Bravo's Star Portraits has many connections to the Arts School!

Portrait of actor Enrico Colantoni by artist John Viljoen

ARAS instructor, John Viljoen, past faculty member Daniel Hughes and long-time ARAS student, now professional artist, Marie Finklestein, were chosen to participate in Bravo's new series Star Portraits, hosted by Louise Pitre. Viljoen competed with two other artists in creating a portrait of Toronto actor Enrico Colantoni, while Hughes did the same by painting figure skater, Elvis Stojko.

The winners of this competition were decided by the celebrities themselves and both Colantoni and Stojko chose our artists' portraits for their own private collections. While Marie Finklestein's painting of The Amazing Kreskin was not chosen by the celebrity, it will be auctioned off to raise money for charity.

We congratulate all the artists! The episodes and portraits can be seen online at starportraits.ca.

You are invited to an Open House at RedSable, the studio and gallery of instructor Klaas Hart. This is a chance to visit the artist at his place of work as well as see some of his art on display. 1765 Danforth Ave., November 21, 1-4 pm.

Hippo Craft Fair, Madeleine Domingue, St. Matthews Church, 729 St. Clair Ave. West, November 28, 10 am-3 pm
Sale of the instructor's framed work and cards.

Instructor Eva Ormut was awarded an OAC Education Project Grant to start a Stop-Motion Animation program with grades 7 & 8 students. They will create 6 films, including the writing, animation, filming and editing.

Instructor Andrew Judd was featured on WetCanvas.com.
The artist discusses how he paints in cafés.

Photo by Andrew Judd

Fatih Stanley was a bright-eyed, smiling 14-year-old when he first came to the Arts School on scholarship back in the 90s. He excelled in the adult master painting art classes that he attended over the course of several years. But his talent and passion were not limited to art alone: he also showed great promise in academics and athletics. As a result of his achievements, he won the prestigious CIBC Youth Vision Award, which paid for much of his university education. Starting at the University of Toronto, his academic passions soon led him to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He graduated in 2006 with honors, one of six to be recognized as a Senior Fellow. His senior thesis was a graphic novel.

After graduating, Fatih decided to take his athletic passions to the highest level by dedicating his life to the dream of the 2008 Olympic Games. Despite being one of the top sprinters in Canada, a last minute injury prevented him from qualifying for the Olympic team. Upon his return to Toronto in 2009, he was hired by RBC to become a spokesperson for the RBC Olympians program. He has recently accepted an exciting new role with the bank as a Commercial Account Manager in the RBC Regional Office. Fatih has since returned to the Arts School to study under the tutelage of John Viljoen, with whom he studied for several years back in the 90's. With a passion to give back, he has agreed to serve on the Board of the Arts Scholarship Fund.

In Fatih's words: "the privilege and opportunity to explore my love of art changed my life forever. As a scholarship student I was given more than a chance to do art - I was given a chance to live out a dream!"

Fatih is only one of many scholarship students who feel that their lives have been changed by having had the opportunity to study with inspiring instructors at the Avenue Road Arts School. We are immensely grateful to our many friends, students and former students who have generously supported this initiative which presently underwrites 60 scholarship students each year. Fatih's smile and sparkling eyes continue to shine. We would like to keep a smile on other worthy children's faces by offering more scholarships. With the help of donors like you, we will.

Learn more about The Arts Scholarship Fund.

For many years, the Avenue Road Arts School grounds had been adorned by artist Eric Neighbour's Fish Birds. These whimsical creatures are beloved by many students who attend classes at the School. When instructors received an email last fall asking if they wanted to design, create and erect a new art installation that would reflect the creativity within the School, two instructors, Julie Frost, now Executive & Artistic Director of Arts for Children and Youth, and Ceramic Artist & Instructor Audrey Mah, responded with a proposal for the Garden Poles.

The creation of three clay totem pieces was to be a considerable undertaking, so the School's other ceramicists, Diane Hamilton and Jennifer Chin, incorporated the project into their curricula, as did the project originators, Audrey and Julie.

When it came time to plant the three poles into the front lawn, the administrative team, including our Director, Liana Del Mastro Vicente, her father Louis, and two other staffers, brought new meaning to the term 'elbow grease'. Using an auger, holes were dug four feet into the ground and concrete was poured to stabilize the poles and keep the frost from uprooting the works. Our team felt the vibrations in their arms for days!

The union of the natural elements in the sculptures, including cement, metal and clay, mirrors the environment they inhabit. The Garden Poles beautifully express the Arts School's community of talented children and adult students who created the individual pieces. Have a closer look at them the next time you come to the school. The one remaining Fish Bird will be looking too.

Finding Inspiration: Art is all around you!

Artist Andy Warhol found inspiration in pop culture, but those who know his history in some detail also know that his mother sold decorative flower tins made from soup cans. Her influence on him is undeniable, and contextualizes his choice of subject matter.

The Garden Poles on the front lawn of the Avenue Road Arts School were inspired by poles that reminded one of the artists of shish kebob. If you are observant in your surroundings, as Warhol was when he noticed his mum's home-made tins, and the artists who designed the Garden Poles were, you will see that art is at your fingertips. Moreover, inspiration is at your fingertips.

But you also need to use imagination to see the possibilities that mundane objects yield in your day-to-day life.

I surveyed our faculty, staff and some young students and asked where they derived inspiration for their artistic disciplines. The results of the survey reflected that most people polled named past experiences and their imagination as the top two sources.

Two examples of natural provisions for inspirational subject matter are: the fall leaves that incorporate texture, colour, and line; and the marvelous contrast of light and shadow in the autumn, seen in the way that the shadows of bare trees stand out against the concrete sidewalk. The elements of design are reflected in the elements in nature.

Whether you're looking for creative ideas at home with your children or looking for inspiration in your own artwork, keep in mind that with imagination, the creative tools are right in front of your nose!

By Rachel McQuillan