MASTRIUS ARTISTs BLOG
Check back often for tips and tricks from Master Artists, expert advice on artistic techniques and building a lucrative art business, plus exciting up to date news in the art world!
Catherine Bagnell Styles
By Mastrius
Looking out over the Atlantic from her light-filled studio—a renovated fish shack in Nova Scotia’s Ketch Harbour—#mastriusartist CATHERINE BAGNELL STYLES paints intricate impressionistic landscapes with an occasional floral thrown in for good measure.
Gordon Wiltsie Master Photographer
By Mastrius
Storyteller, artist, explorer, and not to mention, award-winning National Geographic photographer, #mastriusmaster GORDON WILTSIE has spent 40+ years documenting Earth’s wildest places.
Jane Romanishko Master Artist
By Mastrius
#Mastriusmaster JANE ROMANISHKO is living proof that artists never stop learning!
Lainey Benson
By Mastrius
#Mastriusartist LAINEY BENSON is living that glass-half-full life… and it is making all the difference.
Dave Santillanes Master Artist
By Mastrius
“By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be a full-time artist… the ‘free’ kind of artist, the kind that worked for themselves and painted what they wanted to paint.”
Leah Olsen-Kent
By Mastrius
If anyone seemed destined for life as a floral artist, it was #mastriusartist LEAH OLSEN-KENT.
Lorraine Watry Master Artist
By Mastrius
When #mastriusmaster LORRAINE WATRY dedicated herself to painting, she wanted to one day hold her own alongside the “big dogs” in watercolour. Three decades later, she’s carved out a place for herself all her own.
Laurie Cairns
By Mastrius
When life gives her lemons, #mastriusartist LAURIE CAIRNS makes the best lemonade!
David Langevin Master Artist
By Mastrius
When art school didn’t offer #mastriusmaster DAVID LANGEVIN the technical painting information he craved, he determined to dig it up himself.
Barbara Simmons
By Mastrius
“It’s that feeling you have when you are on the water and everything is beautiful, and it just feels good to be alive.”
Doesn’t that sound amazing? Lucky for us, #mastriusnavigator BARBARA SIMMONS bottles that feeling, painting the soul of the Georgian Bay from her studio on its banks and bringing it into homes across the country.
Deane Christensen
By Mastrius
Creatives often share the sense #mastriusartist DEANE CHRISTIANSEN describes: “When I saw something, I always thought, ‘Oh, I could make that,’ or, ‘I could do that’.’” What’s unique about Deane is, then she went ahead and did.
Kevin Beilfuss Master Artist
By Mastrius
When new #mastriusmaster KEVIN BEILFUSS was small, he told his parents he wanted to make a living as a colouring book artist. Now, Kevin jokes, he spends all his time trying to colour outside the lines.
Mavis Gauchier
By Mastrius
Crouched down along the trail, deep in the intricacies of often-missed flowers and fungi, you’ll find #mastriusartist MAVIS GAUCHIER, documenting details she just can’t ignore!
Sergio Mendoza
By Mastrius
#mastriusnavigator SERGIO MENDOZA just sent off a portrait of a past president commissioned by the Presidential Palace in Ecuador. An amazing feat for someone who once felt like “a zero as a member of society.”
Veronica Funk Master Artist
By Mastrius
Evolving over time, #mastriusmaster VERONICA FUNK’s work has become about storytelling—honouring the lives and stories of women through portraiture.
Lori Siebert Master Artist
By Mastrius
#mastriusmaster LORI SIEBERT calls herself “a bit of a chameleon,” but that may be hard to believe because she is not blending in! Sharing her fresh approach to color and sentiment in everything from acrylic and watercolor to torn paper and clay, Lori might more accurately be labeled a modern day renaissance woman.
Garin Baker Master Artist
By Mastrius
Growing up and living in vibrant New York City, #mastriusmaster GARIN BAKER never has to repeat the same theme or subject twice! He honours the diversity and uniqueness all around him—and the singularity of each work of art he creates.
Tracy Epler
By Mastrius
Glancing up at her wall of quotes, #mastriusartist TRACY EPLER chooses one she’s newly committed to living out: “No matter what you do for a living, nurture your art.”—Irwin Greenberg
Alex Garant Master Artist
By Mastrius
Pioneer of contemporary figurative op art, leader in analogue glitch art, Canada’s pop surrealist, and internationally-crowned Queen of Double Eyes, #mastriusmaster ALEX GARANT is charting her own original and authentic course.
Penny Gabor
By Mastrius
Ontario-based #mastriusnavigator PENNY GABOR knows that life rarely takes us in a straight line. In fact, she’s embraced it as an art.
Michele Doucette
By Mastrius
Calgary-based #mastriusartist MICHELE DOUCETTE was always on the move. Running stairs, cycling, sprint triathlons—“that was my identity.” So when Michele was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), she was devastated.
Cheri Christensen Master Artist
By Mastrius
All things fluffy, furry, and feathered come to life in blazing glory under the brush of Texas-based #mastriusmaster CHERI CHRISTENSEN!
Melissa Mulder
By Mastrius
Exquisite weddings, elaborate bouquets, the finest florals arranged to perfection—the career #mastriusartist MELISSA MULDER walked away from to hold onto something precious for just a little longer.
Mark Heine Master Artist
By Mastrius
#Mastriusmaster Mark Heine was raised by artists to be an artist. “I’m a second-generation artist, and my apprenticeship began at birth.”
Marty Haefcke
By Mastrius
“3 and half years ago I picked up a paintbrush and today I’m rushing to get 4-5 pieces ready for the @squarefootshow hosted by @jveenstraartist!”
This could be the rags-to-riches, guts-to-glory story of #mastriusnavigator MARTY HAEFCKE. But as is often the case, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes.
Vanessa Ali
By Mastrius
Architecture, graphic design, web design, singing, knitting, making jewellery, playing musical instruments, and gardening are all in a day’s work for #mastriusartist VANESSA ALI. Now amidst ALL the things she creates, she is making her mark as an oil and acrylic painter.
Cindy Revell Master Artist
By Mastrius
Oil painter and #mastriusmaster CINDY REVELL turns her spirited, imaginative, fun art into a serious career.
Victor Wang Master Artist
By Mastrius
Navigating two worlds and always holding the tension and beauty of both, #mastriusmaster VICTOR WANG sculpts figures and portraits on canvas using nothing but his tools and the paint.
Karen Weihs Master Artist
By Mastrius
Painting in the luminous style that led her to moniker “The Colorist of the South,” #mastriusmaster KAREN WEIHS walks the line. She teeters between abstraction and landscape and shares the familiar without divulging the whole story.
Lauren Mantecón Master Artist
By Mastrius
When #mastriusmaster LAUREN MANTECÓN was nine years old, she tagged along with her mom’s local art chapter association to show her work in a Miami, FL, shopping mall. Next to paintings of palm trees, nude studies, and sandy white beaches, she carefully set up her small canvases of abstract planets and galaxies.
No one knew then, but they were witnessing the beginnings of Lauren’s lifelong body of work exploring the human connection with the mysterious beyond.
Noémie Côté
By Mastrius
Amid two cross-continent moves as a child, art was a solace for French Canadian oil painter and #mastriusartist NOÉMIE CÔTÉ.
Sharon Lynn Williams Master Artist
By Mastrius
With a fine arts career spanning almost 40 years, #mastriusmaster SHARON LYNN WILLIAMS showcases how embracing variety keeps life interesting and us, as artists, at the top of our game.
Maria Wigge Master Artist
By Mastrius
Life’s path doesn’t often travel in a straight line. Yet #mastriusmaster MARIA WIGGE has found that unexpected trajectories often add layers and meaning to life we didn’t expect.
Zhaoming Wu Master Artist
By Mastrius
Internationally-renowned figurative painter #mastriusmaster ZHAOMING WU uniquely blends the classical and contemporary to always elevate the human form.
Gaye Adams Master Artist
By Mastrius
We all love a final product, but #mastriusmaster GAYE ADAMS’ work is marked by her love of the process. Gaye paints en plein air “for the thrill of the chase,” and can’t help but share her joy in capturing the magic and wildness of light in a painting.
Nancy Tankersley Master Artist
By Mastrius
We’re thrilled to introduce the newest talent on the Mastrius mentor team—oil painter and founder of Plein Air Easton, #mastriusmaster NANCY TANKERSLEY!
Brooke O’Connell
By Mastrius
#Mastriusartist BROOKE O’CONNELL is saving the lives of her subjects by painting them.
Keiko Tanabe Master Artist
By Mastrius
Accomplished plein air watercolourist, #mastriusmaster KEIKO TANABE expresses mood, depth, and beauty masterfully through her landscape, cityscape, waterscape, and interior scenes.
OUR STORY: LevellingUp
By LevellingUp
The LU creative community we know and love didn’t start out exactly that way.
OUR STORY: Mike deBoer
By LevellingUp
Today we’re peeking behind the scenes to get to know the engine that is MIKE DEBOER: LU co-founder and Julie deBoer’s husband and partner in (creative) crime!
OUR STORY: Julie deBoer
By LevellingUp
Chances are, you know LevellingUp co-founder JULIE DEBOER or have heard snippets of her story online. Today we get to hear the story of how she became an artist and how the LU community continues to impact her life. Grab a seat!
Topher Straus Master Artist
By LevellingUp
A New York-trained fine artist known for his raw playfulness and imaginative concepts, #LUmaster TOPHER STRAUS is also an enthusiastic businessman.
David Chidley Master Photographer
By LevellingUp
We’re SO EXCITED to share that mentorship groups for aspiring and emerging PHOTOGRAPHERS have launched—beginning with Master Mentor and photographer DAVID CHIDLEY!
Larry Moore Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Despite growing up in a family of artists and working professionally in the art world now for 45 years, Florida-based #LUmaster LARRY MOORE’s work has never grown stale.
Janice Gallant
By LevellingUp
“Paint from the soul” is #LUnavigator JANICE GALLANT’s mantra and rallying cry. But she had quite a journey to get there.
Steve Seeley
By LevellingUp
Longtime photographer, animator, and key player in Calgary’s design world as co-founder of Studio Dialog, #LUartist STEVE SEELEY is beginning again with a whole new analog artform—painting!
Marc Grandbois Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Quebec born & based, #LUmaster MARC GRANDBOIS is passionate about three things: nature, painting, and the nature of painting.
Sharon Fox Cranston Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Creating since childhood and professionally for 30+ years, #LUmaster SHARON FOX CRANSTON is an accomplished artist in a wide range of mediums and subjects. Art is her JOY, the language she uses to share how she sees the world, and her legacy.
Janki Chokshi
By LevellingUp
“Learning never stops till your last breath,” says California-based #LUartist of MANY mediums JANKI CHOKSHI! And for Janki, creative learning started almost with her first breath.
Susan Harrison-Tustain Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Decades ago, artists didn’t have the luxury of learning from online master painters. When New Zealand-based #LUmaster SUSAN HARRISON-TUSTAIN couldn’t find anyone teaching what she wanted to learn, she dedicated her life to learning it herself.
Debbie Nicolaisen
By LevellingUp
Despite setbacks, this inspiring #LUnavigator keeps hearing and heeding the call to paint… the talented acrylic & oil artist DEBBIE NICOLAISEN!
Jean Pederson Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Innovative artist, author, and educator, #LUmaster JEAN PEDERSON has had a long and successful art career and she too admits to feeling fear sometimes. What is encouraging and inspiring is HOW she responds to that feeling.
Amy Steinberg
By LevellingUp
If you’re into beauty (and really, who isn’t?), then check out the work of this California-based abstract impressionist—#LUartist AMY STEINBERG!
Clarence Porter Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Always an artist, #LUmaster CLARENCE PORTER began his career as an art director/graphic designer in the Toronto advertising world.
Patricia Roncone
By LevellingUp
#LUartist PATRICIA RONCONE is the painter we need right now to remind us that we can do hard things. And make beautiful things!
Pamela Beer Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Some days it’s hard for even the best of us to hold onto hope. Good thing we have #LUmaster PAMELA BEER!
Michelle Paradis
By LevellingUp
#LUnavigator MICHELLE PARADIS’ story paints an amazing picture of how art opened up the possibility of new life for her, and now she shares that sense of hope with others.
Janifer Calvez
By LevellingUp
Artists consistently blaze new trails and break new ground. Meet an #LUartist breaking tired artist stereotypes—professional acrylic painter JANIFER CALVEZ!
Ezshwan Winding Master Artist
By LevellingUp
Ezshwan is an extremely experienced and savvy instructor—training students in both her art techniques and how to effectively get art out into the world.
Belinda McNeice
By LevellingUp
This week we’re oohing and aahing over the work of representational/impressionist oil painter BELINDA McNEICE! Inspired by the great outdoors, Belinda has an amazing way of capturing the light—something she’s honing even further by painting en plein air.
Jean Parker
By LevellingUp
One LU creative has been with us since the earliest days—first as a leadership guru and now as an emerging artist. We’re so thrilled to end this year with celebration as we turn the spotlight onto #LUnavigator JEAN PARKER!
Niki Parry
By LevellingUp
We’re kicking off this last week before the holidays with vibrant colour an an equally vibrant Northern Canadian #LUartist—NIKI PARRY!
Deanna Beaujot
By LevellingUp
Argentina-born, Calgary-based #LUartist DEANNA BEAUJOT is speaking from the heart with her art, first with watercolour and more recently with acrylic and mixed media.
Becky McNabb
By LevellingUp
Meet an #LUartist who recently started facilitating an artist group with #LUmaster Anita McComas while also being mentored by #LUmaster Lauren Mantecon… the wonderful acrylic & mixed media artist BECKY McNABB!
Cheryl McFadden
By LevellingUp
CHERYL MCFADDEN started off as a self-taught painter and transitioned into owning a glass fusing studio, making architectural pieces with huge sheets of glass and massive kilns. While unique and satisfying, the art form required a significant ongoing investment. When Cheryl sold the studio and returned to her first love of painting, the comparative ease and low cost of buying art supplies was delightful!
Mary-Jo Lough
By LevellingUp
Abstract acrylic artist and #LUnavigator MARY-JO LOUGH serves up drama and depth from a well of rich life experience. Mary-Jo joined the ranks of full time artists two years ago after picking up the brush again while caring for a mother diagnosed with lung cancer.
David James
By LevellingUp
“You don’t really learn by reading something in a book, not this anyway. The only real way to learn is to bring yourself in front of it and do it; that’s when you discover so much.”
Raquel Roth
By LevellingUp
Colour is RAQUEL ROTH’s way into the hearts of her viewers, and she receives amazing feedback from clients that her florals bring back memories of loved ones or put a smile on their faces day after day. “It’s a really cool feeling to be able to touch people through art.”
Gerry Hogaboam
By LevellingUp
Ontario-based impressionist and abstract painter, GERRY HOGABOAM is an accomplished artist in both watercolour and acrylic. A retired educator, Gerry built an entire second career out of painting.
Gloria Chow
By LevellingUp
Pharmacist turned oil painter, #LUnavigator GLORIA CHOW is creating some amazing portraits of the people and pets in her world!
Annae Jones
By LevellingUp
Meet this outstanding #LUartist who is diving into the learning process with both feet—ANNAE JONES!
Barbara Berry
By LevellingUp
Meet oil and pastel painter BARBARA BERRY! Painting is Barbara’s career crescendo after starting out as a professional opera singer in Germany. The arias Barbara sang on stage always held a “shimmery” bit about the bittersweet nature of life that without fail would move people and reach someone’s heart.
Amanda Immurs
By LevellingUp
Representational oil painter AMANDA IMMURS’ work has graced group shows and galleries throughout Ontario—including an installation for the 2015 PanAm Games (the largest sporting event ever in Canada!) and banners in her hometown of Hamilton for Canada’s 150th birthday.
Emily Knowles
By LevellingUp
The artist’s way is filled with decisions to face our fears or succumb to them. This #LUartist is acknowledging fear and finding JOY on the other side. Meet oil painter and digital artist EMILY KNOWLES!
Enrique Cordero
By LevellingUp
Born in Madrid, Spain, ENRIQUE CORDERO now works as an engineer and director of software development in the Northern town of Kempele, Finland. Kempele is typically COLD. Some 300km from the Arctic Circle, winter brings a deep freeze and darkness for up to 22 hours a day. So when Kempele residents get off work, indoor hobbies are a must!
Niki Gatton
By LevellingUp
Though she lives on the central coast of California, acrylic artist NIKI GATTON is “not really a beach person;” the mountains have her wrapped around their peaks. The soaring views she creates come from her own experiences in the High Sierra mountains.
Cherie Serieska
By LevellingUp
Meet an incredible nurse and aspiring #LUartist bringing together artists and healthcare workers in a beautiful project—CHERIE SERIESKA!
Cherie’s a veteran simulation educator and frontline ER nurse. For the first three COVID waves, she was deployed to the emergency room full time. Painting became her way to decompress, channel anxiety, and just think about something—anything—other than COVID.
Heather Kinahan
By LevellingUp
Six years ago, HEATHER KINAHAN had not yet even picked up a brush. A painting class with her daughter got her excited about creating and, fast forward four years, she’s now a full time artist! Each of her pieces reflect who she is as a person: fun, magical, and full of colour and life.
Joanne Kells Chalmers
By LevellingUp
Layers are the spice of life for this talented #LUartist… Ontario-based mixed media artist JOANNE KELLS CHALMERS!
Agnès Guillon
By LevellingUp
This #LUartist is an expert at pulling back the curtain to share intimate moments of connection and introspection. Meet the incredible professional oil painter AGNÈS GUILLON!
Marcela Strasdas
By LevellingUp
Here at LU we believe that SHOWING UP is a powerful gift to the community in and of itself. Which is why we’re thrilled to introduce you to this week’s awesome #LUnavigator: Argentinian-Canadian painter MARCELA STRASDAS!
Shannon O’Blenes
By LevellingUp
Meet SHANNON O’BLENES—Alberta-based artist with degrees in both physics and engineering. Shannon has an amazing story that has taken her all over the world for work, from Columbia to Scotland to the jungles of Indonesia. The desire for more stability brought her back to Edmonton 8 years ago, where she began painting in earnest.
Valerie Speer
By LevellingUp
We’ve heard the saying, “Bloom where you’re planted,” but that’s not always simple to do!
This #LUnavigator is the only visual artist in her town actively pursuing an art career, but she’s planting the seeds for a LUSH art community nonetheless. We’re inspired by acrylic painter VALERIE SPEER!
Elizabeth Hutchinson
By LevellingUp
An oil painter based out of Grande Prairie, AB, ELIZABETH HUTCHINSON pairs the dramatic with the dreamy for a show-stopping effect. Her elegant signature finishes each piece like the cherry on top.
Elizabeth Howe
By LevellingUp
LU community, meet lifelong artist, painter & learner #LUartist ELIZABETH GARTNER HOWE!
Elizabeth makes her home along the Michigan shores of Lake Superior and her paintings colorfully capture the area’s local landmarks and vast expanses. Though now she creates mostly in oil & acrylic, over the years Elizabeth has worked in all kinds of mediums: painting murals, designer fabrics, china silks, faux finishes, you name it!
Amaka Eneh
By LevellingUp
Surgeon by day; artist by night. World, meet #LUartist AMAKA ENEH!
James Adams
By LevellingUp
This week we’re thrilled to highlight a thoughtful and engaging artist, Oregon-based #LUartist JAMES ADAMS!
Josefina Rodriguez
By LevellingUp
This week the spotlight is on Argentinian-born, Calgary-based #LUnavigator JOSEFINA RODRÍGUEZ!
Josefina is a bold and talented sculptor, drawer (is that a word?) and painter. ”Whatever comes my way, I just go for it!”
Jenn St. James
By LevellingUp
After years of parenting and corporate work, this #LUartist decided, “Hey, I’m a grown-up. I can do what I want!” And so she did.
Everyone, meet talented oil painter & charcoal artist JENN ST. JAMES!
Margriet Berkhout
By LevellingUp
MARGRIET BERKHOUT’s job in wildfire management and volunteering in backcountry Search and Rescue ⛑ keeps her going non-stop. Her paintings capture the striking mountain landscapes she knows so well.
Theresa Eisenbarth
By LevellingUp
You might think community comes easy to THERESA EISENBARTH, a Canadian artist who lives and creates in the same small city in which she was raised. But this #LUnavigator pours her life into building that community—for her neighbours and for fellow artists.
Josée Francoeur
By LevellingUp
Everyone, MEET talented oil painter and beacon of creative resilience: #LUartist JOSÉE FRANCOEUR!
When she’s not working as a manager in pharma, this Ottawa-based landscape artist draws never-ending inspiration from her striking surroundings. Josée’s work is consistently colourful & positive, filled with dramatic light.
Catherine Joa
By LevellingUp
Artists are masters at sharing their unique point of view, and we are loving the perspective of #LUartist CATHERINE JOA!
Tylan Lambert
By LevellingUp
Meet an #LUartist who doesn’t hesitate to paddle out into deep water and take on big waves—Australian acrylic painter TYLAN LAMBERT!
From his early paintings at 12 years old to setting up his own studio, Tylan has been inspired by the beautiful and rugged coastline he grew up in. He freshly depicts sea and landscapes of his home country and has already felt the rush of a swelling art career—exhibiting at Quiksilver & Billabong surf events and seeing kids walk down the street in a pair of sold-out board shorts emblazoned with his artwork (of which he has a pair framed on his wall).
Maya Corona
By LevellingUp
We think the world should know this amazing #LUnavigator using her talent to make a big difference around her. Meet watercolour, acrylic & mixed media artist MAYA CORONA!
Val Moker
By LevellingUp
We talk a lot about “creative journeys” here at LU. Today’s #LUartist is someone who has walked the creative road for decades and, for all the twists and turns that have come and CONTINUE to come her way, she’s staying the course. And making it her own!
Please meet Saskatchewan-based artist VAL MOKER!
Toxic tips
By David Langevin
I use my hands a lot when I am painting, esp with acrylics, and more so when there is a lot of texture in the piece. It is good to understand the health hazards when creating your masterpieces, and there is a long history of painters getting sick from their craft.
Leslie Starr
By LevellingUp
If you’ve been in the LU community for awhile, chances are you’ve heard of or virtually crossed paths with #LUartist LESLIE STARR!
Jodi Miller
By LevellingUp
SO many artists on the LU team use their art as a FORCE for positive change. It’s one of the most powerful tools there is! One such force for good is the accomplished acrylic painter and #LUnavigator: JODI MILLER!
Jane Thompson
By LevellingUp
Though Brisbane-based #LUartist JANE THOMPSON had been creative since childhood, she never felt she could JUSTIFY spending her time painting.
