As i sit on a lovely Distilllery District patio on a muggy July evening after a full day of work, I am happy to reflect on this year in art.  It has been an especially ambitious year, taking advantage of every opportunity offered to me, such that I’ve had a show a month since November 2009.

At the core of this success is you; my audience, who consistently encourage my work. For this I thank you. I feel freer than ever to continue to experiment, expand, or otherwise express my joy in the natural world.

The diligence of my practice is paying off.  I’ve read more than once that “if you do your work (as in writing, painting, choreographing, whatever it is you do), the muses come.”  It’s because, I guess, they take you seriously if you show up every day, prepared to do your work.

I have a theory about plants as well. I call it the ‘peer pressure’ theory. It goes like this: the more plants you have, the more they need to succeed, because they’re being watched by their peers.  It feels true.

This is the year I disregarded global recession in favour of investing in me; investing in professional photography of my works, for posterity (not the poster shop, the future)!   This is the year I’ve invested in participation in more shows than ever before.

And this is the year I open up the internet to sales of reproductions of my work.  I will always have them printed and prepared in Canada.  I am putting my money where my mouth is, as it were.

Feel free to swing by my Toronto east end studio by appointment.  416 720 4367

Again, thank you.

Thank you for all the support you’ve shown me over these past few months; sales have been incredibly good. My next scheduled show is the QUEEN WEST ART CRAWL, Sept 18-19, 2010.

So my STUDIO will be open by appointment for viewing and sales of existing and new works until September.   DAYTIME is best, for lighting, but in summer, the sun’s up until about 8pm so we’re good there.

Give me a call anytime 416 720 4367 and ask if you can come over. It’s that easy.

Hope to see you soon.

It’s that time of year again, when Jimmie Simpson Park in Toronto’s east end, will host a myriad of artists and their works.  11am til 6pm each day, rain or shine, we’ll be out in force offering original, affordable Canadian artworks.  Rea’s in Booth #43. But stroll the whole show. Tip: smart art shoppers come early on Saturday, screen all the works, then make a decision.  It’s always a well attended show, and I’m blessed to be in such great company.

My pals, Laura Hains and Hanka Stepanova, fellow East York artists, are also in the show.

Jimmie Simpson Park is at Queen St East at Booth Avenue, about 7 blocks east of Broadview, on the north side.  It’s nestled among Leslieville’s great restaurants and bars, and the weekend will be one of celebration of art.   It’s a great, relaxed, and very well established show. Bring your kids, your dog, your bike; it’s an easy breezy way to see and buy art.  Tell your friends!

www.riverdaleartwalk.com

… of love and support. Thank you to all my friends, family and new friends, for attending and making my vernissage in Montreal’s west end such a success this past weekend. And BIG thanks to Madonna Bailey, owner of Aikawa Sushi, whose chefs served exciting, beautiful and delicious hors d’oeuvres to a happy crowd of art lovers.  I met some new friends.  Thank you, Paula & Scott Phelan for talking it up and inviting your awesome entourage of friends who are now my friends.  Thank you Lynda Granatstein, established artist, for your helpful tips. Thank you, Joanne, of McGill, for loving my art and offering to help connect me to some Montreal galleries.Thank you, Holly & Nate (my kids) for singing all the way home with me. Those iTunes of yours kept me ‘up’ the whole way home!

Now, be good to yourself, and take a friend to Aikawa Sushi (one of three locations in Montreal) for lunch or dinner.   www.aikawa.ca

Merci à tous.

Rea

“In dance, in composition, in sculpture, the experience is the same; we are more the conduit than the creator of what we express.” – Julia Margaret Cameron said this and I find it to be true.  When folks ask me how that painting happened, I say, “well, I was there when it happened…”.

Arthur Koestler put it this way:

“Creativity is the defeat of habit by originality.”  I like that one, too.

“Colour is the place where our brain and the universe meet.”   – Paul Klee

Send me your thoughts on creativity.

I’m on facebook, twitter, and here!

I love plugging friends, so I would like to recommend that when you have something wonderful to FRAME (perhaps of my work), and want it showcased in a really great way, you MUST call Liz at Studio Ten.  416 551 9163

135 tecumseth street, unit 10, toronto, on  m6j 2h2

I met Liz years ago, she is still my framer and now we are friends. She’s a gifted artist in her own right, and participates annually in NYC art shows.  Not every painting needs a frame. But when you do need one, do call Liz Hunt, framer extraordinaire.

In a fit of optimism, I had Ron Elmy photograph the majority of my available works with a view to providing reproductions at reasonable rates very soon. Immediately upon completion of that photography session, I loaded the Caravan (rented with Airmiles(thank you, gas station and liquor store!)) and headed for Montreal’s west island where my May show is taking place.  www.ronelmy.com

My studio is now pretty empty apart from some large large panels on which I aim to paint in time for the Riverdale Art Walk, June 5th and 6th, in Jimmie Simpson park, at Queen Street East at Logan.  11am to 5pm each day, rain or shine.

GIFT IDEAS:  Commission me to paint your favourite garden, as a wedding or anniversary gift.

Or your honeymoon landscape/view in impressionistic style.

Or simply register here for a wedding gift of an original work of art by emailing me the particulars.

As always, please feel free to sign up to the right here, for my notices of upcoming shows.  Thanks.  Paint, buy or wear something red today!

APRIL: Rea Kelly’s vibrant spring-inspired florals, landscapes and abstracts will show from April 2nd, 2010, til the end of the month.

MAY:  AIKAWA Sushi, 55 boul. Brunswick in Dollard des Ormeaux, QC, from May 1st through month’s end.

Vernissage:  Sunday May 16th, 2-5pm

Show this invitation to Aikawa management and enjoy 10% off their world class sushi throughout May.  Please let me know if you plan to attend.

www.aikawasushi.ca

JUNE: RIVERDALE ART WALK June 5/6, 2010  in Jimmie Simpson Park

11am – 6pm each day, rain or shine

www.riverdaleartwalk.com for more information

Hello art lovers. Welcome to my site.  I said it once and I’ll say it again; there is always something new on the easel, or being worked on, and the site lags behind that.  If you’re interested, give me a call 416 720 4367 and come on over to my studio in Toronto’s East end.

Current shows include:

SideStreet Gallery in Wellington, Prince Edward County, Ontario

March 1st through 31st.  Artist Reception:  Saturday March 20th at 4pm til 8pm

Refreshing art and refreshments on hand.

www.sidestreetgallery.com for more information

Saturday May 15, 2010: My studio doors will be open from 1pm til 6pm (heck, if the weather’s awesome, the backyard will host the art show), so that I may share with you a mix of new and old works in watercolour, oil and acrylic.  That will be one event you don’t want to miss.  Tell your friends.

June 5/6, 2010: Riverdale Art Walk (To be confirmed, as it’s a juried show), in Jimmie Simpson Park. www.riverdaleartwalk.com  for more information

Please visit the site to be notified of new exhibits, via this handy newsletter signup thingy to your right, here.

Tick tock, eh? Tempus fugits, indeed!  Since another year has passed, you may find that you missed an opportunity to involve yourself in a project around your passion.  Whatever that passion is, do not ignore it.  Let that urge in you to skydive, or write poetry, sing or whatever,  become so loud you can no longer ignore it.   If you’re approaching or just past 40, you’ll find that voice is getting louder!

My wish for you is that you achieve more than a few moments of inner peace this year.  For some, that comes with an outdoor hike, or a killer ski run. For some, it’s as simple as a yoga class on a cold winter day. Nothing like getting warmed from the inside!  Find your bliss and follow it.

I am continuing boldy on my artistic journey, growing by leaps and bounds, and never stop painting. Some of my new works are larger, and more abstract. One must evolve, n’est-ce pas?

I hope to do some shows in the Prince Edward County, Kingston, or even Montreal areas this year, as well as my tried and true Riverdale Art Walk, Queen West Art Crawl, and Lello Art Gallery and School.

ROUGH SCHEDULE OF SHOWINGS:

Feb 1:  CoffeeTree at 2412 Bloor St  at Jane, for the month of February. CoffeeTree’s fair trade coffees, roasted on the premises are sublime, as are their topnotch menu items. They have a fireplace in the back! Go sit there! Sip some great java; see some colourful vibrant art. Win/win.

Feb 1: Broadview Espresso, at 817 Broadview just one block north of Broadview subway, will feature newer larger works in vibrant colours. (Like I can avoid vibrant colours!), on til end of Feb.

June 5/6:  Riverdale Art Walk                    www.riverdaleartwalk.com  This is TBD as it’s a juried show.

As always, feel free to send friends to my site to sign up for the newsletter. It’s the only way I can be sure to reach folks who want to know about what’s new in Rea’s studio.

I hope to have a private sale in my new backyard this spring, to release some older works, and make room for new, larger abstracts.

Tentative dates:  May 15/16: Private Art Sale at Studio        169 Floyd Ave. at Pape  M4J 2H9

11-4pm each day:     art sale featuring refreshments

And you may feel free to call or write me for a private appointment to see what’s on the easel. Daytime is best for natural lighting, but we will work with your schedule.

You have my best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2010.

I want to thank you for the encouragement and support you’ve shown me this year.  It’s totally thrilling to let you know that right now, in December of 2009, my art is selling very briskly from three locations:

Lello Art School & Gallery, 639 Annette St., just west of Runnymede, that show is on until December 14th.  Janeen’s established clientele at her school and gallery are walking in with appreciative eyes, and walking out with bold artwork.  www.lelloartschoolandgallery.com

Continuum Modern Vintage, a new venture for my pal Daina Liepa, is a new home decor store that just opened at 707 Pape Ave., at Danforth, offering gorgeous pre-loved housewares, giftware, furniture as well as art by local artists. My work will be there til end of December 2009. Some very small paintings are on sale there for less than $40.               www.continuummodernvintage.com

Birchcliff Farmers’ Market at 1668 Kingston Road just east of Birchcliff, is an organic market run by Denise Molloy and a collective of artisans, offering handmade soaps, organic meat/cheese (and produce in the non-winter months), baked goods and lovely gift items.

I wish you a healthy and heartwarming holiday season filled with laughter, friendship and some good deeds for those less fortunate.

As always, you may call for an appointment to visit my studio as there is always something new happening.  If you would like to be notified of upcoming shows, please sign up by providing your email in the newsletter box to your right here.

Ciao.