Valerie Ashton

On my easel 

Valerie is not sure if this will be ready for the Tour 

Stop by her Studio #11.... also at this location is her daughter Jara Niekraszewicz

Valerie Ashton (C)

Valerie Ashton

News from Valerie Ashton 

"I have just completed ( and passed,yeah!) the 14 week intensive (very intensive) graduate arts program, Studio Process Advancement, in Haliburton. This was a wonderful program with a lot of homework, seminars, presentations and studio time. While there I worked on a series based on the theme of Home, using used objects as my medium, coffee filters, tea bags, bottle caps and beer cans.

These pieces will be hanging in my studio during this year’s tour along with some rolled prints also made during the course."

Make sure to stop by Valerie's Studio #11 and see this work 

Also at this location is Jara Niekraszewicz

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)

Valerie and Jara

Studio Tour artists Valerie Ashton and Jara Niekraszewicz kindly share some photos of their studio as it looks now; Valerie says:

"Jara & I are gearing up for the studio tour. This is what my studio looks like before we clean it up for the tour weekend. I know it looks chaotic but we actually do get work done."

Stop by their studio #9 on this years Tour

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.

News from Valerie Ashton

 More great news from Valerie Ashton; congratulations!

Valerie tells us:
This pastel painting has been selected by the Government of Ontario Art collection curator to be part of the Archives of Ontario. The painting will hang in  one of the government  buildings in Toronto, not sure where yet. The image is my interpretation of a farm on 10^th line here in Stouffville.

Valerie's Website
Valerie's Blog

Congratulations Valerie Ashton!

Studio Tour artist Valerie Ashton received great news...

Rainy Night 2

Valerie's painting Rainy Night 2, has been accepted into the Pastel Artists of Canada juried show at the Joseph D. Carrier Gallery in Toronto and with this acceptance she has achieved the designation of Master Pastelist. To be designated Master Pastelist you must be accepted into 5 juried shows and have won at least one award at one of the shows. 

The show will run from October 5 to Novovember 11, 2012 opening night October 11 from 7-9.

Congratulations!

(Valerie is studio number 8.)

Valerie Ashton

Valerie Ashton will be showing her art at The Beacher Café, on Queen St. in Toronto for the month of June

www.thebeachercafe.com

Valerie will also have work at the Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church St. Aurora, at the Ontario Society of Artists 140^th celebration show from May 30^th to July 14th, 2012. 
Details here

FYI

Did you know that Studio Tour Artist Valerie Ashton also has a radio show the local radio station WhiStle Radio 102.7 FM. For more information and to listen live go to The Art Studio with Valerie Ashton. For more information about Valerie visit her website.

Valerie Ashton's studio

Valerie Ashton, #24 on the Studio Tour map has a brand new studio space to create her work.

Artist's piece in Markham juried show

Artist, Valerie Ashton has a work of art in the Markham Group of Artists juried show at the Mckay House in Unionville. The show runs until June 6th.

Morning Rush by Valerie Ashton


Dark Roast by Valerie Ashton

Works by Valerie Ashton...showing in Stratford as part of the Ontario Society of Artists' Juried Show at the Gallery Stratford