The artists of Spring Spectacular

Opening April. 14th is our spring exhibit: Spring Spectacular featuring the work of Robert Blenderman, Valerie Kent, Tina Osborne and Patricia Pidoux, read more about our upcoming featured artists below -  opening reception Thursday, April. 21st from 6:00pm - 8:00pm all are welcome.

Robert Blenderman was born in Bensburg, Germany. He immigrated to Canada at the age of 19 and arrived in Kingston where he worked for a period of time before moving to Ontario’s north to work and begin his, now extensive, painting career.  Blenderman later moved back to Kingston and in 1988 pursued his passion full time. Robert is a versatile artist who uses different mediums and styles to his perfection. His pen & ink sketches of non-objective art and urbanscapes have been commissioned by many small businesses and corporations. In 1987 a book of his drawings was published “Whig Standard Pen & Ink drawings by Robert A. Blenderman”. With his palette of bold colours he is able to convey on canvas his passion for life. He has had to date over 100 solo and group art exhibitions.  Private and public collections of his work are across Canada, U.S.A. and Europe. In 2006 a book was published of his urbanscapes “Kingston a City in Canada, Paintings by Robert A. Blenderman”.

Valerie Kent B.Ed., B.F.A., M.F.A., O.C.T. is an experienced artist and teacher who paints in studio and en plein air. She studied at Ècole des Beaux Arts, Concordia University, University of Iowa, St. Francis Xavier University, York University, and University of Toronto, Ontario Institute of Education. Valerie paints in watercolours, acrylics, oils and mixed media. She presents workshops and courses to art societies and at colleges throughout Ontario. In summer she leads art river cruises in France and land trips to Italy. Her artwork is in many collections worldwide and is represented by commercial galleries including Gallery Artplus in Belleville, Ontario. She writes articles for art publications and enjoys doing art demonstrations on television shows. You can find Valerie teaching collage and texture with mixed media at Loyalist College in Belleville this spring.

Tina Osborne has lived worked and painted for personal enjoyment in the Quinte area for most of her life she has exhibited her work at various juried shows, such as Art in the County, “Expressions”: the John Parrot Gallery, and the Belleville Arts Association. She regularly participates in “Art in the Community” through the Quinte, Prince Edward and Brighton Arts Council seasonal sales. Currently Tina has worked on a line of durable “Garden Art” which will be the focus of her show at Gallery ArtPlus this April. These pieces are painted on plywood using exterior house paint and then varnished making them suitable to display outdoors. Tina hopes they will bring enhanced colour and light to your outdoor living spaces.

Patricia Pidoux is a signature artist of the Toronto Watercolour Society, and has exhibited with the Ontario Society for Artists, and the International Art Exhibit, Buffalo, New York, and has won numerous awards. Patricia’s work can be found is collected in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Patricia is an honours graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design (Fine Art), and has been painting and drawing since her early years in Montreal. She has taught as an Ontario Ministry of Education Art Specialist and holds a Bachelor's degree from Queen's university, Kingston, where she studied with Andre Bieler, the resident artist. Pidoux enjoys traveling and in September 2001 and again in September 2002, Patricia was guest lecturer on the art and artists of France, and especially of Provence, at the University of Toronto School for Continuing Education.