Margaret Grandison

"On My Easel" 

Beautiful picture of Margaret working on one of her whimsical house paintings 

Always a favourite stop on the Tour #16 with Margaret Grandison and Ray McNeice

Stop - Gap

Many years ago, Stouffville resident Luke Anderson was involved in a tragic mountain bike accident that left him a paraplegic. Based on his experiences after his accident, Luke created an initiative called 'Stop-Gap;' ramps designed to create awareness as well as access for individuals with handicaps.

Luke's initiative began in Stouffville, where he grew up and now he wants to push forward in Toronto. Check out this great video featuring Luke himself explaining his vision.


Now, Luke and his mother have organized a fundraiser for Stop Gap and asked the arts community for help. Twelve artists will be creating unique art on a Stop Gap ramp and they will be auctioned off to raise money for the cause. Studio Tour artists Valeria Ashton, Diana Bullock, Sandra Burke, Margaret Grandison, Dianne Green and Ray McNeice will be lending their artistic talents to this cause!

Below are photos of the ramp/paintings

Valerie Ashton (C)

Margaret Grandison (C)

Diana Bullock (C)

  

 Sandra Cole Burke (C)

Ray McNeice (C)

Dianne Green (C)

Margaret Grandison's House Series

If you look at Margaret's paintings you will see a pattern.  Her new work is a series of houses. They are lovely and whimsical. Here is the latest painting

Memories of Springtime

Margaret, Ray, Marie and James are at Studio # 17

Plein Air

Husband and wife team Ray McNeice and Margaret Grandison enjoy painting outside or plein air.

As part of Cultural Days in Stouffville there was a call for artists to take to the streets of town and paint.

Here is Ray's painting ..... The corner of Main Street and Edward

And Margaret's ..... The corner of Main and Edward

It is alway interesting to see how different artists treat a similar subject. 

Make sure to stop by their Studio #17 on this years tour and see these paintings. Also at this location is James Wilkes and Marie Messina

Artists Participating in Art

As much as artists love to create their own work, they also appreciate the work of others; artists visit galleries, learn in workshops led by other artists and can also participate in art created by others.

The latter is just what happened over the summer in the town of Stouffville.

Artists Linda Duvall and Timeanddesire (Denise St. Marie and Timothy Walker) asked members of the Stouffville community to share their feelings about the town in which they lived. Linda Duvall met with 12 local artists, including 8 Studio Tour artists whom she asked to take her to a location of interest or importance to them within Stouffville.  Videotaping their locations, Linda interviewed each, asking about the location itself as well as what each artist worried about living in Stouffville.

The result was a  lot of video tape that Linda edited into a 35 minute segment, and commemorative pillows with an image of each location that she visited. Why pillows? Linda had taken a trip to the local Care and Share Shoppe and been inspired by the commemorative objects for sale in that store.

On Thursday, Studio Tour artists were on hand for the opening of 'Artists and Agents' at The Latcham Gallery. Here, they stand next to their pillows:

(L to R) Allison Bullock, Ray McNeice, Joan Chalmers and Valerie Ashton

(L to R) Valerie Ashton, John Walmsley, and Margaret Grandison
Sandra Cole Burke and Diana Bullock not pictured

On September 28th The Latcham Gallery will host a panel discussion about this show as part of Culture Days in Ontario. Many of the participating artists will be in attendance as well as Linda Duvall and Timeanddesire.

Sanrdra Cole Burke

Sandra Cole Burke has joined Studio Tour artists Joan Chalmers, Margaret Grandison, Ray McNeice and John Walmsley  at new the Gallery at Imperial Centre in Stouffville.   

Your invited

Please join us at one of two opportunities to preview the exhibition and meet with the artists.

 Saturday, March 23^rd from 11 – 2

 Wednesday, March 27^th from 5 – 7

Sandra Cole Burke

Sandra Cole Burke

Or drop in weekdays from 10 – 5, weekends by chance or appointment.

Three Tour members - one location

There is a new venue for artists in Stouffville! 

Four of Ray McNeice's watercolours, five of Margaret Grandison's watercolours and two of James Wilkes’s photographs are included in an upcoming Original Art Exhibition and Sale at "The Gallery at Imperial Centre". The Gallery is located at 37 Sandiford Drive on the second floor of the Imperial Centre. 

The title of the exhibition is “Landscapes” and  runs from Thursday, Feb 14 through March 17, 2013.  

Margaret Grandison

Ray McNeice

Opening Night and Artist Reception is Thursday, Feb 21st from 5:00 t0 7:00. Visit with Ray and Margaret. (James is in Labrador and will be unable to attend) 

Please drop by to see this exciting new show and check out this wonderful venue!

Hope to see you there,

Donations

As artists we are often asked for donations for various causes. 

One of the local charities that several of of artists have supported in the past is the Jennifer Ashleigh Foundation.  Their Gala, the 22nd Annual Auction and Dinner is April 26h at the Hilton Suites in Markham. 

Tropical Sun

Margaret Grandison donated this painting to this very worthwhile charity. 

About Margaret Grandison

Introducing Studio Tour artist Margaret Grandison.

Margaret Grandison is a Studio Tour artist with a whimsical approach to all she sees. Her delicate watercolour style has won over almost everyone who has visited her home. These are a few examples of work created en plein air on a recent trip to Newfoundland with her husband Ray and friends Colin and Susan Whitebread. Be sure to see Margaret's, Ray's and Colin's work during the 2012 Stouffville Studio Tour.

Fair to Midland

Hummock House

Trinity Lupins

Margaret is at studio is number 20 on the tour. As a bonus, at this stop there is work by Margaret's husband Ray McNeice, her son James Wilkes and their friend Marie Messina.

Four artists, one stop!

(L to R) James, Marie, Margaret and Ray at the 2011 Studio Tour

 

Ray, Margaret and Colin's painting trip

Studio Tour artists Ray McNeice, Margaret Grandison, Colin Whitebread and Colin's wife Susan just returned from a sketching and painting holiday in Newfoundland. 

While Ray and Margaret painted and Colin sketched, Susan supported their efforts while devouring a sack full of novels.

From outposts on Change Island and Durell to the historic town of Trinity,and on to St. John's, very little escaped their brushes and pens.  

Margaret

Ray

Colin

Look for a lot of scenes from "The Rock" at Studios #7 and #20 this year! And make sure you check Ray and Colin's Blogs for updates 

Marie and Margaret

 A picture from last year's Tour at a very popular spot, four artists at one studio. On our Tour every location is a studio of at least one of the artists, therefore some of the stops have more than one artist! 

The Studio Tour artists have started gearing up for the 2012 Tour Weekend.  

Ray McNeice and Margaret Grandison are happy to be again hosting their good friend, potter Marie Messina and their talented photographer son, James Wilkes. This made for a very busy household last year as witnessed by Marie and Margaret taking a much-needed break behind the kitchen counter.

 Thanks to Ray for the write up and James for the picture.