Meet the Makers

About Anne Karapetsas

I am an artist whose primary medium of expression is painting, specifically acrylic and watercolour. My passion for painting has been deeply ingrained within me since my youth, as evidenced by the scholarships I attained with the esteemed Art Gallery of Ontario. Although my career path led me to become a pharmacist, my love for painting never waned. Through my art, I aim to evoke emotion, explore the beauty of the world around us, and share my unique perspective with others.

About Sarah Ward, Veronica Sarata, Taylor Meades and Mallory Gresch:

We are a collection of Sheridan ceramics students in our final year. We utilize a variety of techniques to make our wares from hand building to throwing. Though our personal practices are different we are able to come together collaboratively to share space and make work together. Our goal is to continue sharing space and producing work post graduation and we hope that this sale will be the first of many to fund our future studio.

Mirta Ormazábal:

Based in Canada, this traditional artist crafts whimsical worlds filled with animals, nature, and people, drawing inspiration from the beauty of the natural world and the emotions evoked by music. Her artist practice includes watercolour, ink, and coloured pencils, alongside occasional explorations in wet felting, allowing her to express wonder through rich textures and vibrant colours.

About Ruth Forget:

Ruth is a local artist of Métis and mixed-heritage. She is also as a familiar face in the community, having served at the library for many years. A lifelong lover of all things art, she brings a passion for creating unique pieces through her vibrant, beaded jewelry and dreamcatchers. Her work connects deeply to her family and Indigenous heritage; she learned the art of making dreamcatchers from her father, who was also beader himself. Each of her creations celebrates both her roots and quirky individual style. 

About Ting Yang:

Ting Yang is a visual artist using cyanotype, photography, and mixed media processes on paper, textiles, and rocks. Her work merges the art of Japanese Ikebana and Chinese flower arrangements with the ethereal beauty of photography. As a nature lover she has long been captivated by the colour blue for its healing properties, which she expresses by blending natural elements with the serene hue of cyanotype in her art. 

Website: www.thebluart.com

Instagram: @theblu_art

About Katherine Ward

Katherine was twelve years old when she won her first writing competition, submitting a story about Christmas traditions to her father's company employee publication. From then onward she was constantly writing stories and scribbling down ideas in a notebook. 

While Another Glass of Tea is by no means an autobiography, Katherine did spend her own exchange year in Istanbul in the mid 1980s, living with three Turkish families and attending school. Her next novel, Skipping Stones, is due out this spring.

Website: https://katherineward.ca

Jeannette Mayer-Gayford

About Jeannette Mayer-Gayford:

My travels through parts of North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand always fascinate and inspire me. I love to photograph and then paint what I find visually exciting, whether it is the beautiful architecture in old towns and cities or the colourful plant life and surroundings while travelling to exotic places. After being approached to paint portraits of family pets, I realized that I enjoyed creating a keepsake of these beloved family members and have done many dog and cat commissions over the last 9 years.

Kim Jack-McConnell

Alina Nedashkivska:

About Maryna Salagub

Maryna, the artist behind @goodfairyart is a full time self-taught watercolour artist. She started her art path in Ukraine as a child, and then moved to Canada to continue her art practice. Maryna draws whimsical watercolours of animals doing human activities as if they were living their best lives. Her desire to draw animals is deeply rooted in profound connection to nature and a commitment to raising awareness about the critical issues facing our ecosystems. Through her art, she aims to utilize art as a powerful tool for education and advocacy.

Discover her art at www.goodfairyart.com and get inspired yourself!

About Joanne MacNair:

Joanne has been exhibiting her work since 1979 in galleries and shows in Hamilton, Toronto, Thornhill, Oakville, Mississauga. Bronte Art in the Park 2019, Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, and the Twist Gallery Queen Street, Toronto March 2020.

About Yan Yin:

I love painting and particularly when I start painting flowers I become immersed in the drawing and almost create a conversation-connection with the flowers which I am trying to capture on paper.

About Amhet Boyanci

Originally from Ankara, Turkey, Ahmet Boyanci now calls Toronto home. Having worked as an engineer, an immigration consultant, and running his own business, he has always been at heart a creative. Following in his artist parent's footsteps, Ahmet is also a playwright, dialogue writer, filmmaker and visual artist. Now as a recent graduate of Humber's popular Film & Television Production Program, he is launching his new business venture Boyanci Image. A skilled photographer, camera operator and cinematographer, Ahmet is a versatile creative who delivers innovation across his work.

About Joan Harper

Joan takes great pleasure in showing her love of the outdoors through her artwork.  She captures interesting nature scenes with her camera and then transfers it to canvas using ink and/or acrylic paint. 

About 20 years ago Joan added a new art medium to her resume.  One of her instructors, Caitlin Hyde, taught her how to design flameworked beads.  The melting glass was totally mesmerizing.  A later instructor, Carl Durance, taught Joan how to layer glass to make pendants.  With the input of these wonderful experts she found the love of doing glass fusion pendants in combination with wire wrapping.

About Daniela Bucsa

Daniela is a Fort Erie contemporary artist with her roots going back to Transylvania, Romania. She is immersed in the dynamic world of Fluid Art and Acrylic Pouring media, by creating colorful abstract acrylic paintings on a variety of mediums, such as canvas, ceramic, and wood.

With a Sheridan College background in software and QA, her life-long artistic side is prevailing. She has enjoyed several commissions.

Each piece of art is unique, visually striking and emotionally resonant.

About Win Henstock

Win has been a professional artist for over 25 years. She is an elected member of The Society of Canadian Artist and The Toronto Watercolor Society.

Win continues to take workshops worldwide and teaches watercolour, oil and acrylic. She has been teaching at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre for 7 years.

Website: www.winhenstock.com