Be sure to hear Bärbel describe her artistic passion and vision on her homepage video here.

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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 .

 

Later she moved to Calgary, spending summers in the parks, and interior of BC. She received her training at Alberta University of the Arts. Later living in Saskatchewan before finally moving across Canada to Montreal and settling there for the next 10 years and raising her family. Visits to the east and the west coast have allowed her to capture the Canadian landscape in her emotive paintings, infusing her art with a joyous and peaceful vision.

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Her style evokes influences of Art Deco and The Group of Seven. Her semi-representational paintings, are vibrant and simplified in form. She is an award winning artist and a juried signature member of national and provincial art organizations. Her extensive body of work is in private and corporate collections nationally and internationally. Currently she resides with her hubby of 45 years in a country home south of Ottawa surrounded by forests where she paints full time.

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Artist's Statement

My subject matter is the Canadian landscape and my method is smoothly applied paint whether acrylic or oil. I strive to see beyond the busy surface of things and capture the light, colours and shapes of this numinous land. My paintings are inspired by on-site studies and sketches, my own reference photos of all the places in Canada that I have travelled, as well as, half-remembered dreams and feelings. The final result pushes the boundaries to something more transcendent, more spiritual; as if I am painting the soul of the landscape.

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​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.

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​C.V.

Selected Juried Shows and Exhibitions:

2022    Federation of Canadian Artists, Signature Success Show

            Cline House Gallery - 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

 

 

  Koyman Galleries, Ottawa, ON

  Eclipse Art Gallery, Huntsville, ON

  Gallery at Mattick's Farm, Victoria, BC

  Donna Child Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, ON

  Tutt Street Gallery, Kelowna, BC

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Awards, Designations and Noteworthy Mention

2022 Federation of Canadian Artists - (AFCA - elected signature member designation)

2020 Ontario Society of Artists - (OSA - elected member designation)

2020 Society of Canadian Artists (SCA - elected member designation)

2019 Honourable Mention Award, Active National Members Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC

2015 Commissioned painting for the Children’s Wish Foundation- Prints hang in hospitals in Ontario

1988  Federation of Canadian Artists (Active member status)

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Corporate Collections:

Weston Forest Products

Durham Condominium Corporation

Sick Kids Hospital

Roadwarrior Inc.

and various private collections in Canada, US and Germany

 

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

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​​Teaching:

2004-2019 Art Instructor at own Studio/Gallery

2005-2018 Art Instructor in community libraries and schools

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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

 

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