More Places to Spot & Shop Artistic Creations this Season

Driven to Create… by Connie Munson

There are many more delightful discoveries along those Artful Corridors of Commerce. From Carlisle in the west to Inglewood in the northeast and then Caledon East further east yet, we next drop south and slightly west into Brampton and Mississauga to meet several new artists and artisans busy in their workshops and studios.

A vase and a bowl by ceramicist Jolanta Jung

Jolanta Jung, a ceramicist works out of her home studio in Inglewood. Active on the show circuit and busy with select exhibitions, her pieces were much in demand at the recent group show, EAST Greets WEST this August at the Headwaters Arts Gallery at the Alton Mill Arts Centre. From small to mid-size bowls, vases, chimes, bells, ornaments, and sculptural pieces, her unique artistic sense of design makes these very special! Visit her website to explore the possibilities of some artful and unique gifts. Or visit the MoD’s Holiday Treasures show where Jolanta has a nice array of her pieces.

MaryLou Hurley is the creative force behind True Blue Lou Mosaic Studio in Caledon East. A Mixed Media Mosaic artist, she asserts that it is ALL about the BIRCHES this Christmas! From birch mosaics, to birch wine glasses and Christmas ornaments, do make it a beautiful BIRCH holiday with gifts from a well-known local artisan and artist. Open by appointment with curbside pickup. Psst, you might remember her sculpture, The Duchess, won second prize at Headwaters Arts annual fall exhibition, The Artful Revival Festival. Currently, she has work in the Beaux Arts Gallery with their Winter Art Show. You may contact her at 416-508-5701 or through her website.

A Gift Certifixate for a private or group Acrylic Pouring session courtesy of artist Deborah Powell

ToPourWithLove explodes with colour, vitality and plenty of verve. This is the artful expression of a creative maker and shaker, Deborah Powell. Enjoy her work and consider a gift certificate for a socially distanced paint pour with a family member. For more information, email her at topourwithlove@gmail.com and visit her website.

Display Tiles and Dishes by Victoria Ceramic Art

Victoria Ceramic Art is the home-based studio in Mississauga, near Winston Churchill and the 401, of Victoria Kovaleva. A member of the Potters Guild at the Art Gallery of Burlington, she exhibits in arts and crafts shows across Ontario and in the United States. She creates ceramic wares and tiles by the mold casting method, decorates them with glazes, and fires them at cone 06. Her designs are inspired by nature and her Ukrainian heritage. “I love what I do. It does not feel like a job, it feels like a calling.” Her work may be viewed here with the ONLINE CHRISTMAS SALE for Arts Burlington and on her own website. You may contact her through email at victoriaceramic@gmail.com.

Original Watercolour Painting by Khaula Mazhar

Khaula Mazhar and her many works out in the community figure large, as with really big murals in Port Credit, or when instructing people of all ages on making their own art. She has a perfect line of artfully designed items for memorable gifts, and all at $50.00 and under. Choose from original watercolour paintings, holiday greeting cards, resin art tableware, and geode-inspired resin pendants. Check out the Seasonal Holiday Market that was held and her website.

While Monika Schaefer’s work in fibre arts and ceramics is beautifully showcased with the Arts Burlington Online Christmas Sale, she was the key organizer of that endeavor, a visit to her studio in Carlisle is a wonderful short excursion just a bit northwest of Milton up in that beautiful escarpment country. In her own words, “I create both functional and dysfunctional works for home and garden. I love lots of colour (purple is my current favourite), and many of my garden pieces are very colourful.” Check out her website and can by reached by email at info@monikaschaefer.com.

$100 Gift Card for Curated Silk Scarves and Coordinating Masks Courtesy of Laura Beaton Art

Laura Beaton, proprietor and artist of Curated Silk Wearable Art says, “I like to feel finished and coordinated going out into the world.” So she has created a line of elegant scarves with coordinated face masks inspired by her own unique art. Consider the convenience and thoughtfulness of gift certificates found on her website. She has work in the current virtual show, INSPIRED, of Arts On The Credit.

Cardinal – Oil – 11×14 – Duplassie Designs

Duplassie Designs represents the work of one Helen Duplassie, active in the arts scene in southern Ontario with Beaux Arts Gallery, Headwaters Arts, and SOVA. Chiefly working in oils, she also creates lovely one-of-a-kind cards, intriguing pieces of jewelry with dye-on-silk pendants, and smaller paintings that all make such special gifts. She can be contacted at 905 453-4217 or by email at helendu@rogers.com.

Photographer and pastel artist, Connie Munson, currently has work in three area virtual shows; Arts Burlington’s Online Christmas Sale, Credit Valley Artisans and ArtTrendZ.

Of particular note is that her piece, Tangled Reflections, in the McMichael Gallery just won third place in one of the categories of ALL THINGS WITH IMAGINATION. This capture was analogue, Kodachrome 64, circa 1980, and rendered on aluminum in 2020. It is available as a Limited Edition Giclee print, 14×20, matted, or matted and framed. Contact her at ellie73m@yahoo.ca if interested in any of her work.

So before you say, “It’s a wrap” for your holiday gift-giving, enjoy the comfort of armchair browsing and reach out to some local artists and artisans in these artful corridors of commerce. Far from the madding crowds, you can put the joy back into giving and support creative makers!

Driven to Create© is a column Connie Munson, local photographer, artist, and writer, has developed for various arts organizations to profile their artist-members. She is a director on the board of Headwaters Arts, which has their gallery in the Alton Mill Arts Centre in Caledon, a member of several other arts organizations, and may be reached at ellie73m@gmail.com.

Driven to Create… by Connie Munson

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