NEW DAYS AND HOURS

Great oil paintings from Hidden Talent artists

 Come join us! We are eco friendly, non competitive, and have a lot of fun while painting extra ordinary works of art!!
As requested- here are the new times and day for the Winter session;

Wednesday  9:30-12:30 Jan. 15- Mar. 19

Friday          9:30-12:30 Jan. 17 to Mar. 2I

 Our regular class times can be found here

Register by calling 780-419-2055

MORE HIDDEN TALENT ART

A SAMPLE OF THE EXCELLENT OIL PAINTING DONE AT HIDDEN TALENT!

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HIDDEN TALENT ARTISTS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOW.

EVEN THE GOODIES WERE ARTISTIC

A FULL HOUSE AT OUR ART SHOW!

   

                  

   

IS IT TIME YET?

Artist of all ages at Hidden Talent Art School Christmas Show!

Why is it that we always put our creative needs last, like they are some sort of optional guilty pleasure?
This weird type of self denial really hit home last week. A friend of mine Pat Wagensveld had lost her battle with cancer. She fought hard , cramming every moment with goals and art and family. She was always planning and ready to mobile the art community, herself and others. As her pastor spoke of her as not gone but transformed into another essence, I reaffirmed that life itself was creativity.
To lose and find yourself at the same time through art is a blessing, a healing and renewal. It is just plain GOOD FOR YOU!
Ok, I will stop my little venture into the spiritual vortex.....
I am going to ask you why are you waiting? Why not pick up a brush and learn a new skill? Why not look at the world in a completely different way? Why not discover the 'artist's high'? ( if runner can have one, so can we!) Why not dedicate more time to the things that make you feel good?

When I think of all the wonderful artists that are at of Hidden Talent, I am humbled and amazed- the look of excitement, the puzzlement, the ah ha moment, the pride. Anything worth doing takes patience, desire, practice and a willingness to learn.
And that is all.
No talent.
No hereditary art gene.
And no excuses!Where could YOU be in one year?

Our private boat ride to Lenno and Villa Balbienello

The next day was sunny and warm- perfect for the short hop across the lake to see the market at Lenno and walk to Villa balbienello.
Lenno market was colorful!! Candy, shoes, under wear, barbq chickens,tablecloths- a  traveling Zellers complete with gypsy children playing music for a few euros.

Lenno Italy- some of the characters at the market...

Fresh everything at the Lenno market

Trip to Brunate in the Funicular

This is our trip to the town of Lake Como. We took the funicular to Brunate and enjoyed the viewand the church. We headed back down and has a free day to explore the shops and ruins in the ancient town center- one of the oldest inhabited settlements in northern Europe.

Hidden Talent Painting trip to Italy included the amazing Villa Carlotta- an artist's dream!

Lucky! Lucky!
This is the second year we went to Villa Carlotta -in FULL BLOOM and in the SUNSHINE! It's pretty much like winning the lottery twice.
The pink and purple azaleas blossoms are on bushes the size of small houses and are clearly visible from across the lake. There is great variety- from bamboo gardens and bonsai to a fragrant herb wall and turtles in a pool with Calla lilies.Needless to say we split up and proceeded to photograph everything that wasn't another tourist.

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The gardens of Villa Carlotta

 We spent the whole day touring around the grounds and ferried back to Belagio then back to Lezzeno for our chef cooked supper.

Always time for a quick watercolor sketch!

Paint in Italy- Varenna

Varenna is a painters paradise-one of the many places that begged to be painted on this  trip!

Next was a trip to the most beautiful town in Europe! Varenna never disappoints- even on a cloudy day. The colorful buildings, the mountain mists and the reflection in the Lake make this a perfect place to take out the paints and capture a moment in time.

Varenna- a short walk from the ferries along the lake take countless photographs!

A short walk past the gelato booths brings us to Villa Cyprese. Two minutes past that is Villa Monestero. Both are worthy of a day to explore.

Can't resist the urge to paint!

Roman landscape elements and informal gardens and orchards!

Artists LOVE to paint in Itlay!

Painting trip to Italy- Villa Melzi

Villa Melzi is just like entering a painting! Every plant is placed where it can be seen at it's very best- different hues of green against vibrant reds and oranges with jewel pinks and reds for accents! This is one of our favorite stops- and a short 5 minute walk down a flower lined promenade to the world famous Belagio.

Artists in Italy!

ED, our tour guide takes some reference photos of the gardens

Painting the Lake Como view!

We took out our paints and had a great view of some orangey burnt sienna buildings with a flower lined path leading down to the lake. Great perspective practice! Ed and Brian headed to Belagio to reserve a table for a late lunch- an awesome morning!

Painting trip to Italy!

Early May is the 'Goldilocks' time to visit Italy-not too hot, not too cold! This was our second trip to Lake Como with enthusiastic students from Hidden Talent. Donna and Brian, Dan and Teresa were our first 'couples' to go. Brian was a non artist, but was a heck of a great photographer. Needless to say, with all that magical scenery around us he was as awe struck as we artists were. Joan, Barb, Yoon Joo and Jeanne were the other artists/photgraphers who came on our adventure.We pooled most of our photos and ended up with over 6,600!!!

On this trip we visited a few different Villas than the 2012 trip.
This time when we ferried to Varenna we walked to the enchanting Villa Monestero where we saw early Roman architecture and age old gardens. There was a lovely place to sit and paint the lake view beside the main Villa.

Villa Balbinello is directly across Lake Como  from our Albergo and this year we hired a private boat to take us to Lenno, visit the market and then walk the  15 minute path to the Villa! Well worth the trip!
A full day in the town of Lake Como was fun for the shoppers and with the old Roman gates and walls, exceptional for the photographers. It is a busy city and there was even the familiar MacDonald's where we got our full sized coffees!
Here are a few photos of our arrival:

AFRICAN WILDLIFE WORKSHOP WITH GUY COMBES

Guy Combes Workshop July 2013

Here we are! Four days of learning and painting! Thanks Guy for a wonderful look into the world of professional wildlife artists! Africa awaits!
All these students signed up for next years workshop..so I think that is a ringing endorsement. We are planing workshop #2 so if you are interested, just let me know before the rush...780419-2055.

EXCELLENCE IN ARTS TEACHING, MAYOR'S GALA

Awards Night

Quite a while ago some of Hidden Talent Artists submitted my name for the Excellence in Arts Teaching award to be presented at the Mayors Gala this spring. Pearl Der organized the entry and Wendy Pfeifer and Sylvie Fergusson wrote letters of recommendation. To say the least. I was humbled and excited that my students would honor me with this nomination. Truly, the nomination was the reward!!

Wendy, Laura, Michelle and Joan.

Missing: Jeannette, Barb and Jeanne

Pearl, Donna, Sandy, Marla, Laura

On March 19 some of the Hidden Talent Artists and myself were all gussied up and had a pre award celebration at The Cajun House- What a fun and supportive group! I vamoosed early to attend the Mayor’s Private Champagne reception with my biggest fan, my husband Ed. We met other nominees and dignitaries and talked to past winners of the arts awards.  I had very stiff competition- Joan Bilau, Vocal Instructor        and Darrell Marko, Dance Instructor.

We later met up with the Hidden Talent Artists at the Reception and I saw many faces I haven’t seen in a long time…so wonderful to be able to gather the St. Albert arts community in one place!

Our evening was one of entertainment! And it was exceptional! There was a dance theater co production, a one act play, Jazz Trio, Ballroom dancing and the rock band Tupelo Honey. All of them with strong ties to our community.

I  was very relieved that we didn’t have to wait long- the Excellence in Arts Teaching was the second award of the evening, so after that we could all relax…Much to our surprise and delight… I WON!!! Many many thanks to all of you for your support and friendship!! I was beyond thankful for such recognition!

My Excellence In Arts Teaching Award

Thanks Jeanne!!