A few recently sold pieces...

"Rendez-vous avec Chocolate"
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2011

I would like to share with you a few paintings of mine sold...
First called "Rendez-vouz avec Chocolate..." sold at the Bezpala-Brown Gallery a few months ago.
The following pieces are recently sold in the private sale.

"Contact..."
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2010

"Dreaming of Klimt"
encuastic
Zina Chmielowski©2011
"Meditation from the Sea..."
Mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©201o

Some old and some new

Enchanted

pencil
Zina Chmielowski©2010

Enchanted 2
pencil
Zina Chmielowski©2010

Enchanted 3

pencil
Zina Chmielowski@2000

I am back

"Born to be free..."
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2011

"Fine balance..."
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2011

It's been a long time.
Posting a few new paintings: "Women series..."

Happy Thanksging!

Autumn 1

mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2010

Autumn 2
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2010

To All my Friends and Visitors of this blog... wishing you a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wow, it's been so long...

"Mio Amore"
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2010

I really admire people who blog everyday or at list every week...
It's been so long... As soon as you stop for a while, it's is difficult to come back...
Well, I am starting again... hopefully I am coming back tomorrow...

RAW

"Untitled" acrylic
Zina Chmielowski©2009

"Red" monoprint
Zina Chmielowski©2008

"Blue" monoprint
Zina Chmielowski©2008

Riverdale Artist Walk was an interesting experience. A lot of work and a bit of struggle with the weather.
I sold 3 pieces. 2 monoprints and and one acrylic painting.
Looking forward to the next show.

RAW tomorrow

It's my first time at the RAW, so I am a bit nervous. Although, I have been a member of the Artist's Riverdale Network for a few years now, I've decided to participated in this juried show this year.
Please come and visit if you are in Toronto, GTA area.
I am at the booth 12. Hope the weather collaborates ... See you there.

The Body Shop Experience

"For Me"
mixed media
Zina Chmielowski©2010

I was participating in the project to help stir the creative energy. I painted at The Body Shop at the Eaton Centre on Saturday, May 15th.
The art project focused on "My Beautiful Planet" and played on The Body Shop’s Nutriganics collection. The collection features high levels of organic and natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging.
I was a bit intimidated to paint on location with all the shoppers passing by.
It was really good experience and I really enjoyed it.
I have 3 other rivals who entered competition to win a prize.

New creations

Unexpected

acrylic
Zina Chmielowski ©2010

Slight uncertainty
acrylic
Zina Chmielowski©2010

Watercolour Canvas

Third piece - Farm Theme
Zina Chmielowski © 2010

Last week I was participating in the watercolour painting on canvas workshop. It was a very interesting experience. At first when, the presenter show us her demo, I was not that keen on pursuing "long term" painting that way.
Then I decided to experiment a bit with the new surface, just to get the feel of it. And I loved it!
It has a lot of good advantages. You may also paint with acrylic on it. Use mixed media and inks.
Very exciting. One think, I am really disappointed, that in Canada a gallery style watercolour canvase are not available. Hopefully, some day...
Generally, watercolour canvas is not well know yet in the artist communities in Canada.
It's has been on the market 6 years already, but it's not popular yet.
Well, I love it...

Second Piece

Hide-and- Seat - Pond theme
Zina Chmielowski@2010

This is second piece I hand painted and decorated as a gift for a little girl.

New pieces

Hide- and- Seat - Fairy theme
Zina Chmielowski©2010
custom, hand painted and decorated

In the beginning of January, I finished three new pieces of my "Hide- and-Seat" idea.
It’s a child’s chair and toy box in one. The letter stands for the child’s name.
Makes an excellent and unique gift for any child. Usually customer chooses own theme or the child's favourite things.
Recent pieces well ordered as the gifts for the little girls. They loved it. It always makes me so happy, when kids are happy...
I put a lot of effort and thoughts in theses pieces. Beside painting abstract, painting for kids is my favourite...

Happy New Year!

Striving for... collage
Zina Chmielowski© 2009

And I hope that this year will be Really Happy One!
Wow, I just realized that I neglected My Blog for almost a month. It's so difficult to come back to to writing, if you take a break. I must say that I admire very much bloggers who write regularly every day.
So, new beginning and more writing...

Here's to life

The night when Champagne was discovered...
Zina Chmielowski©2009
acrylic

I was driving today and listening to the Jazz FM 91,1 and I caught the part of the song "Here's is to life". I heard this before, but today it really moved me. What a beautiful lyrics! Wonderful arrangement!
Shirley's Horn interpretation is absolutely amazing. I was listening to it quite a few times on
YouTube and decided to order CD. My treat for myself for Christmas...
Thank you Shirley for that...

First storm is here

Striving for...

Zina Chmielowski©2009
Collage created for "Whodunit" organized last month by OCAD

Well... and winter came to Toronto...
I am not very happy about that... Since my fall from the stairs a few weeks ago, I am very aware of danger of slipping... It's a dark and not really optimistic morning....
Hopefully, this will only lasts for today.
That's all I have to say this morning...

One of the Kind

In the Christmas Spirit - acrylic
Zina Chmielowski©2009

I kind of hesitated to visit Christmas show this year... We went with my daughter yesterday, which was the last day. We enjoyed it. As usually a lot of jewelry, hats, clothing and of course food...
As usually, the vendors from Montreal or generally from Quebec had the most interesting, creative and inventive products. After a while we really got tired of seeing so much..., but after tasting and the amazing sweets at the food vendors section, we got energized and finished the show seeing everything! I happy to see a few very interesting visual artists, which is always encouraging... not seeing only crafts...
So, in summary... we were really glad that we went.

60 years of the Don Valley Art Club

Constant change - diptych (sold)

Zina Chmielowski © 2009
Mixed media - acrylic
DVAC Show Fall 2009

I am a member of the Don Valley Art Club. This year DVAC celebrates it's 60th birthday.
The annual Christmas party was held at the beautiful Arts and Letters Club. It was really nice atmosphere. Some members brought their old photos and videos. Some were sharing the good memories. Very interesting and I felt happy to belong to that wonderful artistic community!
Happy Birthday DVAC!!!

The most important thing...

Nostalgic Collage
Mixed media
Zina Chmielowski © 2009

I watched recently "Under the Tuscan Sun" again... Beautiful scenes... would love to go there some day and just Paint... Charming and uplifting story ...
What influences me the most is the phrase said by the Katherine, an eccentric, aging, British actress:
"No matter what happens always keep your childish innocence.
It's the most important thing!"
Wonderful!!!
I need to remember it... We forget that so easily...

Thanks God...

I am so happy that there is no snow on the ground yet.
A month ago I fell on the stairs outside of the place I live and injured by spine. I was rushing to the painting workshop in the morning carrying art supplies and... That was horrible... Pain was excruciating and I could not grasp my breath. Luckily, I had my cell in my pocket and I called 911.
I am better now, but I am terrified of falling again... so slippery winter conditions do not excite me at all...
Thanks for the sunny beautiful weather today.

My First Blog

It is so difficult to start...
I have signed for this site quite a while ago and I was really terrified of composing my first blog.
English is my second language... I was born in Ukraine, former Soviet Union and lived in Poland.
I came to Toronto 27 years ago...
Although, I think that my English skills are not bad... I am still intimidated...
Well... I did it! First few sentences...
Actually, Barbara Muir is the wonderful and original artist, who has inspired me to finally make my move...
She was the speaker at the Don Valley Art Club on last Friday and I think she influenced every member that night.
Please check her blog: http://www.barbaramuirpaints.com.
Alright, talk to you later...