BÄRBEL SMITH, SCA, OSA, AFCA
Biography | Artist Statement | C.V. (Shows and Exhibitions)| Representation
Be sure to hear Bärbel describe her artistic passion and vision on her homepage video here.
Artistic Biography:
Bärbel is a Canadian by heart and German born. Growing up she spent numerous hours with her sketch book and paints capturing the lakes and forests of rural Ontario .
After moving out west , she received training at Alberta University of the Arts and continued to hone her skills as she joined national art organizations. Living in several provinces and traveling coast to coast has allowed her to capture the Canadian landscape in her emotive paintings, infusing her art with joyous colours, a peaceful vision, and whimsical style. Her semi-representational paintings are vibrant and simplified in form evoking influences of Art Deco and the Group of Seven.
She is an award winning juried signature member of national and provincial art organizations, and is represented by several galleries throughout Canada. Her extensive body of work is in private and corporate collections nationally and internationally.
Currently she resides with her hubby south-east of Ottawa Ontario, close to her grown children and grandchildren, surrounded by forests where she paints full time.
Artist's Statement:
My subject matter is the Canadian landscape and my method is smoothly applied paint . I strive to see beyond the busy surface of things and capture the light, colours and shapes of this numinous land. While each painting may be inspired by on-site plein-air studies, sketches, and my reference photos; the final result pushes the boundaries to something more abstract, dreamy and more spiritual; as if I am painting the soul of the landscape.
Peace, joy and hope are what I feel when I am painting, and hope others do as well when they view my art. Peace as in the water's peaceful reflection of the land; and joy by infusing playful colours and stylized semi abstract, whimsical trees; and hope in the calming spiritual effect,(through curved lines and smooth application of paint).
Painting is a form of communication for me, communication between heaven and earth. A way for my soul to reach out and touch the immortal; to catch a fleeting glimpse of God. Each body of work becomes an adventure where I can re-unite with creation and my own immortal being.
C.V.
Selected Juried Shows and Exhibitions:
2023 Federation of Canadian Artists: Shape and Form Show; Toronto Invitational Show; Artists Choice Show.
SCA Elected Members Show - Award of Merit
2022 Federation of Canadian Artists: Signature Success Show; Shape and Form Show; Artist's Choice Show
Society of Canadian Artists: 2022 Members Juried Show
Cline House Gallery Group Show - Vantage Points Show, Cornwall, ON
2021 Federation of Canadian Artists, Toronto Chapter show,
Ontario Society of Artists, 150th Anniversary show
2020 Society of Canadian Artists Online Juried Show
Federation of Canadian Artists Shows: Group of Seven - Vancouver; FCA Shape and Form ` Show
Elaine Fleck Gallery, Creative Minds Exhibition , Toronto, ON
2019 Federation of Canadian Artists: Active Members Exhibition, Awarded Honourable Mention
Elaine Fleck Gallery, Best of New Submissions Show, Toronto, ON
2018 Federation of Canadian Artists, Juried Shows: Artists Choice, Small and smaller show, summer showcase, Oh Canada Exhibition, Scenes of Western Canada show,
SCA online juried exhibition, Letter Perfect show
Pelham Niagara Show, Riverdale Artwalk Toronto, Artwalk in the Square Show Toronto,
2017 McMichael Autumn Art Show, McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg, ON
Pelham Niagara Show, WC Stoufville Show, Oakville Show,
2016 Riverdale Show, WC Stoufville Show, Pelham Niagara Show, Oakville Show, Queen West Art Crawl
2015 Love Art Show. Riverdale Show Toronto, Cabbage Town Show Toronto, Oakville Show,
Group of Seven Seniors show, Art Square Gallery
2014 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition TOAE –juried show
1988 - 2014 Numerous other regional community shows and national shows with the Federation of Canadian Artists
Gallery Representation
Galerie Bloom, Montreal, QC
Koyman Galleries, Ottawa, ON
Eclipse Art Gallery, Huntsville, ON
Tutt Street Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Awards, Designations and Noteworthy Mention
2023 Society of Canadian Artists - Award of Merit
2022 Federation of Canadian Artists - (AFCA – juried signature member designation)
2020 Ontario Society of Artists - (OSA - juried member designation)
2020 Society of Canadian Artists (SCA – juried signature member designation)
2019 Active National Members Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists - Honourable Mention Award,
2015 Commissioned painting for the Children’s Wish Foundation- Prints hang in hospitals in Ontario
1988 Federation of Canadian Artists (Active member status)
Corporate Collections:
Weston Forest Products
Durham Condominium Corporation
Sick Kids Hospital
Roadwarrior Inc.
and various private and corporate collections throughout Canada and internationally.
Media Features:
Josie Newman, "Light in the Landscape" The Link Arts, Entertainment, Lifestyle Magazine, Autumn 2018. (http://the-link.ca/light-in-the-landscape/)
Bill Hornbostel, "Colborne Painter Having A Grand Opening in April" The Cramahe Now Community News Magazine, March 5, 2018 (http://www.cramahenow.com/?p=9119)
Nasmith, Cecelia, “Colborne Artist Expands Children’s classes” The Colborne Chronicle – Northumberland Today March 31, 2015.
Brown, Moira, interview “Family faces trouble with grace” 100 Huntley St. Interview, (2 episodes) May, 2011
Owen, Bob, “Township Art Classes”, Cramahe Now Feb 13, 2011
Nasmith, Cecelia, “Art for the Lord show supports Children’s Wish” Northumberland Today, May 16, 2008
Northumberland County Arts Guide – Premiere Edition 2008
Education:
2018 Janet Read – Workshop – understanding abstraction
2017 Jon Anderson Workshop
2013 Brian Smith, figurative abstraction workshop
2012 Art in Libraries- workshop
1996 to 98 Athabasca University
1994 to 95 Briercrest Seminary
1986 to 88 Alberta University of the Arts – studied under William Parker