George Boyer , A.O.C.A., O.S.A. is an award winning Canadian artist. George is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and a member of the prestigious Ontario Society of Artists. He was born in Ottawa, and currently resides in Newmarket.

Second Prize (Landscape), National Fine Art Competition, 1992
Juror's Choice Award, Marine Museum, Toronto, 1991
Best in Show Award, Colborne Lodge, Toronto, 1990
First Juror's Choice, Marine Museum, Toronto, 1990
Best Painting Award of Merit, Ont. Society of Artists, 1984
Toronto Archives Award, City of Toronto, 1983
Best in Show Award, Beth Tikvah Synagogue, 1982.

Collections:

Canada Packers	Hallmark Cards	Sharon Foods
City of Toronto Archives	Via Rail Inc.	Creson Corp.
Dupont Canada	Sandor Foods	Peat Marwick Thorne
Abbot Laboratories Ltd.	Newmarket Public Library.

Louise Doyle has an extensive and varied background in publications, from concept, content and design to delivery. She has experience in designing logos, business cards, magazines, annual reports, newspapers, brochures, etc., as well as press releases. She was previously, a contributing writer, co-owner and Associate Publisher of the Fort McMurray Express newspaper.

A teacher, artist, and writer, Louise draws upon her vast array of life experiences and her love of medieval history, which she incorporates into her artwork. She has always been artistic, dabbling in a variety of mediums from oils to pottery to stained glass. However, she began experimenting with textile art while recovering from an illness and has blended the techniques found in quilting, fabric art and silk painting.

Louise has completed educational courses and training at McMaster University, Keyano College and Athabasca University. She has completed courses in the following subjects:

    Ø Journalism,

    Ø Graphic Design,

    Ø Newspaper Design,

    Ø Photography & Darkroom, and

    Ø Ancient & Medieval History

Sylvio Gagnon is a "plein air" artist, who has traveled extensively in pursuit of his art. He is most comfortable outdoors in the wilderness, painting the forests, lakes, rivers and waterfalls of his native environment. Born in Hearst, Ontario, Sylvio readily admits to the influence of the Group of Seven in the development of his personal style.

His desire to paint led him to trade the comfort and security of a government job for the passion and commitment of the artist, to witness and record the wonders of life. Since the seventies, Sylvio has worked to perfect his technique. He became a full time painter during the last ten years. His training has been through art classes, artwork shops with well-established professionals and painting every day. By careful visual observation and nature study, he is able to capture the images he holds so dear.

Sylvio has painted in all of the Canadian provinces but particularly loves the challenge of painting in remote places to capture the moods and colours of the land on canvas. In addition, he has painted in Portugal, and the New England States. In the winter, he is most often found painting on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, capturing the spirit of the Canadian winter.

Sylvio's work has been accepted in many juried shows, e.g. the Ottawa Art Festival, The Elmwood Art and Home Fair, and symposiums in Québec, especially Ste. Rose, St. Germaine, Frelighsburgh, Beauport and Montebello. His work can also be found in galleries in Canada and the USA. His paintings hang in private, public and corporate collections.

Scott Johnston was born in Toronto in l966 and studied photography at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute

His photo exhibitions include:

    Ø Gallery 306 (1997),

    Ø Here and Now Gallery (1998),

    Ø College Street Bar (1998),

    Ø Rosedale Diner (1999 & 2000)

    Ø To Go Cafe (1999)

    Ø Cedar Ridge Gallery (2000)

    Ø Elevator Photo Gallery - (2000)

    Ø Starbucks/Art Hip cafes

    Ø Yonge & Bloor (2001)

    Ø Steamwhistle Gallery - (2001)

    Ø 5th Toronto Photography Festival

Johnston's photographs seemingly capture the accidental humorous moments that define our human experience, but each photo is carefully staged to recreate this pivotal moment. Several of his photo series are orchestrated around the concept of the visual pun. Though his characters are based in the present, Johnston's scenes defy a distinct sense of time or geography, which imbues his photos with an uncanny sense of timelessness.

Johnston's recent large oil paintings resonate with the same positive energy that is so characteristic of his photography. Johnston's style of figurative abstraction reduces his subjects to simplified forms that dance or raise their arms up to the sky, their bodies stretched in jubilation. Some, drawn in hard edges and solid colour, stand frozen like golden icons, while others are more ephemeral, elegantly blending and turning to an unseen music.

Anne Judin was born and raised in Montreal and moved to Ontario in the mid sixties. In her earlier years, she focussed, on travelling, exploring much of Europe and parts of North, South and Central America. The camera was her passion then; however, early retirement presented the opportunity to pursue and further develop her love of painting.
As a member of the Richmond Hill Group of Artists and Society Of York Region Artists, she has participated in a number of juried and non-juried shows at the Aurora, Newmarket and Richmond Hill Town Halls, and the York Region Administration Centre.

Wilf McOstrich has long been a creative soul. Being "good" at art in school started him on a life in creative advertising, in commercials, films and print. He spent over 35 years creating advertising and winning recognition for his work. He won over 200 international awards, including the Cannes Festival. Although now "retired" he still manages to find the time to teach creative writing and thinking at Humber College, runs his own studio - called Boothill - and paints almost daily. In summer, he ups-stakes and encamps to his Northern Studio in Haliburton.

Wilf also expresses his love for New Mexico with frequent trips to the American Southwest - and he creates and builds mirrors, tables, wall ornaments and more - all bathed in the brightest colours and brilliant hues of this region. At one time, he actually painted cowboy boots for wannabe buckaroos and rock bands.

View CDA's collection of works by Wilf McOstrich

Clifton Sears first made his carvings and sculptures available for sale in the early seventies. He has had one man shows in various galleries in Nova Scotia, including the Open House Gallery in Anapolis Royal, the Yarmouth Fire Fighter's Museum, and the Y'ARC (Yarmouth Arts Regional Centre). A portrait figure of Sydney Mahaney was commissioned by the Shelburne Dory Shop Museum and is on permanent display there. Clif is a member of the Sandspit Arts Council and the Yarmouth Arts Society.

Areas of specialty include carved portrait figures, realistic wildlife and marine sculptures, figuritive abstracts, and caricatures of fishermen. Clif creates his works in wood, paints, stone and metal.

View CDA's collection of works by Clifton Sears

Formerly from Montreal, Rosie Sherman majored in art and psychology at McGill University. She then moved to Toronto in July 1978 to pursue a career in her other passion, which was travel. Through her work with a major airline, and as a Tour Escort, she had the opportunity to see most of the world.

The need to express her creative energy resulted in her return to school to embark on a career in Interior Design. Rosie owns and operates an Interior Design company, which has given her the continuing opportunity to blend form, colour, texture and design. Her favourite task has always been accessorizing-choosing the right art and other important details to achieve the desired effect.

A few years ago Rosie began painting in earnest, mostly to personalize the art and expression she wanted to convey in her own home. Then, after varied courses in watercolour, pastels and acrylic, she chose her favourite medium and subject matter. She loves painting floral pictures, landscapes, women and her form of whimsical art in bold and bright, colourful acrylics. As her work progressed she began to show and sell her paintings to clients and friends. She had an exclusive show of her work at Grazie restaurant in the summer of 2000.

View CDA's collection of works by Rosie Sherman

Melanie Siegel's background includes the Fine Arts Program at York University, The Ontario College of Art in Textile and Design, and the Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Textiles program.

Melanie taught Silk Painting courses at the Harbourfront Craft Studios, and was resident Tapestry Weaver there in 1985-1986. She also sat on the jury to select artists to participate in the Harbourfront Craft Show.

In addition to her Textile and Mixed Media art, Melanie has created her own line of one-of-a-kind Fashion Jewelry, necklaces, bracelets and pendants that she sells through her company, Bead of My Heart.

A few of the shows in which Melanie has exhibited her work are:

    Ø 2001 Thread Works, Wellington County Museum - Juried Show

    Ø 1989 Harbourfront Show of Craft and Design

    Ø 1986 American Tapestry Alliance Convergence '86

    Ø 1985 Harbourfront Community Gallery

    Ø 1985 Harbourfront Craft Show

    Ø 1984 Harbourfront Community Gallery, Metro International Caravan

    Ø 1984 Ontario College of Art - Scholarship Show/Open House

    Ø 1983 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition.

View CDA's collection of works by Melanie Siegel

Michael Stachniak is a craftsman, one of a rare breed of Canadian Crafts people who strive to keep traditional workmanship alive in working with precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. He has over 30 years experience working in this industry. One of his most interesting projects was the completion of a set of platinum coffee mugs and wine goblets, with a value of over $50 000, for a New York Investment Broker.

His passion for working Sterling Silver, and Platinum was learned at an early age with one of the world's largest precious metals suppliers. There he learned basic skills, often no longer taught by craftsmen, such as the art of hammering or chasing the metal until it forms the desired shape. While most of his career was devoted to the industrial applications for precious metals, the lure of creating timeless collectibles has always drawn his interest.

Currently, Michael is able to follow his interest in creating beautiful, artwork from precious metals. His combination of old, and new world techniques has been combined to produce a limited edition of finely crafted hollow ware. His first pieces have been produced in Sterling Silver. Each of his centrepiece bowls is handspun and crafted using the unique combination of exotic woods and Sterling Silver. They are truly one-of-a-kind originals. This artwork has a timeless value in an age where craftsmanship is limited to the few individuals who have retained the skills of the past.

View CDA's collection of works by Michael Stachniak

Bill van Oorschot was born in the small rural village of Mariahout in the province of Noord Brabant in Holland, where nature is a part of life. His youthful pastimes consisted of walking and cycling through the forests, fields, and country roads, enjoying the beauty and peacefulness found in the colours of nature.
In his thirties, after immigrating to Canada, he felt the need to create his own peaceful images. Formal training was not possible at this time, so he did the next best thing. He studied from books, went to galleries, bought brushes and paint and canvas and let nature take its course.

Shelley Warsh is an artist living and working in Toronto, Canada. Her background consists of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Graphic Design Diploma. Shelley is a Registered Graphic Designer in Ontario. She has run her own graphic design studio for over 11 years and was employed in the corporate world as well. She is also Professor of Graphic Design at George Brown College in Toronto, and at the International Academy of Design.

Shelley has been following her spiritual pathway for over twenty years. This has deepened her life experience and added to the richness of her artistic life. As a result, art and spirituality play complimentary roles in Shelley's life. She works primarily in chalk pastels and acrylics on canvas. The body of artistic work Shelley is currently working on is dedicated to the Heart and Soul of the human experience. She loves working in large format acrylics on canvas and her work has an abstract quality with a dynamic use of colour.

View CDA's collection of works by Shelley Warsh

Garry Young was born in St. Catharines and grew up in Cambridge Ontario. Beginning at age 11, he took oil painting lessons for three years, under the tutelage of a local Cambridge artist, Bram Bradford. In addition to these lessons, he broadened his drawing and painting skills through numerous courses and workshops during his high school years.
During the early 1970's Garry studied art at the University of Guelph. He was particularly attracted to the printmaking techniques offered by Professors Gene Chu and Walter Bachinski. These two artist-teachers also taught him a great deal about tonal values and composition. Garry has also chosen to teach art, and is currently an art teacher at Thornhill Secondary School.

Although Garry has experimented with printmaking, ceramics and sculpture, painting remains his passion. While he has received considerable training in oil and acrylic painting techniques, he is virtually self-taught in watercolours. He strives to paint in a spontaneous and impressionistic manner. His goal is to create an intensity of expression through light and colour, brushwork and texture. Since participating in an outdoor painting workshop at Mount Allison University, in 1981, much of Garry's work has been on the spot landscapes.
Garry's painting trips have taken him to England; Canada's West Coast, various parts of Ontario and Quebec, and the Maritimes. These trips have been interspersed with painting workshops given by schools like Canadore College and the Haliburton School of Fine Arts, and individuals such as artist Charles Couper of Bear River, Nova Scotia.
Garry has had several successful shows of his work in various venues, including the Newmarket Public Library in 1982, a Queensville Gallery, a Toronto Gallery and a Newmarket Gallery. His work is also currently on display in galleries located in Tweed Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

View CDA's collection of works by Garry Young