Life is buzzing behind-the-scenes at the Markham Arts Council

Franklin Beecham, Visual Artist, Markham, Canada — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:32:13 +0000

First off, congratulations to Robyn on attaining her position of Marketing Coordinator at the Markham Arts Council. I know Judi will benefit greatly from your many talents. Already, you have made an impression with your creativity at the Markham Arts Council booth, bringing more members to the Arts Council. The way the booth is set up was very inviting to visitors, as was the sketch easel. The teen volunteers were also a great help. Well done!

at the Thornhill Village Festival

at Applefest in the Markham Museum

Other things in the works are the upcoming events with the Markham Teen Arts Council. They have a new executive that is as creative and energetic as the last. They garnered funding from the Trillium Foundation and are having t-shirts made up showing their new logo. A new event to be held in October is the literary showcase, WordUp! Check out their website for more info. Also watch for the 24-Hour Video Challenge and the Music & Lyrics Contest (now named “Xpression”).

The Markham Arts Council has been holding seminars lately to enhance knowledge of the business part of being an artist. An interesting session was led by members of the Ontario Arts Council, explaining grants for artists. We have a couple of contests for Photography and Poetry; and two upcoming events, the November Art Show and the 2010 Mackie Awards. Also our big fundraiser, Arts & Tarts – a Royal Tea. I’ll explain later.

Our art-loving friends Ric and Catherine are now the owners of another abstract painting of mine, “Yellow & Red” and also one of Rhiana’s oil paintings, “Locomotion“. Nicky too, sold one of his photos recently to an avid buyer. Way to go Nicky! I also have a mixed-media painting (The Pond) that’s been chosen for the Chairman’s Dinner for the Arts, a benefit for the York Region Arts Council. Rhiana has two pieces in the same event.

Its been a busy month or so lately and it doesn’t look like its going to let up.

Mother Nature at her finest

Franklin Beecham, Visual Artist, Markham, Canada — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:19:37 +0000

As you know, I take and use photographs in my mixed-media paintings. Most, if not all are distant landscapes and are generally used as monotones and focal points on my canvases.

However, I also admire nature’s colourful extremes. They are a source of inspiration for me and sometimes where I get my colour palettes from for my wet-on-wet abstracts.

Here are some examples of macro images I took recently that illustrate the intricacy, vibrancy and beauty of Mother Nature’s work. Hope you like them…

Please click here to view my photos.

Franklin Beecham, Visual Artist » Photographs

Life is buzzing behind-the-scenes at the Markham Arts Council

Mother Nature at her finest