I am a multidisciplinary Artist working in ceramic, watercolours, drawing and poetry, receiving my BFA from OCAD and YorkU . I am inspired by the natural world around me and the landscapes of emotions.
Portfolio: https://eportfolio.ocadu.ca/profile/details/33382c03-8741-4d63-9290-ce373aa73310
Instagram: @leah.benetti
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Leah-Benetti-and-Danielle-Sawada-Collaboration-109990194194393/
Lynda Throop
Artist & Felter
Lynda was born and raised in Ontario with a love of all things creative. Through marriage, she was introduced to the Maritimes and spent many summers on the shore of the Belleisle Bay in NB, painting and collecting reference material. Workshops and night classes back in Ontario provided the practical education in oil painting, pastels and drawing while raising a family of three boys with her husband.
In 2011, she was able to make a permanent move to the Eastern provinces, starting in New Brunswick and then in late 2019 moving to Truro Nova Scotia. During a visit with a friend in 2018 she was introduced to a whole new way of creating through the art of needle felting. She has made a line of 3D creations as well as 2D wool paintings, selling them in shops here in Nova Scotia and in New Brunswick. This year she hopes to add more sculptural work to her collection, using found objects from nature to stage her wool creatures and birds. As well, she has been using the 2D felting to illustrate some children’s stories.
While her oil painting took a back seat to felting during covid, she has been renewing her love of the medium as well as stretching out into experimenting with cold wax and oil. With things opening up again, she hopes to participate in shows and meet other artists while enjoying life and grandkids in this beautiful province.
You can see my felting at: www.lyndathroop.com
Danielle Wilkie
Artist
Danielle Wilkie is an artist and mother who resides in rural Nova Scotia with her husband and two children. She works in watercolour, acrylic, ink, charcoal, and graphite. Danielle has a deep love for figurative art, and is inspired by watching her children live wild and free, appreciating the simple things that bring joy (like sticks, mud, rocks, and dandelions!). Danielle has been creating art since she was a child, and attended NSCAD university for her first year of art school. After coming to the difficult decision that this was an impractical degree to obtain, Danielle put creativity on hold and became a nurse. Nursing felt like the right choice, as she always wanted a career where she could utilize her care-giving nature.
Over the years, Danielle and her husband lived in western Canada, and eventually came back home to settle in Nova Scotia when she was pregnant with her first child. As a new mom, Danielle started feeling the urge to nurture her creativity. After a ten year break, she started dabbling in Art History classes through NSCAD, and eventually ended up with an unquenchable thirst for creating art with any time she could find. Transitioning back into art making has been done entirely hand in hand with her two boys who love to create, and unknowingly inspire her to her core. Learning that she can use her natural abilities and love of art-making to bring joy, if even for a moment, has been the most fulfilling realization.
Danielle is currently devoted to growing and learning as an artist, and works out of her home studio.
Megan Connors
Artist
Megan Connors is a Nova Scotian visual artist working in painting and drawing. After 25 years working as an Occupational Therapist, Megan had a midlife shift and started at NSCAD, graduating in 2017 with a BA in Fine Art and minor in Art History.
As a representational painter I have worked primarily in the traditional genre of still life painting, exploring the representation of “things” to comment on diverse aspects of contemporary culture. This work has shifted to using exotic nature images and creating large “collaged” style paintings, more intuitive and spontaneous than previous work. Thinking about our contemporary relationship with progressive ideas of diversity, the work considers concepts such as sexualization, idealism, appropriation, voyeurism, overgeneralization, the primitive fantasy, the drive to collect and categorize and the touristic exhilaration that we have with perceived “other”. I strongly believe in the value of art in social commentary and it is essential in my own process, but I also just love a pretty painting. These works aspire to be both.
Megan has also started teaching community classes from her studio space, Observational Drawing, Intro Painting, and looking to start some life drawing sessions.
You can find Megan at her studio space in Truro, on facebook , instagram , and by email
Rosalynd Coulter
Artist
I grew up in Tatamagouche, NS until I left for school in 1986 and spent 30+ years in Ontario raising my family.
I was often in the home of my grandparents who were both very artistic and I grew to love art and creativity from them.
I dabbled in lots of different art forms over the years but it has been in the last couple of years that I have found my love of painting in watercolor. This was my grandmother’s favorite medium and we spent many hours reviewing books and discussing new ideas and paintings we were working on. Unfortunately my grandmother passed in June of 2019 and did not get to see me truly embrace watercolor or move back home to marry my childhood love.
I love painting animals but do landscapes as well. I have done some portraits and still life on occasion. I am currently a member of the Truro Art Society as well as The Fraser (Northumberland Arts Council).
Debby Austin
Artist
Self-taught and ever learning about art and techniques through workshops, books, and media, I love to explore and immerse myself in abstraction as a way to express landscapes, memories, and nature. A sense of place emerges in my work using acrylic paint on canvas, wood panels, or paper, rarely using a photo, just memory to capture wonderment. It can take minutes or take years to visualize an experience.
Most Important influences in my work are Mark Rothko (articulated how I saw landscape),
Howard Hodgkin (memory and boldness), Helen Frankenthaler (“There are no rules”), Franz Kline (moving paint), Wayne Boucher – an encouraging mentor.
CV
March 2020 – Earth Wind Fire – Group show Marigold Art Gallery
2020 Art lab Workshop – Wayne Boucher
Art lab Workshop – Tom Forrestall
2019 Art Lab Workshop – Wayne Boucher
2019-2020 Douglas School Art Classes – Christene Sandeson
Memberships 2021
Lunenburg Art Gallery
The Fraser Gallery
Truro Art society
Instagram.com/debfinktin
![20210501_113927[1].jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d04340f846dc1000189dca5/1626889201507-8X9ZUZYMJMVGR5FQX261/20210501_113927%5B1%5D.jpeg)
Natalie Newcombe
Artist
Art is known to offer healing in many forms, to ease anxiety, depression, and to increase overall wellness. Ease stress, enhance moods, offer education, and even transport the audience to another time and place. Whether it be the artist or the audience the healing power of art is undeniable.
Natalie discovered the healing powers of art on a personal level when creating art became a ritualistic method to cope with anxiety, depression, and stress. Over the years, as a self-taught artist, Natalie grew into her own unique art style and loves to bring joy into others’ lives through art creation. “Sacred Cottage Creations” was inspired by blissful memories of Natalie’s childhood crafting, gardening and just being in nature at the family cottage.
Natalie’s style of mixed media art is influenced by elements of nature-based spirituality, holistic healing methods and all the beautiful elements of life. Her favorite inspirations come from; the flow of paint, the beauty of nature, the shape, colours and metaphysical properties of stones, crystals, and minerals.
Find Natalie Newcombe on Facebook & Instagram: @sacredcottagecreations
Or at: https://sacredcottagecreations.ca/
Andrea Carroll
Artist
I started making marks on paper at an early age; at 4 I drew several rows of crooked sticks and told my mother that when I learned to write this will be a poem. I also signed all my early childhood crayon drawings “Betty”, as I thought the letter B looked so lovely, and those to t’s together made such a great pattern…what a perfect signature for a drawing, right!?
We moved from Stewiacke to Hamilton, Ontario when I was 6 yrs. old, and all through middle school I loved art class the best. We had a pottery kiln, and oil paints and tempura and pastels and an amazing hippy art teacher. I was prepping to take the Art Stream program in high school when my mom relocated us back to Stewiacke (sound of record needle scratching); rural NS high school in the 70’s had no art classes. Upon high school graduation I pumped gas for a year to get tuition to a Fashion Merchandising college in Toronto and promptly jumped a plane and started what was to be a 25 year adventure in the fashion world, until (sound of CD stuck) I divorced and lost the whole enchilada.
So, 20 years later, I’m now back in Nova Scotia and I’m fairly new to the world of putting paint to canvas, and I love it!! Working with some inspirational artist friends (you all know who you are) I’ve been experimenting with mixed media techniques about 8 years and just recently abstract landscapes and some exploration of pop-art styles. I have no particular style and know no rules - none that I pay much attention to anyway. I am in love with Nova Scotia landscapes and am regularly out on my vintage motorcycle, riding the back roads, drinking-in inspiration for new paintings.
Jockie Loomer-Kruger
folk/naive ar-st
Jockie Loomer-Kruger is a folk/naive ar-st, recently returned to Nova Scotia after living elsewhere in Canada for many years.
Her whimsical folk art pieces are in collections across North America as well as in the AGNS and the art gallery of Acadia University. She has shown her work in group and solo shows in various places in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario.
In 2016, at the age of 80, she published VALLEY CHILD - A MEMOIR, a collection of stories about growing up in Falmouth, Nova Scotia. The book contained 33 of her folk art illustrations and was published with the assistance of a grant from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund.
Recently she gifted that art collection and rights to her book to the West Hants Historical Society.
Jockie moved to Truro in 2020 just in time to stay the blazes home with her paints and her assortment of found objects to keep her company.
Edwin Matthews
Artist
BIOGRAPHY
Edwin Matthews of Hilden, Nova Scotia is an artist and painter who uses a wide array of mediums. Having attended the International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto in the Advertising Design program, and as a graduate of Entrepreneurial Business and Interior Design, Edwin has a unique ability to create captivating and eye-catching pieces. Using reclaimed and repurposed items as a base, Edwin’s art is one-of-a-kind and is a true reflection of his undeniable creativity. Edwin has been a professional artist since 2015, displaying collections through social media and with local retail partners within the Maritimes, whereby developing a faithful customer base for his well sought after collections.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Using acrylic paint, pastel, charcoal, moulding clay, wood, metal, recycled plastics and many other mediums, each piece created is truly one-of-a-kind and unique. With the use of a variety of materials each piece has a unique point of view. As an artist, the material influences the theme of the piece and provides the opportunity to see its potential.
Janet Clattenburg
Artist
Janet (Yockell) Clattenburg, born in Welland Ontario. Moved to Port Medway Nova Scotia in 1980 with her husband and two young children. I have delved in art my whole life, but took it seriously after the children were grown. I have had a few solo shows and many fundraising art shows. I work in watercolours, acrylics, oils and ink. Living in such a beautiful community it is not hard to be inspired by mother nature and the great architecture of years ago. I am a member of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, The International Watercolour Society, and The Medway Head Lighthouse Society.
I am a self- taught artist. I have attended workshops at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center in Florida. I had planned on attending the Accademia Del Giglio in Florence Italy but due to the pandemic that was cancelled. I have participated in the Lunenburg Plein air art event.
I started to teach some children acrylic painting and encouraged them to participate in our Local Lighthouse Art Show.
Nikki Marie
Artist
Nikki Marie is a self taught watercolor artist in the Truro area. She started painting with acrylics at the age of three, but only recently started using watercolors within the past year.
Nikki takes inspiration from Beatrix potter, visiting art galleries, and from the beauty of creation. She loves the effect that watercolors give because it truly captures the expression she wants to show.
Nikki paints mostly pet portraits, but also enjoys painting flowers and cityscapes.
Find Nikki on instagram
Virginia Houston
Artist
Virginia Houston (B.A.E., and B.A from MUN and M.A.E. from University of Southern Mississippi) is a retired high school art teacher who now follows her passion: painting urban streetscapes, rural scenes and communities in her native province of Newfoundland as well as Nova Scotia.
She also paints what’s in her Oakfield neighbourhood such as the wildlife that she views through her studio window every day such as deer, chickadees, blue jays, crows, pheasants, cardinals, etc. The inspiration for her paintings comes from many sources: including historical events, the decline of the fishery in NL, relocation of outport communities, physical landscape of the Maritimes, as well as still life objects. Painting is appealing for Virginia because it satisfies her mind, connects her to nature and challenges her to keep pushing herself to express the beauty she sees all around her.
Virginia’s book “Timeless Treasures”, a compilation of her work capturing historical Newfoundland vistas, was published in the fall of 2004. Although accomplished in watercolours, oils and acrylics, Virginia’s medium of choice is now water-mixable oils. Her paintings have been presented through many juried art shows and exhibitions for over 30 years in her native province of NL and for the last eighteen years in Nova Scotia.
Her commissions hang in many fine homes, in private and public collections, as well as several offices of the Government of NL and NS; while her limited edition reproductions are found in many Atlantic Canadian galleries. She has won many art contests, and two of her paintings have been featured in the International Richeson 75 Animals, Birds and Wildlife 2013 and 2015 art contest exhibit book.
Virginia was a top ten winner in the International Aqua Fest 2018 Water Media Showcase.
Virginia is a co-op member of the Winding River Art Gallery in Stewiacke, NS, (Past President), Fisherman’s Cove Gallery in Eastern Passage, NS, and Artport Gallery, Halifax Airport. Her paintings are also available at Art Zone Gallery, Halifax, as well as Gallery 97 in Lower Sackville, NS.
Kelly Sanderson
Artist
Diane Redden
Artist
Diane works in a variety of mediums such as watercolour, but also enjoys the challenge of creating with unconventional materials such as zippers and melted record albums. Her work often embodies nature themes and she aims to incorporate as many upcycled materials as possible, for instance broken china dishes in her jewellery.
Diane’s artwork has been shown in group shows in various galleries across Nova Scotia, including the Craig Gallery in Dartmouth, Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, The McCarthy Gallery in Truro, and the Ice House Gallery in Tatamagouche.
One can see what she’s up to on her Facebook page, Diane Redden – Multimedia Artist.
Janet Soley
Artist
Janet Soley is a Cartographer and Illustrator- a graduate of NSCC, Lawrencetown and Truro.
She loves to work in Alcohol Inks. The vibrant colours and flow of the inks give spirit and life to the images she creates. Taking inspiration from nature’s forces and rhythmic movement she likes to portray passion and joy in her pieces.
Christene Sandeson
Artist
Sarah Locke
Visual Artist
Sarah Locke is originally from Ontario andt currently living in Truro who works mainly in acrylic medium and woodburning.
Georgina MacIver-Shaw
Artist
Born Georgina Thorne in the town of North Sydney, I have always enjoyed drawing.
I seriously began painting when my four lovely children were grown . I took numerous night courses, mostly in acrylic. Six years after the death of my first husband I married Bob Shaw & relocated to Truro. I was a member of the Truro Art society for 7 years & entered numerous paintings for exhibition at McCarthy Hall, at Colchester Community college.
Since 2014, I experienced the passing of both my beautiful daughters, still unbelievable. I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren, knitting, gardening and sewing dresses & shorts for children overseas. We are ‘Sewers 4 Children’, and have been sending clothes to children for 10 years. However painting is my greatest relaxation . I enjoy photographing nature & painting the pictures.
My motto is take one day at a time & believe that god is in control .
Joy Laking
Visual Artist
Joy Snihur Wyatt Laking is a life member of the Truro Art’s Society. “It is an organization that I believe in. The annual group show gives all members a chance to participate in an exhibition. Certainly when I first moved to Colchester Country in 1975, the group exhibitions were where I got my start. My solo exhibition with the Truro Art’s Society in 1983 led to being chosen to do the 1984 telephone book cover and eventually helped get me a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in 1989.”
Pottersfield Press has published two of Joy’s books. “Colours in Winter” in 2019 and “The Paint Province, Nova Scotia through an artist’s eyes” in 2020. Both books are available from your local book seller or from Joy’s Gallery in Portaupique. (6730 Hwy 2, Bass River). Joy posts paintings as they are created as well as painting tips on her facebook page and her website, www.joylakinggallery.com. She teaches a one day watercolour workshop in Parrsboro through Parrsboro Creative once a year. It is suitable for beginners through to other professionals.
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.
![20210605_165438[1].jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d04340f846dc1000189dca5/1626889236293-TMIU762NK14VFXXEFRZ1/20210605_165438%5B1%5D.jpeg)
![20210512_111742[1].jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d04340f846dc1000189dca5/1626889267659-8B5IRPPY93DFK85U9DAS/20210512_111742%5B1%5D.jpeg)
