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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!

Deanna Beaujot

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.

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Becky McNabb

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!

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Cheryl McFadden

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!

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Mary-Jo Lough

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.

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David James

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.”

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Raquel Roth

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.”

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Gerry Hogaboam

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.

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Gloria Chow

Gloria Chow

By LevellingUp

Pharmacist turned oil painter, #LUnavigator GLORIA CHOW is creating some amazing portraits of the people and pets in her world!

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Annae Jones

Annae Jones

By LevellingUp

Meet this outstanding #LUartist who is diving into the learning process with both feet—ANNAE JONES!

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Barbara Berry

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.

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Amanda Immurs

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.

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Emily Knowles

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!

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Enrique Cordero

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!

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Niki Gatton

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.

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Cherie Serieska

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.

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Heather Kinahan

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.

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Joanne Kells Chalmers

Joanne Kells Chalmers

By LevellingUp

Layers are the spice of life for this talented #LUartist… Ontario-based mixed media artist JOANNE KELLS CHALMERS!

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Agnès Guillon

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!

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Marcela Strasdas

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!

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Shannon O’Blenes

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.

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Valerie Speer

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!

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Elizabeth Hutchinson

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.

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Elizabeth Howe

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!

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Amaka Eneh

Amaka Eneh

By LevellingUp

Surgeon by day; artist by night. World, meet #LUartist AMAKA ENEH!

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James Adams

James Adams

By LevellingUp

This week we’re thrilled to highlight a thoughtful and engaging artist, Oregon-based #LUartist JAMES ADAMS!

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Josefina Rodriguez

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!”

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Jenn St. James

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!

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Margriet Berkhout

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.

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Theresa Eisenbarth

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.

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Josée Francoeur

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.

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Catherine Joa

Catherine Joa

By LevellingUp

Artists are masters at sharing their unique point of view, and we are loving the perspective of #LUartist CATHERINE JOA!

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Tylan Lambert

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).

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Maya Corona

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!

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Val Moker

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!

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Toxic tips

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. 

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Leslie Starr

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!

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Jodi Miller

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!

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Jane Thompson

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.

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Leah Patterson

Leah Patterson

By LevellingUp

Grab your coffee; this morning we’re taking a stroll along the beach with talented #LUartist and West Coast oil painter LEAH PATTERSON!

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Juan Shen

Juan Shen

By LevellingUp

Everyone’s story is so unique, just like their art. We’re delighted to share one from another one-of-a-kind and amazing #LUartist—oil painter JUAN SHEN!

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James Windley

James Windley

By LevellingUp

We never thought we’d get excited about engineering, but a very cool #LUartist has won us over. Everyone, meet JAMES WINDLEY!

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Jen deBoer-Vandenbroek

Jen deBoer-Vandenbroek

By LevellingUp

Take a minute today to check out the paintings of talented #LUartist member and rising artist JEN DEBOER-VANDENBROEK!

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Brandie Cormier

Brandie Cormier

By LevellingUp

Today the spotlight is on #LUartist member and talented emerging artist BRANDIE CORMIER!

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Jane Love Elliott

Jane Love Elliott

By LevellingUp

Today we have the pleasure of introducing you to a Canadian #LUartist living abroad who connects with her LU mastermind groups all the way from Dubai! Please meet the talented JANE LOVE ELLIOTT!

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Alison Laing

Alison Laing

By LevellingUp

We work with artists from all over the world in varying stages of their art careers. Aspiring artists often are uncovering their style, honing their technique, and really coming into their own as unique and powerful painters.

We’d love to introduce you to one aspiring artist with endless potential. She is investing time and thought into her talent for painting and producing some amazing works of art. Everyone, meet #LUartist ALISON LAING!

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Stacey Walyuchow

Stacey Walyuchow

By LevellingUp

Happy Friday, everybody! We couldn’t be happier going into the weekend thinking about the amazing art of #LUartist STACEY WALYUCHOW.

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Lisl Barry

Lisl Barry

By LevellingUp

“Art is vital for us to see everyday things and situations in a new way; a different perspective.” —@lislbarryart

We couldn’t agree more, and Lisl’s art does just that! Everyone, meet oil painter and #LUartist LISL BARRY!

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Bonnie Peters

Bonnie Peters

By LevellingUp

This week we are happy to introduce you to an #LUartist we’ve been wanting to share for a while now: please meet Canadian artist BONNIE PETERS!

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Melanie Lea

Melanie Lea

By LevellingUp

This week we have just the bright spot you may need: the vibrant and meaningful work of #LUartist MELANIE LEA!

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Marie-Christine Claveau

Marie-Christine Claveau

By LevellingUp

Need something refreshing to finish off the week? Check out the work of #LUartist MARIE-CHRISTINE CLAVEAU!

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Pam Ferworn

Pam Ferworn

By LevellingUp

Being an artist takes a certain amount of boldness, bravery, spirit, and spunk, and we’d love to introduce you to an #LUartist who has all of these characteristics in abundance: PAM FERWORN!

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Ruth LaGue

Ruth LaGue

By LevellingUp

#LUartist RUTH LAGUE is on an incredible creative journey.

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Anne DeJong

Anne DeJong

By LevellingUp

Happy Friday, friends! A lot of us around here like to get out to the mountains on the weekend. No worries if you can’t—today we’re BRINGING the mountains TO YOU!

#LUartist ANNE DEJONG uses a palette knife and oil to capture beautiful places that are dear to her heart so we can bring that beauty into our favourite spaces!

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Dorothy Mohler

Dorothy Mohler

By LevellingUp

OK everyone, settle in. Today we’re going meet an amazing #LUartist with an equally amazing story—DOROTHY HOLMES MOHLER!

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Ana Zanella

Ana Zanella

By LevellingUp

Everyone please meet the fabulous #LUartist ANA ZANELLA!

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