List of 2008 Youth Achievement Award winners

Gold (8)

Michelle Alonso
Makini Calliste-Woolard
Gurleen Dulai
Priya Mistry
Marie Carolyn Caissie-Parsons
Vicki Olszewski
Alex Rodway
Victoria Seo

Silver (13)

Katherine Caspersz
Aleksandra Ciurzynska
Navjit Dulai
Ranmeet Dulai
Harveen Dulai
Gunreet Gill
Kavya Kaluarachchi
Hassan Niazi
Keshav Ramola
Natalie Stembo
Mary Jane Seo
Liana Valdez
Jessica Vammus

Bronze (15)

Navkiran Bajwa
Anita Campanelli
Celeste Courtemanche
Madhaven Devasenapathi
Connor Frid
Tristan Hill
Emily Ing
Shivani Jivan
Sidra Kahloan
Sammy Lauer
Victoria Martin
Anisha Mistry
Vick Pokhan
Alexander Simpson
Tyler Singh

Honourable mentions (0)

There were no honourable mention or certificate of completion winners this year, for the first time ever.

The photos are still coming, they're on the system at home.

Award ceremony info

The 2007 Visual Arts Brampton Youth Achievement Awards will be held at the studio on Saturday, December 22, 2007 from 11 am to 1 pm. This is the ceremony for all classes, no matter the normal class time.

Keith will start handing out the awards no later than 11:20 am, so make sure you arrive by then. Generally the awards take 30-40 minutes to hand out. We ask students stay at least until the end of the ceremony, so we can get group pictures of each level: gold, silver, bronze, and honourable mention.

After the photos are taken (likely no later than 12:10 pm), students and parents can grab a slice of pizza and some other goodies, and chat with each other.

Parking may be tricky — with snow mountains filling up spaces at the Bartley Square Mall. Your best bet is to park on the edges of the Canadian Tire parking lot at Shoppers World, and walk over at the stoplight and crosswalk (the Zellers parking lot has a Christmas tree seller taking up a bunch of spaces). Second best would be to try the W. G. Davis school parking lot or the 10 & Steeles Mall lots. See the map for their locations.

View Google map with these locations marked

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On another note, you might want to bring your cheque books. We admit students based on the order that we receive payment. The following is how many people are enrolled already (December 17) for next year.

6-8 years old 9:30 to 11:00 am 4 enrolled
6-8 years old 11:30 am to 1:00 pm 1 enrolled

8-12 years old 9:30 to 11:30 am 13 enrolled
8-12 years old 3:15 to 5:15 pm 13 enrolled

12-18 years old 1:00 to 3:00 pm 13 enrolled

By the way, the studio is also open Thursday and Friday, 10 am to 2 pm, and Thursday 7 to 9 pm, so you can enroll then as well.

Let there be light!

You may have noticed the studio's become much brighter over the past few weeks. We hired a contractor to rearrange the outdated wiring that was scattered across the ceiling, letting us move lights to locations where they're of the greatest use.

Now strung above the workshop desk/kids area is four sets of florescent lights, greatly boosting visibility in the area.

Members-only open studio Saturdays

Wish the studio was open for adults on Saturdays? Thanks to the dividing wall, it now is.

Come out from 1:00-5:15 pm and use the studio to draw, paint, or printmake. It's free if you're a Crea8tif level member, just three bucks if you're a regular member.

And don't worry, the kids are much better behaved and much quieter than you'd expect them to be. During an event a year ago, the portrait bunch remarked that they were shocked how good the kids were, yet they were far more active than usual.

(You must be a member for a few months before you can take advantage of this opportunity.)

VAB members in PHC/AGP Juried Show

VAB member Mary Noble and Debra Ali were both accepted into the Art Gallery of Peel Juried Art Show.

Using a background created in the workshop she taught at the studio, Mary painted a portrait of a model who posed at the Wednesday portrait sessions. Debra's flower painting was a Christmas gift to her sister, that Debra has continued to work on months after the holidays, including during an event at Shoppers World. Both paintings are in acrylic.

Also accepted were former VAB vice-president Kate Taylor, now a Hillsdale resident, as well as former members Kal Honey and Kim Lee Kho.

Every weekend in May, the Peel Heritage Complex will be offering free admission.

The Peel Heritage Complex is operated by the Region of Peel and is located at
9 Wellington St. E. in Brampton. The Complex is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; weekends from noon to 4:30 p.m.; and Thursday evenings from
6 to 9 p.m. Admission fees are $2.50 for adults; $1.50 for seniors; $1 for students; and $7 for families.

Check vabtoon for past animation

Every week, we show one or two short animations in the youth classes. Want to see them again? Want to see them for the first time?

Check out vabtoon.blogspot.com

Workshop news

The date, time, and details for Debra Ali's water-based oils workshop has been set. Debra's class will run every Wednesday evening (7-9 pm) for eight weeks, May 2 to June 20, 2007.

To see her work, visit debraali.ca

Meanwhile, Dan Anaka's acrylics workshop starts this weekend. Spots are still available if you haven't signed up yet. It will run for 6 weeks, skipping the Easter weekend, until May 5, 2007, on Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:30 pm.

To see his work, visit dananaka.com

Youth classes next Saturday

The teen and afternoon kids class will be taught by Debra Ali and Nick, instead of Keith and Nick, as Keith will be attending his brother's birthday party in Midland.

Debra is a professional graphic designer, who is scheduled to teach an adult painting workshop at Visual Arts Brampton, in the coming weeks.

The students will be continuing on the cartooning unit.

Morning classes will not be affected.

Art Gallery of Peel Annual Juried Show

Entry forms are available at the Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studio, at the Art Gallery of Peel, or online as a PDF.

The Art Gallery of Peel’s Annual Juried Show is one of the most popular shows of its type in the province. In the past, artists have been entitled to submit one or two works for a non-refundable fee of $12 for members; $15 for non-members. This year, submissions will be limited to one piece per artist with the entry fee remaining the same. This will allow the same number of artists to participate but not create the excessive volume of entries that can overwhelm the jurors’ decision making process.

This year, the Gallery is fortunate to have the expertise of artist Dan Kennedy and Director of the Varley Art Gallery, John Ryerson in adjudicating the show. Submissions will be received at the Gallery from April 16 - 22, 2007 and the opening reception and awarding of prizes will take place on May 2 from 8 to 10 p.m.

For further information, contact David Somers, Curator at 905-791-4055, Ext. 3632.

Drawing in Colour and Black & White workshop

Drawing in Colour and Black & White
With Keith Moreau

8 weeks, March 1 to April 19
Thursday evenings, 7 to 9 pm

• Week One & Two: Keith will help you understand perspective in simple exercises.
• Week Three: Drawing a still life arrangement.
• Week Four: One portraits in pencil
• Week Five & Six: Learn the unique white-line drawing medium of scratchboard, while working from animal illustrations.
• Week Seven & Eight: Keith will help you master coloured pencil, while drawing an image of your choice.

This workshop is just $40 for the eight weeks, including some supplies and tools for in-studio use.

Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studio
Lower level of the Bartley Square Mall
Northeast corner of Hwy 10 (Hurontario) and Steeles Avenue

Contact us for more information, or to register.

This course will be announced on daytime at exactly 11:20 am, 5:20 pm, and 11:20 pm today (Monday 19 February 2007). Tune in to Rogers Community Cable 10 to see Keith Moreau and his artwork.

Acrylics workshop with Debra Ali

VAB member Debra Ali is planning to teach an acrylics workshop this April at the Visual Arts Brampton studio. Details and the date is all TBA currently.

To see her work, visit www.debraali.ca

Congrats to Makini, Aleksandra, Emily, Carl, Samantha, Andrea

Congratulations to VAB youth class students Aleksandra Ciurzynska, Makini Calliste-Woollard, Emily Ing, and Samantha Dell'Anno, all of whom successfully applied for Mayfield Secondary School Regional Arts Program (Visual Arts). Makini is still deciding between Mayfield, and a music program at another school.

Congratulations also go out to Andrea Wang, who is accepted in Cawthra Park Secondary School Regional Arts Program (Visual Arts), and Carl Caldeira, who is accepted into St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School visual arts program.

Now a word from a notable, quotable dead person:
A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his mind is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.

– St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225 – 7 March 1274)

Home Assignment list, 2007

1. Shoes hanging by their laces, from a door knob
Any type of shoes, so long as they have laces, on any type of door knob or handle.

2. Multi-person or motorized transportation

YES: cars, trains, airplanes, stagecoaches, Vespas, boats, buses, subways, monorails, rickshaws, elephants.
NO: rollerskates, skateboards, hang gliders, soapbox car.

3. Reflection of yourself
Draw a mirror, or any other reflective object, with a reflection of yourself.

4. Cards
Either a deck of playing cards, or some sports cards. They should be drawn in an interesting arrangement, from an interesting view (not just an "overhead" shot).

5. Television playing program
Any program on the screen of any television set. Please don't draw the TV straight-on, or else it will just look like a picture with a border.

6. Electronic device
Any electronic device other than a TV. If you need to plug something in, or put batteries in it, chances are it's electronic.

7. Household room interior
The inside of any room, so long as it's in a house/apartment.

8. Deck/porch/greenhouse/solarium
Any outdoor or somewhat outdoor relaxation area.

9. A scale model
An object made to look like a much larger object, such as a boat, spaceship, car.

10. Musical instrument
Any instrument.

11. Just returned
Multiple objects that you'd have if you just returned from a particular event or place. Returned from school (backpack, textbooks), from a vacation (suitcase, maps), from a birthday party (lootbag), hockey practice (sports equipment), whatever.

12. Under your bed
Whatever the view is from under your bed. There should be something under the bed, so that it's an interesting view.

13. Food in preparation
Any meal or snack, in the process of being made.

14. Tree in two seasons
The same tree, in two different seasons. Winter branches, spring buds, summer foliage, falling leaves.

15. Indoor plant
16. DVD player with DVD disc(s) and case(s)
17. Board game

18. Holiday decorations
Any holiday or celebration, whatsoever.

19. Scene through a window
Make sure we know it's through a window, and not just a landscape, or a photo in a frame. Any window whatsoever, anywhere.

20. Stuffed animals
21. House
22. Bath toys
23. Inside your backpack.
24. Inside your closet
25. Clock
26. Folded clothes/towels

27. Tools
Building tools, kitchen tools, dentist's tools, etc.

28. Food in a container
29. Other toy (not bath, stuffed, electronic)

30. Fear
Something that you fear. Spiders, bees, monsters, invisible people, whatever.

Youth year end project decided

We skipped the year end project last year, but it's back again this year. While previous years we've focused on graphic design-related things, this year it's "industrial design".

Industrial design, you say? Does this mean we'll be drawing a factory?

No, industrial design is the design of any item that's mass-produced. From toothbrushes to toilets, from chairs to cars, from blenders to telephones. Industrial designers are the people who sketch, model, and make these items.

For now, we're thinking of the project being design a piece of furniture. It can be either futuristic or fun, but it should be something that no one's ever seen before. (ie, don't just draw the chair you bought at the store.) The key is to make it unique, while still making it usable. A chair just isn't a chair unless it can be sat on.

You'll be drawing the item you imagine from the front, the side, and the top.

Should you start now? No. Maybe brainstorm some ideas, but don't start all-out on it, until we've had some slideshows of cutting-edge industrial design, and more importantly firmed up the concept. There's nothing worse than doing an assignment that isn't going to be assigned.

Remembering Bridget Doughty

Bridget Doughty died yesterday, 24 January 2007.

Bridget was with Visual Arts Brampton since its April 1986 inception, when Palette of Peel merged with us. She was a regular at the daytime still life sessions, helping keep the timeslot active.

She was the recipient of a 2003 City of Brampton Arts Acclaim Long Term Service Award, for her many years of volunteering for the group.

In 2005, VAB had a special display of her work at the studio's Golden Pheasant Gallery. The Art of Bridget Doughty was her first solo exhibit in 20 years.

• Her biography, on the VAB website.
• Two photos of Bridget, posted on the group's photo album
• Artist Bridget Doughty makes everyday items come to life, The Brampton Guardian, 15 June 2005

VAB is planning to purchase a plaque from the City of Brampton, to be placed at the base of a tree, in the park of her family's choice. We are now accepting donations, to prepay for a spring placement.

Brampton Bulletin dead

The Brampton Bulletin is now officially dead. They published an online only issue January 4, prepared an issue for press the next week, and "between technical issues and cashflow problems", it's dead as a doornail, no planned returns.

Morning youth class CAPPED

The morning youth class for 9 to 12 year olds is capped as of today. We have reached full capacity, there is absolutely no more room under any circumstances.* There is, however, still spaces into three other classes:

• 6 to 8 years old, 9:30 to 11:00 am
  
• 9 to 12 years old, 3:15 to 5:15 pm
• 13 to 18 years old, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
  

* We will consider making an exception if you're directly in line of succession to the British Throne, solely because we could rename the group the Royal Arts Guild of Brampton or something like that.

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Note that we are now at capacity, not over capacity. The above text still applies.

New floors at studio

Come on in any time to see our new wood laminate flooring. Thanks to Keith Moreau, Luis Barrios, Martin Wigginton, and Craig for their time in installing the panels, it's much appreciated.

Also much appreciated is the discount received from RONA Home & Garden's Bramalea location at 2830 Queen Street East. Rona has previously supported us last year, with the construction materials for the youth and animation units.

If you're planning on doing a major home renovation, ask to talk to store manager Ray Bourque. He's offered to discount any large purchases made at this location, if you show proof of Visual Arts Brampton membership.

Click to view location and hours.

Classes start Saturday

Kids classes start Sat. Jan 6.

Like always, the first class is in perspective. All you need is a pencil, eraser, and preferably some paper. (Not a sketchbook, because this is a series of rough exercises, not finished works.)

Youth awards pictures

We'll be posting these Monday.