Last Chance: Artful Sundays

This weekend is your last chance to enjoy Artful Sundays, an outdoor art market located at Napier Square; the market features local artists, art demonstrations and workshops, music, community groups and special events. Each Sunday the event features artist from various backgrounds including jewelry, pottery, painting photography and much more. 

Visit here for more information.

Artist Spotlight: Bahram Javahry

One of my favorite things about writing this blog is getting the chance to check out great local artists, and Bahram Javahry is no exception. The Iranian born artist specializes in paper sculptures, and will be showcasing his works at the Silk Purse gallery from August 24th- September 5th. Below is a description of the exhibit:

"Iranian artist Bahram Javahry brings his unique collection of paper sculptures to the Silk Purse. What started as a childhood fascination with the beauty and versatility of paper and the field of animation, has turned into an internationally acclaimed career. He has exhibited throughout BC and has won awards in film and animation in the US, Canada, Egypt, Korea, and the Czech Republic"

After having the opportunity to see his works prior to the opening, I highly recommend a visit to the exhibit. The craftsmanship and patience displayed in his sculptures are second to none, and the detail work has a soft and almost erethral quality. To see more of his works, you can visit his website here.

Calling all Photographers: Capture Vancouver Photo Contest!

Vancouver On Canvas is seeking submissions for our "Capture Vancouver" photo contest. The contest, which will run from August 15th - September 30th, will award prizes to those able to capture the most interesting and beautiful images of our wonderful city. The submissions must be cityscape with Vancouver as the subject (think English Bay, Gastown clock, Kits beach sunset, etc)

Below are the details: 

Deadline for submissions: September 30th, 2010

Theme: Vancouver

Entry fee: Free! 

Copyright: Photographer retains all rights, photographs will not be used without consent 

Now for the best part... 

Prizes:

1st Place: $300 printing credit from Vancouver On Canvas

2nd Place: $200 printing credit from Vancouver On Canvas

3rd Place: $100 printing credit from Vancouver On Canvas

How to enter: send up to 3 of your photos including your details by email to info@KeenArtMedia.com with "CAPTURE VANCOUVER - PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST" as the subject. Winners will be announced on October 6, 2010.

The Art of the Heist

Art aficionados the world round were shocked to hear that the famous "Poppy Flowers" painting was cut from it's frame and stolen in broad daylight on Sunday. The work by Van Gogh, worth around 50 million dollars, went missing from the Mahmoud Khalil museum in Cairo, sparking controversy over the lack of security. Despite holding around 1.2 billion dollars worth of art and original paintings by Van Gogh, Degas and Monet, only 7 of the 43 security cameras were working and none of alarms attached to individual paintings were turned on.

The utter lack of security is almost comical, unless of course you are the culture minister or one of the four museum employees who ended up behind bars amidst claims of negligence. All five have been charged and are currently facing trial, but many feel it is just a smokescreen; they could not have been the only people who knew of the museum's security problems as it is not the first time "Poppy Flowers" has been stolen. In 1978, the work was taken from the museum in much the same manner only to be found over two years later in an undisclosed Kuwait location.

The theft has left Egyptian officials red-faced and scrambling to find the perpetrators by alerting all points of exit from the country and promising a massive security overhaul. However, despite claims to the contrary on Sunday night, the fugitives are still at large. The only upside to the whole debacle is the possibility that George Clooney and the Oceans 11 team have found the screenplay for "Oceans 14: Vanishing Van Gogh"...

Artist Spotlight: Brent Wellander

The next artist to be featured in our spotlight series is Brent Wellander, a BC native with a passion for the outdoors and the life within it. Brent's photographs depict a quiet consideration of his subjects, resulting in stunning photographs of animals in their natural habitat. Read on to find out more about the man behind the lens:

Erica: How did you get into photography?
Brent: I developed a love for photography at an early age when my Grade 7 teacher provided darkroom instruction and had us create a manual on the photographic and developing process.

E: What do you love most about it?
B: Being able to freeze a moment in time and sharing it with others. Also the challenge and the satisfaction of capturing an image you can be proud of.

E: How do you choose your subjects and/or locations?
B: Usually they are places I've visited in the past, read about, or tips I’ve received from others.

E: Why did you choose to shoot nature and wildlife?
B: I've always loved the outdoors and wild animals. Photography is a great way to slow down and really take a closer look at an animal’s life and its habitat. Through my photography I’ve also developed a greater appreciation for the natural world and the importance of protecting it.

E: Ever had a scary or interesting run-in with the wildlife you shoot?
B: I can't say I've had a scary experience although there was one Moose I photographed on a couple of occasions who was quite inquisitive and would get quite close. Even though she wasn't aggressive, a wild animal this size in close proximity can still be a little daunting.

E: Favorite photography style?
B: At the moment it would definitely be nature photography with birds in particular, and landscapes a close second.

E: What kind of camera do you use?
B: My newest camera is Canon 7D coupled with a Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens and a 1.4x Extender.

To view more of Brent's work, visit his artist page here

9th Annual Culture Crawl

If you have ever felt like your life needs more culture, then this is the event for you! The 9th annual culture crawl kicked off its self-guided tour through Vancouver on August 1st and will run through the 31st of this month. If you are unsure what this cultural cruise will entail, here is the official description from Tourism Vancouver:

"Join a self-guided tour of community-initiated events including music, theater and dance performances, visual arts, festivals, museum and heritage exhibitions, culinary arts, art-walks, studio tours and more. Kicks off BC long weekend and continues through the month of August (August 1-31) Your journey begins with the Arts & Cultural Guide to BC and continues on www.art-bc.com, where you can view our virtual guide and additional participating communities. You can download itineraries, maps and find all of the resources to help you plan your crawl! Communities and www.art-bc.com will provide the resources for residents and visitors to create their own art-ful exploration of our super-cultural province! To join, email your prepared community cultural crawl or complete the BC Cultural Crawl Participant Form to update us about your communities arts and cultural footprint."

So get out there and explore the city you live in, you never know what you might find! 

Spotlight on: Peter Gianfrancesco

Here at Vancouver On Canvas we see everything from amateur to professional works of photography; all beautiful in their own way and each with their own style. However, we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of the artists that contribute to our Artist Gallery Program, a new service where by artists can sell their work on our site for others to enjoy. The first installment of this series will feature Peter Gianfranceso; this aussi-born brit uses his background in mental health to capture the person behind the picture and strives to create art out of the ordinary.

Erica: How did you get into photography?

Peter: I started taking photographs 20 years ago as a way of documenting my travels around the world. In the last 6 years I have developed my interest and undertaken training in the united kingdom to qualify as a professional photographer.

E: What do you love most about it?

P: I love finding photographic interest in everyday things and places - it might be a texture or an arrangement of colors or lines. Most of all I love the interesting places and people that i get to experience. The greatest thrill is when somebody gives a photograph a home on their wall!

E: How do you choose your subjects?

P: My subjects tend to choose me. I'll just be somewhere and see something as if I were looking through a lens. Sometimes the subject will look inconspicuous or mundane but I can see the final image in my head.

E: Does a background in mental health and psychotherapy help you in your work? How? 

P: Yes certainly, particularly with portraiture and getting to capture the 'real' person.

E:  Favorite photography style?

P: I love Weston, Ansell Adams, Cartier Bresson and most of the great black and white photographers.

E:  Favorite place/person/thing to shoot? 
P: Exotic out of the way destinations, particularly middle eastern places. I have a house in Maibe and love photographing landscapes as well as old and abandoned houses, cars and discarded things.

E: What kind of camera do you use?

P: I use Canon equipment. My main camera is a 5D Mark 2 and my second camera is a 7D - together they provide a versatile capability. I use premium (L) Canon lenses up to 200mm.

E: An interesting fact about yourself

P: Born in Australia, worked as a tennis coach. Live in England now and spend lots of time in USA.

Coming Soon: Affordable Art

When decorating a space, often a famous work comes to mind as the perfect finishing touch. However, unless you are in the minuscule percentile of people actually able to afford a Monet or Van Gogh, the only choices seem to be posters with the name and work of art on the bottom. But what if you have long since grown out of the poster stage? What if you want a famous painting on a starving artist's budget? Well, canvas art reproduction might just be the option for you.

By acquiring the rights to famous works, a canvas art company is able to reproduce the painting at any size and gallery wrap it so it looks as it would in a museum or art gallery. In doing this, an exact replica of a famous work can be within your reach, and your price range. This is a great option for art aficionados who require custom sizes for various home, office or corporate usage.

So keep checking this blog for updates about our classical art product launch and discounts!

Interior Decisions: Finishing Touches

Have you ever gotten a room painted and furnished only to discover that it still looks bare? This is a problem all to common to those moving into new houses, apartments or even office spaces. Its the finishing touches that transform your room from looking like an ikea warehouse to being a reflection of you.

However, it is never as easy as it sounds; finding the perfect print to complete a room can be an exhausting and very expensive journey (believe me, I have been there), so why not make your own art? Instead of looking listlessly for a piece of art that captures the feel of the room, turn your own photography into a finishing touch for your space. Not only is it an inexpensive option for those looking to decorate without depleting their savings, but it is also a way to personalize your art and get exactly what you want.

To make art out of your prints, just follow these simple steps: 
Step 1: Upload a picture onto Vancouver on Canvas
Step 2: Choose the size, edges and/or framing
Step 3: Get us to send it to you or arrange for pick-up
Step 4: Enjoy your artwork!

And fear not if you are on a strict budget.. keep checking this blog as I will be posting coupon codes that are valid for 48 hours and can save you up to 50% on your order!

Paint + Plants: Art In The Garden 2010

The amount of flower-focused artwork is astounding, so why not feature the art within the inspiration?

That is the idea behind Art In The Garden, hosted by the famed UBC botanical and research gardens. The gardens will serve as a departure from the traditional art gallery, instead featuring local perennial painters outdoors. In addition to seeing beautiful works by twenty-five BC artists, you can bring out your inner artiste at the activity booth, take in a performance or simply take a stroll through the many attractions.

The event will run August 7th and 8th from 10am-5pm at the UBC gardens on Marine Drive
Admission: Adults - $8, youth/students/seniors - $6, children 6 to 12 - $4, under 6 - free

Enjoy your weekend!

The Inaugural Blog Post

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the Vancouver On Canvas Blog! Who? Oh yeah, you probably don't have any idea who we are.. Well fear not because I am about to hit you with a Bio! 

Vancouver on Canvas is a family owned business run by three brothers: Reza, Rom and Moe. The business initially started with stock photography, which utilized the brothers' art, photography,and design backgrounds. However, as times changed and more people became self-professed photographers, the brothers took a shine to Canvas Art. Since 2002, they have been hard at work perfecting their craft- adding custom stretcher bars, framing, laminating, and so much more. A dedication to customer service and unparalleled quality have been the recipe for e-success, and hopefully, in time, the reason the company is locally loved.

Check out our website at www.vancouveroncanvas.com or come visit us on 54 east 3rd Ave if you are in the area!