptions of the human condition. An endless range of effects runs through wild colourful terrains on the canvas. Automatic strokes balance and anatomic designs create a highly emotional aesthetic experience. Paint formations build up into a panacea of creatures and doorways of energy (spirit).

Meet the Artist, Raquel Fuentes!

Raquel Fuentes is a Venezuelan born, mostly self-taught abstract artist based in Vaughan, Ontario. Since she was young, she had a love for all that was artistic. After her family moved to Canada from Venezuela, she enrolled at a local college and did one year in a general design program. However, she was unsure if she should pursue art as a professional career and pursued a different path. Nevertheless, she always kept art and painting in her heart. After many years working in the legal corporate world and most recently experiencing some anxiety while going through some personal life changes, she has reconnected with her love of painting. The whole experience was healing and transformative whereas she felt inspired to continue her art journey that stopped in her late teens and to pursue it now more seriously.

“I find art to be healing, therapeutic and a release and expression to my soul. My creative process is heavily guided by my intuition and the different energies that surround us. My work showcases my love for vibrant, vivid and bold colours combinations, as well as textures. I am a big believer in the energy and power of colour.”She is also a big believer that everyone has a special light within them and by sharing it with everyone, you make the world brighter. With that belief, she created the hashtag #shineyourlightthruart with hopes to inspire others to shine their own light!

What are your favourite techniques when creating new work?

I love playing with textures and exploring different bold colour combinations. I also really like to use other tools aside from brushes. I really like using the palette knife but one of my favourite tools that I love using is a rubber squeegee and exploring its different effects.

What brought you to painting as a medium rather than another form of artistic expression?

It makes me happy doing it. I feel the most freedom and the most fluid creatively when I am painting. It is a big release of energy once an idea or a piece of work comes to life. I love abstract art, as it allows me to really express myself without any expectations.

In your opinion, what makes your work unique?

In my work, each part of the painting is a little part of me that expresses itself that way. Some styles may be similar amongst artists, but each artist has that uniqueness that they add to their own work.

Beam by Raquel Fuentes, 24” x 36”, Acrylic, $350

You can view and purchase Raquel’s work here or follow her @raquelfuentesart for more! 

Meet the Artist, David Brown!

In his latest series of paintings David explores the limits of the encaustic medium while balancing non-representational image and abstract space. His lyrical and constructivist approach contrasts delicate line-work and hard-edge geometric forms against graceful, gestural marks. David works in successive layers of applied, scraped-off and covered-over wax in a potentially endless process of revision and discovery. David’s colour palette balances hue, value and chroma to articulate a hierarchical relationship between fore and aft. Urban culture is a dominant theme defined in these narrative pieces with a hint of childish whimsy peaking through the layers.

“I am inspired by urban culture and chaos. In the city, signs, symbols, myths and traditions combine to portray varied threads of human history,” says David Brown. “I create abstract encaustic paintings that reference these voices. For me these paintings represent an important visual bridge for the emotional growth we all experience.”

What are your favourite techniques when creating new work?

I approach the act of painting like a builder; using wax, pigments, acrylics and oil paint to construct a multi-layered, multi-sensory experience. I am interested in observing, collecting and reflecting the visual cacophony of urban life. In my work, layers record time, almost archaeologically, with image fragments encapsulated and experiences accumulated in the wax.

I think of my paintings as contemporary landscapes that reflect the experience of living in an urban environment. I encourage viewers to consider traces of human activity by translating basic senses into the visual realm. I strive to represent time and space, sight and sound, in a quiet loudness.

What brought you to painting as a medium rather than another form of artistic expression? 

I studied at the Ontario College of Art. My diploma says that I am a designer. I took a very broad range of courses when I was at art school and ended up with many skills that have proven to be incredibly useful over the years. During my last year at college I started working for one of my instructors at a toy company. I was designing toys and sports equipment. It was very exciting and right out of school I was given senior designer projects. That job lead to a few others, then I ran my own product design studio. I also returned to teach Industrial Design at OCADU. After about 15 years I started to feel like I had exhausted all the possibilities of my Industrial Design career. I had always made paintings and collages as a way to fuel my creative vision. I started showing my work in group shows and other places around town. About 16 years ago, around the time our son was born my partner Margot said to me "You know, you are happiest when you paint, so why don't you just paint?" It sounds funny, but that had never crossed my mind. Once she said that it was like a switch had been turned on and within a year I was painting full-time. The fine art world is much more difficult to navigate, and it is a lot harder to make a living, but the rewards far out way the costs. Design is about solving other people’s problems, now I get to work on a few of my own. I am extremely lucky because I have always been able to support myself with my creative work, and Margot is extremely supportive of the path that I have taken.

07 by David Brown, Encaustic Monotype on Printmaking Paper, 16” x 12”, $250

In your opinion, what makes your work unique?

I have fostered an incredible relationship with my medium of choice. I often say “the wax and I paint together”, and I truly love this collaboration.  The bees wax is an organic material with a strong personality. It tells me where and how to proceed as I guide and tease the molten medium. There are very defined borders, but the paint's versatility is demonstrated by the range of qualities, surfaces and textures it can yield. Many painters can't stand working in encaustic because it is much harder to control.  I don't see it that way, I feel like I am learning everyday and that helps to keep the work fresh and exciting.

04 Urban Visual Cacophony: Rhapsody in Yellow by David Brown, Encaustic with Oil, Acrylic and Spray on Birch Panel, 60” x 40”, $6400

You can view and purchase David’s work here! You can also follow him @encausticman or check out his website for more art!

Meet Wendy Teasdale

Inspired by a deep appreciation for nature, Wendy Teasdale’s artwork is vibrant in colour and rhythmic in pattern and texture. Wendy paints from a place of spontaneity, creating intuitively by layering colourful inks and high flow acrylics. Wendy uses archival ink in black and white to create patterns inspired by the harmony found in the natural world. She’s currently obsessed with the application of gold leaf! 

Wendy has a B.A. in the History of Art and Design from De Montfort University. She teaches Art camps during the summer and is an Early Childhood Educator.

What inspired your pieces for this particular exhibition?

“The pieces I chose or created for the Kaleidoscope exhibition had movement and vibrancy in common, in both composition and colour.”

“In Your Heart”, Acrylic Ink and Archival Ink, 9” x 12”, $170

What is your favourite technique when creating new work?

“My technique is very intuitive. I usually start with a colour in mind and the next colour literally chooses itself! After laying down the inks I draw marks, which are often based on the shapes I see formed by the colours.”

Where do you create your work? What type of environment do you prefer to work in?

“Although my inky backgrounds are nearly always created at my art table, I love drawing out-side. My favourite places are at the lake and the beach.”

You can view more of her art at artwork here or check out her Instagram: @poquito_artist!

Meet the Artists of our Travel Exhibition!

Joanne MacNair

Art characterized by strong linear and graphic components, vibrant colour and fluid shapes. Her paintings have a graphic design sensibility. Studied Fine Art, Art History at McMaster University; Humanities & Fine Art CÉGEP John Abbott College, Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec.

After working full time in the corporate financial world for many years, Joanne was inspired to get back into painting after trips to Italy and France.

John Mantha

The Toronto-based artists and illustrator grew up in Saul Ste Marie, Ontario where he graduated with honers from the Ontario Collage of Art.  He has designed 45 coins for the Royal Canadian Mint, one of which was chosen for coin of the year. He has done commemorative pieces for the Ford Motor Company and the Toronto Transit Commission, as well as 34 paintings for The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Other clients have included Pinguin Books, Annick Press, Kids Can Press, and Cottage Life Magazine. Working for book publishers, advertising agencies, magazines, corporations, television an movies, his work has been seen through North America. His paintings, done in oils, have been exhibited in galleries across Ontario and in corporate and private collections.

Tamana Riviere

“As a child, I was always drawn to art but it was not an option.” Her parents left Afghanistan for Canada as refugees in 1996 with nothing but the clothes on their back. Art was an expensive hobby that they couldn’t afford. Although she painted for the majority of her life, it was only when she could afford it herself that she restarted painting with the hope of finding that spark she had as a child. 

“Painting has become an integral part of my identity. I want every person looking at my paintings to feel how alive it is. I want them to be transported to whatever landscape they are looking at. I want the to be able to connect with my paintings.”

Sarojini Allegakoen

Sarojini Allegakoen has honed her oil painting skills from diverse locations around the world. In each of her paintings she attempts to depict the natural beauty  of landscapes created by God on Earth, whether it be beaches, waterfalls or quiet serene rivers.

Raquel Aurini

Connection is the core of Aurini’s art practice: between memory and place, colour and feeling, moments and meaning, herself and the viewer.

“One of the most significant aspects of my life is travel, and in moments of awe I take a photograph to capture a moment in time and space.” 

Doug Geldart

“I am an artist through to the core of my being, I see everything in terms of colour, form and composition  and I am constantly compelled to paint images that Arte meaningful to me.”

Geldart comes from an undeniably talented family. Raised by a leather worker /  ceramist and a painter, he was encouraged to explore artistic mediums from an early age.

Aside from the standard high school art courses, he took life drawing, ceramic courses and attended watercolour and oil workshops in order to understand how other artists approached their image making and to glean a few technical methods that have improved his painting ability. 

Amir Santkar

Amir Sanatkar was born in Mashhad , Iran. He holds an academic degree in computer hardware from IRAN UNIVERSITIES. He started painting under the supervision of his teacher and his father at the age of 18. Most of his works are inspired by nature. The nature of Iran, was held in year 2012, where his artworks and his father’s artworks were shown together. His last art exhibition entitled, Four Seasons’ was held in 2018, where again his works and his father were together. He has a remarkable talent for naturalistic the whole composition. His use of detail in fact, seem to transcend realist and transform super-realist.

10 Years of Twist Gallery!

It’s been a fabulous decade here at Twist Gallery and we’d love nothing more than to share with all of you how we started and got to where we are now. Ten years of art and ten years of events provided us tons of moments to reflect on!

Boakview Photography, Nadia at Twist’s Wedding Open House, 2020.

Defenishen Co Photography, Nadia at Twist Gallery Photoshoot, 2011.

The inspiration for the concept of Twist actually all began when Nadia Kakridonis, owner and director, noticed a disconnect between the galleries and the younger generation of artists. Some of these galleries were intimidating to local up-and-coming artists, so she created space for both the new and the established. The goal has always been to inspire.

Since that time, we have grown into a versatile art gallery and venue space. One of the biggest changes over the years was the area itself. Queen West used to be a relatively unpopulated area, but now is a bustling community filled with families and culture.

Adam Matak Exhibit, Twist Gallery, 2012.

While the area may look starkly different from the beginning of the decade, our gallery walls each similarly are always in flux. Each month provides a sense of dynamism, as we listen to the unique stories told by each artist through a paintbrush or a camera.

Joseph Connolly, Twist Gallery, 2016.

Incredible artists have participated in our exhibits, but one artist in particular has made a memorable impact. Joseph Connolly was a 90 year old “hidden” artist who kept his painting as a secret to everyone, including his family. Stored away from everyone was decades worth of art; his last wish was to finally share this art with the world. We were honoured to hold a solo exhibit to showcase his lifetime on canvas. This sharing of pinnacle experiences is something we cherish here, whether it involves participating in your first exhibit or tying the knot.

Tamara Lockwood Photography, Mackenzie and Will, 2019.

What does the future hold? We continue to grow in the community and create connections with the people around us. We strive to be known as a gallery that many Torontonians have visited to appreciate the artistic creations of their local neighbours. And of course, we can’t wait to celebrate more special moments with people as they take the next big steps in their lives.

Boakview Photography, Hilary and Stefan, 2019.

Follow @twistgallery to join us as we celebrate our “firsts” throughout the decade!

Useful Links: Event Space Rental Toronto, Wedding Venue Toronto, Wedding Reception Toronto

Check Out Patrizia Di Franco's Article, "The Third Annual Wedding Open House at Twist Gallery"!

We are honoured that Patrizia Di Franco wrote a fantastic article for EventSource about “The Third Annual Wedding Open House at Twist Gallery”!

Check out her article to see stunning pictures by Boakview Photography that showcase floral designs by Coriander Girl, beautified aisles by Gervais Party & Tent Rental, gorgeous long table set-ups by Bloomberg & Co, cute placecards designed by Pinya Letters, charming Soho Sweet Carts, delicious food by Gusto 54 Catering, good vibes by DJ Floh Back Productions, officiant services by Enduring Promises, fun group photos by 6ix Photobooths and finally, personalized stories by Everyday People Typewriter Poems.

See how our space transforms here!
https://www.eventsource.ca/blog/the-third-annual-wedding-open-house-at-twist-gallery