Rosalind Amorin
I have always wanted to be an artist and since 1975 I have practiced art to varying degrees depending on my circumstances. I was born in England, spent my childhood in Morocco and my parents immigrated to Canada in 1968 and we settled in North York, Toronto. I was encouraged by teachers throughout my school years to pursue the arts and particularly at A.Y. Jackson Secondary School that had a strong arts program. We enjoyed field trips to the McMichael Gallery where we were taught and inspired by the likes of Glen Loates. I was granted scholarships for classes at the AGO throughout my high school years which was followed by studies at OCA.
My first steady employment came when I moved to Cambridge, Ontario and landed a job as staff illustrator for Imagecraft. I would design their first lines of greeting cards. I was able to work largely from home and balance work and my growing family’s needs nicely for the next 9 years.
In 1991 our family moved to a suburb of Ottawa where I got painting again. This time working on paintings for my own home. I joined the Cumberland Arts Guild and shared what I was working on and began to receive commissions. Gradually word got around, and commissions kept me steadily employed for the 9 years we lived there. I submitted my work to juried shows winning several awards. My work was primarily in watercolors and my main subjects were children and typical family moments that had sentimental value. I loved the interaction with my customers as I learned what they felt about the subject and the story behind it and watched their reactions upon receiving the finished piece. Ottawa was very good to me and I met so many interesting people from all over the world and thoroughly enjoyed the work. During that time I was privileged to have my work critiqued by the late Edwin Matthews and went on to show my work at the Gallery on the Lake in Buckhorn.
We have moved three times since then and every time my art has fit in somehow. For three years we were in Brampton and I continued to paint in public places such as the Farmer’s market and picked up business that way. Then we moved to Tilsonburg where I was involved in the community with teaching and showing my art through the Station Arts Center. I helped to launch an art co-op to encourage people in various creative ventures which was very rewarding and continues to this day through First Baptist Church..
We returned to Cambridge in 2010 where I joined the Studio 30 group that met regularly at the Cambridge Centre of the Arts and participated in their annual shows and in teaching workshops in watercolor portraits. I also participated in the studio tours and continued with my commissions.
I presently show my paintings at the Select Art Gallery in Newmarket and Vernes Framing in Kitchener and have a Facebook page that features my art.
The recent lockdowns due to Covid allowed me some quality time to explore other mediums and styles of painting and lately it has triggered some fresh inspiration with acrylics and fiber art. I am excited for the possibilities and am looking forward to what is ahead. Recently we have
moved yet again and this time to Waterloo where I have no doubt, I will connect with other artists and find some new artistic avenues.
My first steady employment came when I moved to Cambridge, Ontario and landed a job as staff illustrator for Imagecraft. I would design their first lines of greeting cards. I was able to work largely from home and balance work and my growing family’s needs nicely for the next 9 years.
In 1991 our family moved to a suburb of Ottawa where I got painting again. This time working on paintings for my own home. I joined the Cumberland Arts Guild and shared what I was working on and began to receive commissions. Gradually word got around, and commissions kept me steadily employed for the 9 years we lived there. I submitted my work to juried shows winning several awards. My work was primarily in watercolors and my main subjects were children and typical family moments that had sentimental value. I loved the interaction with my customers as I learned what they felt about the subject and the story behind it and watched their reactions upon receiving the finished piece. Ottawa was very good to me and I met so many interesting people from all over the world and thoroughly enjoyed the work. During that time I was privileged to have my work critiqued by the late Edwin Matthews and went on to show my work at the Gallery on the Lake in Buckhorn.
We have moved three times since then and every time my art has fit in somehow. For three years we were in Brampton and I continued to paint in public places such as the Farmer’s market and picked up business that way. Then we moved to Tilsonburg where I was involved in the community with teaching and showing my art through the Station Arts Center. I helped to launch an art co-op to encourage people in various creative ventures which was very rewarding and continues to this day through First Baptist Church..
We returned to Cambridge in 2010 where I joined the Studio 30 group that met regularly at the Cambridge Centre of the Arts and participated in their annual shows and in teaching workshops in watercolor portraits. I also participated in the studio tours and continued with my commissions.
I presently show my paintings at the Select Art Gallery in Newmarket and Vernes Framing in Kitchener and have a Facebook page that features my art.
The recent lockdowns due to Covid allowed me some quality time to explore other mediums and styles of painting and lately it has triggered some fresh inspiration with acrylics and fiber art. I am excited for the possibilities and am looking forward to what is ahead. Recently we have
moved yet again and this time to Waterloo where I have no doubt, I will connect with other artists and find some new artistic avenues.
