Joanne Probyn Art

Joanne Probyn Art

J O A N N E   P R O B Y N   A R T

Transcend in Artfully Anonymous Group Art Show

Heads up! I am thrilled my work Transcend was curated by South Delta Artist Guild for their annual fundraiser and show, Artfully Anonymous! I’m delighted to help support this organization.

My original art has never been discounted. In several days you’ll have a rare opportunity to snag one of my paintings, Transcend, for only C$100.00!

Don’t miss out if you’ve had your eye on this gem. For a limited time, Transcend is priced at 60% off! Regular price C$249.00. For my American friends, you’re cost is only US$85.00. Shipping extra.

Sales open to the public at 10 am on Saturday, October 16th and close at 11:45 Sunday, October 24th.

During this time, visit South Delta Artists Guild website to view or make a purchase. Don’t wait! This beauty will be snapped up quickly!

  • Transcend, 10in x 10in

Reimagining Balance Event Recap

Reimagining Balance was held on September 18-19, 2021 at Eastside Atelier, studio 10B in Vancouver, Canada. The event was a success and milestone in many ways!

Needless to say, this was my first-ever pandemic art show and it presented some unique challenges requiring extra time and effort. For example, I decided early on that proof of full vaccination would be required for Saturday’s reception. Following, public health extended to include this protocol. This resulted in the use of new technologies, additional training and volunteers. As someone who is fully vaccinated, the opportunity to have a safe event came with joy, excitement and a sense of great relief. Many were so happy to see smiling faces they had not seen in almost two years, such as my women’s art group members, FLOURISH. Many said this was the first event they had attended in over 20 months. Simultaneously, I was sad to exclude others. To increase access, I developed my first virtual art studio tour for anyone who could not attend for any reason. Sharing an artist talk was one of my goals for the year and this nudged me to meet that goal!

The exhibition showcased work created over two years from 2019–2021. Another first, the event was held at my new Eastside Atelier studio. I moved into this space in spring of 2021. This show was my largest ever featuring 41 works of art from a tiny assemblage to hand embroideries to large paintings up to 40 in x 92 in. A selection of artworks from my previous body of work, Sewn Open Series, were included to contextualize the new body of work. In addition, I featured a small number of other artworks to support the theme. Over 33 people attended Saturday’s opening reception and nine visitors attended Sunday. Masks were optional Saturday yet mostly worn. Masks were always worn on Sunday. Considering there was thunder, rain and a fourth pandemic wave, it was very well attended! Thank you for trusting me with your health and time. Three works sold including Tracing Time, Oasis and Rapture. 

Six volunteers assisted or offered to help including Glen Brauer, Lindsay Macmillan, Shelley MacEachern, Natalie Wai and Miranda Maslany. Karen Johanson went above and beyond, planing to travel from Oregon to attend and help! Sadly, due to COVID test result delays misaligning with impossible border test result requirements, Karen was unable to make the trip, but her gesture was was greatly appreciated! Many people helped make the event a success including my Mom who helped me hang work and shop for essentials, Jeanne Ainslie with communications editing, Sarah Murray with photography, Madh and Opus Framing with canvas stretching, and Wet Ink Fine Art with archival inkjet printing to name a few! Huge thanks to all who helped in many big and small ways, including good wishes and encouragement from near and far. It all means so much. I truly couldn’t have done this without all of you!  

We raised $35 to donate to United Way’s BC Wildfire Recovery Fund. I catered the event with light snacks. Congratulations to Michael Granger who won my artwork, Zen Garden, through my draw!

I screened my first virtual art studio tour on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at noon PST via Zoom. Following, an edited version was uploaded to YouTube. Watch my art studio tour here and let me know what you think! 

Up next! Probyn Art Film Nights are baaaaack! Next film is Saturday, October 16th. Eastside Culture Crawl is less than a month away. Wow! How did that happen so fast?! I also have work in two curated group shows, Artfully Anonymous by South Delta Artist Guild and Water Stories by Jen Tough Gallery. For more information, visit www.probynart.com/events/upcoming

  • Selfie with Jennifer Clark
  • Photo by Sarah Murray

All photos are screen captures of short clips by Miranda Maslany unless otherwise noted. Thank you, Miranda!

Female Painters Series

Studies inspired by female artist painters. Helen is an artwork by Joanne Probyn created in acrylic and gold leaf on paper and mounted to wood panel. It is heavily layered and explores symbols including flowers, sewing lines, raindrops and scratches. Colors include pink, gold, burgundy, blue-gray and green.
Helen, acrylic and gold leaf on paper. 12“ x 12“ $299 CAD. DM me to inquire. ⁠

Introducing a series of acrylic paintings on paper! This collection of studies is inspired by female painters. Why? Because women artists are underrepresented and undervalued in the art world—throughout history and today! The art world lags behind most industries.

Art Girl Rising raises awareness about inequalities in the arts through swag, education and collaboration. Their goal is to spark conversations while inspiring change. Art Girl Rising was inspired by National Museum of Women in the Arts. This series is a reaction to their important work.

Additionally, I’m paying homage art sisters who came before me. However, these studies may or may not reflect their style. Actually, my aim was to deepen my mark-making and art history knowledge while reducing my impact on the environment. Initially, I had no intention to share these works. However, I’ve enjoyed them so much. More importantly, I hope the question of who belongs to these names continues to be asked—and answered—as they find their way into the world. 

I researched historic female painters and my contemporaries who have mark-making strengths. Next, my goal was to play! Play is liberating. Some of the best creative work comes simply from a sense of enjoyment and exploration. I integrated many of my favourite techniques such as building up layers to develop depth. Light was breathed into the work with gold leaf. Imperfection was conveyed with scratches and texture. I escaped into worlds of dots, splashes, raindrops and love. My thoughts lingered on their life experiences. I do hope you enjoy the first of this series! Introducing… Helen. Helen Frankenthaler.

Let me know what you think!

15% of proceeds will be donated to Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) is one of the few safe spaces within the Downtown Eastside exclusively for self-identified women and their children. High levels of violence, homelessness, addictions and poverty characterize the Downtown Eastside community. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, injustice and injury. DEWC provides practical support to over 500 women, children and seniors, every day. As well as providing a refuge and shelter from conditions of poverty and violence, the Centre provides basic necessities while reducing the effect of economic disadvantage. The Centre assists women with their immediate and crisis needs so they can develop stability and access the resources they need to improve health, family, employment and housing situations. We promote positive change by offering individual long-term support, education, advocacy, peer mentorship and exposure to alternatives. Our community also works towards increasing awareness of systemic injustice and inequalities that contribute to women’s vulnerability.

Introducing Flourish Art Group

Flourish Art Group is a female arts collective sprung from Vancouver-based THRIVE Art Studio. THRIVE was founded by artists Jamie Smith and Tara Lee Bennett (née Tara Galuska).  Many of us met around 2018 through mastermind groups and art shows. Today THRIVE offers a wonderful online network that I highly recommend. I remain involved. It’s a great place for any female artist to connect and grow skills.

Our group began meeting in person at The PROFILE Coworking Club about eight months before the pandemic. Jen Clark was our fearless leader.  Our meetings moved online when we could no longer meet in person due to public safety guidelines. It’s hard to believe nobody knew what Zoom was back then! For many people around the world, it’s an integral part of daily life now. We are fifteen months into the pandemic at the time of this post. Many original members our group still remain. Our format has changed to include broader discussions and artist talks. It was time to give us a name.

Flourish Art Group Zoom call, June 2021. Clockwise from top left, Susan Jessop, Joanne Probyn, Lindsay MacMillan and Ash Woodworth.

This group has been a pillar of comfort, inspiration and strength to me throughout the pandemic. When blursday described the day of the week, borders suddenly closed, art shows cancelled and our worlds turned upside down, we still had us. Only now we were safe in our living rooms.

Each artist brings her own unique skill set and creative style. We are an unlikely artist collective. Styles range from illustration, to abstraction and realism. We are at different ages and career stages. Some are mothers, some are not. Some early members include a mural artist, poet and even a circus performer. That performer, Renee Mak, graciously launched a wonderful online life drawing group that I was part of for many months early on in the pandemic. It grounded me in a difficult time and informed my art practice. Sadly, many performers were out of work. Renee kindly did her part to help her friends make some money. I digress, but it’s important. This group supported me when I launched Make Safe Brigade, a mask-making coalition. More on that later.

We are a passionate, kind, creative group. We strive to grow as individuals and as a collective. It’s simple yet very special. We help each other flourish in art and life. This is especially important in the art world. Female artists are undervalued and underrepresented.

One thing I know for sure? I’m lucky to have this gang in my corner!

Members:

FLOURISH ~ ACTIVE MEMBERS (alphabetical)
@thechowstudio Maggie Chow
@naturescardigan Susan Jessop
@janaraynemac Jana Rayne MacDonald
@lindsaymacmillanart Lindsay Macmillan
@mira_creates Miranda Maslany
@probynart Joanne Probyn
@ashwoodworth Ash Woodworth
SPECIAL MENTIONS
@jamiesmithstudio Jamie Smith
@tara.lee.bennett Tara Lee Bennett
@jenclark.art Jen Clark
@renee.mak Renee Mak
@lindschroeder Lindsay Schroeder
@karladeco_ Karla Decoran