Diploma Program
Portfolio Development Program

Diploma Graduation Exhibition: Presented by the Ottawa School of Art Gallery, June 24th - August 7th. The opening will take place on Thursday, June 24th from 5:30 pm - 8:30pm.

125e anniversaire de l'École d'Art d'Ottawa - Promotion de 2004 du programme menant à un diplôme. Les élèves de la promotion de 2004 amorcent leur carrière dans le " substrat " lors de l'exposition de la remise des diplômes. Présentée par la Galerie de l'École d'Art d'Ottawa, du 24 juin au 7 août. L'École d'Art d'Ottawa présente " substrat ", une exposition des œuvres produites par les élèves inscrits au programme triennal du Diplôme en beaux-arts.

	now >:: showing @ the OSA Gallery: "substratum" Diploma Program Graduates 2004 Exhibit Presented by the Ottawa School of Art Gallery, June 24th - August 7th. The opening will take place on Thursday, June 24th from 5:30 pm - 8:30pm.

Ottawa School of Art - Graduating Class

Diploma Program Graduating Students of 2004 / Classe des finissants 2004
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Artist Statements / Raison d'être

Corrie Gibson

The formal qualities of movement, form and colour are the focus in my landscape painting. The scenes are formed from my memories of landscape. Not so much representational of the colours, shape and size of a memory, but the smell, movement and essence of the place. I use intense dramatic colours to capture the energy found in nature, Quick brush strokes that mimic the breeze in the air, and the movement of the branches. I want the entire experience of the landscape to be translated through me to my viewer. Les qualités formelles du mouvement, de la forme et de la couleur sont au coeur de ma peinture de paysages. La scène se crée à partir de mes souvenirs du paysage. Elle naît davantage de l'odeur, du mouvement et de l'essence de l'endroit que des couleurs, formes et dimensions du souvenir. J'emploie des couleurs dramatiques intenses pour saisir l'énergie de la nature, et des coups de pinceaux rapides pour imiter le mouvement de la brise et des branches. Par mon art, je veux traduire pour le spectateur tout ce qui fait le paysage.

Lisa Egan

The work I am doing is a very personal language based on my own experiences. I relate to the subject matter because a lot of it is based on my friends, family, my personal journeys and places that I have had important experiences. I am interested in creating characters with an intriguing and compelling inner world. I want to know what makes people tick, what are their desires, drives, virtues and vices, obsessions and needs. I am exploring how people relate to each other, mentally as well as physically. I'm interested in emotions, self-discovery, and individual identity.

Mon travail traduit un langage très personnel basé sur mes propres expériences. Je suis très attachée à ma matière parce qu'elle se rapporte en grande partie à mes amis, ma famille, mes voyages, à des endroits où j'ai vécu des expériences importantes. Je veux créer des personnages avec un monde intérieur bizarre et envoûtant. J'explore les façons que les gens se comportent l'un envers l'autre, aussi bien sur le plan mental que physique. Ce sont les émotions, la découverte de soi et l'identité individuelle qui m'intéressent.

Elaine Virtue

The inspiration for my current body of work originates from my interest in the "New Astronomy" of the late twentieth century. Through the use of large canvases and vibrant oil colours, I am painting the new "landscape" of space while exploring concepts of space and distance, colour and luminosity. These paintings are a personal exploration of thought and creative vision expressing my sense of wonder and awe at the vastness of our unfolding universe and our place in it.

L'inspiration pour mes œuvres récentes m'est venue de mon intérêt pour la " Nouvelle Astronomie " de la fin du XXe siècle. En appliquant des couleurs brillantes à l'huile sur de grandes toiles, je peins le nouveau " paysage " de l'espace en explorant des concepts d'espace et de distance, de couleur et de luminosité. Ces peintures sont une exploration personnelle d'une pensée et d'une vision créative qui expriment mon sentiment d'émerveillement et d'admiration devant l'immensité de notre univers, qui s'étend à l'infini, et la place que nous y occupons.

Paula Sobieralski

Born in Montreal, QC in 1977, Paula Sobieralski recently completed her studies at The Ottawa School of Art, majoring in photography and graduating with a Fine Arts Diploma in June 2004. Her multi-media works are strongly influenced by both pinhole photography and portraiture, concentrating on the idea of the passage of time.

Née à Montréal en 1977, Paula Sobieralski complète en juin 2004 des études à l'École d'Art d'Ottawa, obtenant un diplôme en beaux-arts avec majeure en photographie. Ses œuvres multimédia, qui abordent l'idée du temps qui passe, sont grandement influencées par la photographie par sténopé et le portrait.

Jamie Maynard

I come from a family of avid gardeners, which led to my previous design career. As an Ottawa School of Art graduate, painting has allowed me to bring together garden design and painting in oils. My body of work entitled 'Images from Spain' focuses on landscape. The formal Spanish gardens are masterfully crafted by Moorish designers. There is a serenity in a garden, often at an unconscious level. I believe that reso;ving the tension created by contrasts brings about this sense of tranquility. In each painting, I have created a dicotomy, using for example, dappled light and shadows; or garden objects in an etheral setting. The composition, and the viewer's safe vantage point, create balance so that no one object jars another. The result is a restful place with an invitation to explore further. I hope that I have transferred my love of these settings in my current work. Par nature, je cherche à m'échapper du réel, et j'apprécie la sérénité des jardins et des grands espaces. Un jour, j'espère peindre aussi bien que je le souhaite; pour l'instant, je me préoccupe encore des formes, lignes, de l'ombre, la lumière et de la couleur. J'espère que mes pièces procurent au spectateur une apaisante errance buissonnière.

 
I've always been intrigued by what isn't immediately apparent, but lies beneath, concealing its intentions of either benevolence or menace. The brilliant clarity of water in a pristine lake entices us to snatch a shiny stone from its bed, but when we try, we discover that our shiny image vanishes in the ripples elicited by our touch. If we wait, the stone will gradually reveal itself in distortions as the ripples clear. Then, we might choose to risk getting wet and stinging our eyes in order to pluck up that stone. and will probably discover that our desired object isn't quite as attractive after having been uprooted from its habitat.

When I'm alone and catch a reflection of myself in a shiny kettle or on a television screen, I am often shocked and somewhat bothered. It's like being caught off guard; like being a voyeur of myself. There is an epiphany as I discover myself in my natural state, in my own habitat, instead of being outside or in role play.and I wonder if that's what other people see.

In my art I try to entice my viewer into looking beneath the surface. I often create and submerge my images in layers of wax, using colour to communicate an agreeable aesthetic. Certain facets of my intentions are revealed on the surface, but in order to get at the heart of the work, one must look within.

Pauline Clarkson

In the creative voyage of self exploration, the canvas becomes a reflection of our hopes, desires, visions and dreams. Painting becomes a way of letting the emergence of whom we truly are. It is my strong belief that it is through comprehensive understanding of the Arts that we will witness a betterment of society. Art is about crossing boundaries. Creativity is about seeing things in new ways. Art opens our imaginations to a wider world and creative thinking. Risk taking and openness to the new are the qualities that are valued in many fields beside the Arts.

La peinture, c'est tout ce qui compte pour moi. Puisque les formes organiques prédominent dans mon travail, l'organisation de ces formes est essentielle. Quand enfin je vois quelque chose qui émerge, c'est très stimulant de produire des formes et des marques qui créent de l'énergie. Parfois, le processus est frustrant quand rien ne fonctionne et qu'il faut absolument continuer d'essayer. Puis, il y a des jours où la magie opère et tout coule facilement. Après, on se demande comment ça s'est produit.

Marylin Gordon

I retired from nursing, after having worked for many years as a coronary intensive care nurse. Eager to try my hand at something new, as far removed as possible from a hospital setting, I started playing with the idea of painting the pretty flowers which grew in my backyard. However, since I could neither paint nor draw,  I decided to enroll at a school of art. Little did I know how many new, different and exciting worlds art school was to open up for me, as I traveled, ever so cautiously, from my little backyard garden, down the exciting garden path of the larger world of real art.  At first, I found Photography and digital manipulation both challenging and frustrating.  I have since learned to appreciate the panorama of new vistas to which they have exposed me. Through them, I have been able to pursue subjects near and dear to my heart.  Peu importe le moyen d'expression que j'utilise, mon art cherche à rendre le monde de la Nature et des enfants. C'est un monde qui a deux réalités : il y a d'abord celle où l'espoir, les rêves et les promesses se réalisent; puis, il y a l'autre, où c'est tout le contraire. Par la peinture et la gravure de reproduction, je célèbre la beauté et la simplicité remarquables de la Nature. Mes photographies d'enfants tentent de saisir l'essence de l'univers naturel et sans souci de l'enfance, à l'abri des problèmes des adultes.

Tarrah Pierre

Today we witness many different views from the public on what they think and feel about art. Some may see art as a production of something beautiful; skill or as mere decoration for one’s space.

As a young growing artist, my main focus lately has been painting. Inspiration evolves from my surroundings, mood, and most recently emotions. Colour plays an important role in each piece that is produced based on my cultural background. Coming from an island with panoramic views of lush green vegetations, sandy beaches and a splash of colour from flowers, fruits and customs from cultural events is used as my colour palette.

Using acrylic on canvas is my medium of choice to represent a body of work called Canada vs. St.Lucia. Faith Ringgold’s French Collection and Other Story Quilts; Dancing at the Louvre was used as a guide. Using a grid format, each canvas takes you on a journey of my life in Canada and St.Lucia. This visual history of my life is a colourful proof that no part of life is to personal to become transformed into an inspiring work of art. To express my creativity would be meaningless unless it is accompanied by a journey deep into self.

Je suis une jeune artiste qui s'inspire de son milieu, ses états d'âme, ses émotions et ses antécédents culturels pour créer. Ces derniers temps, j'ai concentré mes efforts sur la peinture où la couleur joue un rôle-clé. Mes antécédents culturels servent de point de départ au développement d'une palette qui s'inspire d'une végétation verte luxuriante, de rives sablonneuses, de fleurs, de fruits et de coutumes provenant d'événements culturels.

Grabriel Dale-Hill

I am interested in activist art. My father, an activist, during the Vietnam War spent a year after college working as a carpenter and by night contributing towards his University newspaper. He talked mainly about the hypocrisy of the American government. I admire him for his causes and learn from him every chance I get. In my paintings, I comment on issues that have been talked much about in recent years and longer. Issues discussed are controversial topics such as drugs and poverty, as well as corporate power and working class power. These are some of the ideas I've learned about through magazines in the artistic and political news. Harpers, Adbusters, and even the New Yorker talk on these ideas. Adbusters has an often gritty, diary type visual aspect. I try to apply some of these concepts to my present work. The process I am working through is collecting drawings and newspaper articles and relating them to an issue which is prevalent today and historically. I choose drawings which are clear and combine them with paint, canvas, and newspaper articles. The picture has always one image continually: the human hand. In proceedure and creation, this is how man is contributing or taking away from the world. In prehistoric time man used them to survive to bring food or protection, the same hands created the first visual forms on cave walls. Today, man uses them to protect himself from the same hands, with weapons of mass distruction and huge prison populations. At the same time, man's hands are contributing to the beauty in such places as an art gallery. It is always a statement about man's actions.

Gabriel a entrepris sa formation à l'École d'Art d'Ottawa en 2001. Auparavant, il a étudié au Sheridan College. Pendant son séjour à l'École d'Art d'Ottawa, Gabriel a travaillé plusieurs moyens d'expression comme la gravure de reproduction, la photographie, le dessin, l'art virtuel et la peinture. Dans l'exposition actuelle, il présente une série de petites peintures identiques et des techniques mixtes exposées en quadrillé.

Darren Larose

A journey into unconscious behavior. It begins with a navigated tour around my automatic cerebral paint putting on-ness. Abstract Expressionism is the main category you can label my art. The on going debate versus technique and creation pins like a needle in my head. Creating art can only be balanced with a natural desire to accept the outcome of one's work. My outcome is never pre-determined, the process owns my final piece of work. Viewing my work involves talking a walk with me as I lead you through my perception of our world. Inner relevancy only comes when your willing to spend some time look art my art. Don't forget that I need to add the word nebulous into my statement.

Nos vies changent sans cesse. Ma façon de voir le monde est nébuleuse mais heureuse quand j'en ai la maîtrise. Je complète mon expérience ici avec une histoire à raconter. Nous avons tous dans nos vies des histoires qui nous façonnent. Mon histoire commence avec la mort et se termine avec la naissance.