A passionate and experienced Art and Craft Instructor with a deep love for hands-on creativity and teaching. Special interest in mixed media including clay work, paper crafts, fiber arts, upcycling and folk arts, I guide learners of all ages and skill levels in developing their artistic voice through fun, engaging, and accessible workshops. My approach blends technical instruction with encouragement, fostering both skill and confidence in every participant.
With a background in Indian textile, Yogita has keen interest in folk art which finds its reflection in her art.
Yogita is a contemporary dot mandala artist whose work explores the intersection of mindfulness and symmetry through the meditative practice of detailed pointillism transforming the motifs created by dotting into vibrant, balanced compositions that evoke both harmony and introspection, thereby acting as a powerful artform for mental health and overall well being.
Ray Vidal is an award winning multidisciplinary artist, muralist, musician and educator based in Toronto, Canada. Focusing on building a better more connected community through accessible arts programming, workshops, mentorships, mural & public art initiatives. That is inclusive and helps foster creative thinking and problem solving for youth, emerging artists and the whole community. After graduating from Sculpture and Installation at OCAD University his art practice has expanded into the public art realm specializing in murals, scenic painting, illustrations, live performance, community events, arts programs and workshops. Empowering community through diverse arts programming and workshops with various non profit arts organizations around the GTA.
Ray’s work can be seen internationally and locally. In mediums of aerosol, latex, acrylic and vinyl wrap. Over all completing 35 plus public art projects around Ontario, Calgary and California. Using the streets as a canvas to connect with others. Collaborating with clients such as LCBO, Google, TTC Subway, BMO Canada, Flap Canada, Peel Children’s Aid Society, Bell Canada, Mount Sinai Hospital and Lola’s Kitchen. Ray is a dedicated community arts educator with 10 years experience teaching murals, workshops and arts programming with various community focused non profit arts organizations. Recognized for his community impact at the 2023 Mississauga Urban Design receiving the Award of Merit and featured in the 2023 Big Pictures conference in British Columbia at Wilson School of Design for his community driven mural series Ebb and Flow. 2024 he was awarded the People’s Choice and Jury’s Choice Award for a 48 hr mural marathon at the Sutter Theatre for the Arts in Yuba City, California.
Diana Nadia Lawryshyn is a Ukrainian-Canadian artist based in Toronto. Her wood grain-based paintings explore pareidolia: the human impulse to derive images and meaning from ambiguous forms. Beginning with an abstract, gestural underpainting, each painting evolves as faces, figures, and other forms emerge through her response to the natural patterns embedded in the wood grain.
Rooted in early training in visual fundamentals, Lawryshyn deepened her practice through cross-disciplinary study while completing a Master of Music degree. Her musical background continues to shape her approach, informing the rhythmic structures, repetitions, and vibrational qualities that organize her visual language.
Diana’s work has been exhibited locally and internationally, with highlights including Nuit Blanche Toronto, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Oshawa City Hall, and the Kavaleridze Museum (Kyiv, Ukraine). She has received recognition in multiple juried exhibitions, including ‘Best in Show’ at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery and ‘People’s Choice’ at the Station Gallery.
Disha Sharma is a professional artist, illustrator, and educator based in the Greater Toronto Area.” Working in both realistic and expressive styles, she is best known for her detailed botanical and food illustrations as well as her vibrant watercolor florals and landscapes.
Disha teaches a range of popular watercolor classes and workshops. Her teaching emphasizes strong fundamentals, observation, and an encouraging, process-driven approach that helps students build both skill and confidence. Beyond teaching, Disha works commercially as an illustrator, creating artwork for packaging, picture books and editorial clients. Her work blends traditional watercolor techniques with modern digital tools like Procreate, reflecting her belief that creativity thrives in both tradition and innovation
A nature lover and tireless hiker, Maria finds inspiration in exploring the provincial parks and conservation areas of Southern Ontario. Often painting on location with dry pastels, she captures the light and feeling of each scene. She later uses her pastel sketches as references for larger oil pieces, which she creates in her studio on canvas using a palette knife. By manipulating oil paints wet-on-wet with a palette knife, she blends colors directly on the canvas, creating harmonious transitions and subtle gradients that enhance the textural complexity of her work. Embracing the unpredictability of using a palette knife and allowing the underpainting to show through, she fills her paintings with spontaneity and vitality, making the landscapes feel alive and in motion. The result is a series of textured pieces that celebrate the beauty of nature and invite viewers to experience it in a tangible, immersive way.
Maria is an Elected Member of the Society of Canadian Artists and the Ontario Society of Artists, as well as a Master Signature-Eminent Pastelist Member of Pastel Artists Canada. She lives and works in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
For over a decade, Elena has captivated audiences with her intricate, and deeply emotive glass and ceramic mosaic art. Renowned for her ability to weave colour, texture, and storytelling into stunning visual narratives, Elena has established herself as a notable figure in contemporary mosaic art, creating works that are both deeply personal and profoundly communal.
Elena firmly believes that art should be inclusive, participatory, and accessible. Through hands- on workshops, collaborative design sessions, and public art projects, she has brought together individuals of all ages and backgrounds to co-create vibrant murals that transform everyday spaces into stunning works of collective expression. Her community-driven approach fosters pride, connection, and a shared sense of ownership that resonates deeply with participants and viewers alike.
Dianne is a Certified Life and Business Coach and Vision Board Trainer dedicated to helping clients create clarity around their personal and professional goals. She empowers her clients to release doubts and insecurities, take meaningful action, and implement easy steps to achieve their dreams.
With a background in sales and management, Dianne brings a strategic mindset to her coaching. After leaving the corporate world, she shifted her focus to supporting professional women who often put others first, helping them reclaim their time and prioritize themselves.
Through her workshops and 1:1 coaching, Dianne teaches female entrepreneurs how to balance their personal lives with running a business. She understands the unique challenges women face and provides tools, techniques, and actionable steps to help her clients achieve success, joy, and balance.
A cornerstone of Dianne’s approach is using vision boards as a powerful tool for visualization and goal-setting. Vision boards help her clients discover what truly brings them joy and fills their lives with meaning, serving as a motivating roadmap to their success.
A.Y. Johnson is a Nigerian artist based in Ontario, Canada. Her artistic queries surround themes of afro-centric social issues, black feminist dialogue, and exploration of her Yoruba heritage. Through barrier-free visualization, she encourages conversation on these topics as she discusses ideas of beauty and strength, and further explores the contradictions of female and cultural identity, drawing the viewer into conversations about race, spirituality and tradition. Johnson graduated from the Ontario University of Arts and Design (OCAD U) in Toronto, Ontario with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and has extensive experience showing work in exhibitions across the greater Toronto area. She has also been commissioned to produce works in her local community.
Darlene Kulig was awarded the CSEA/Berol Prismacolour National Art Scholarship, granted to six Canadian students entering Fine Arts based on outstanding potential in visual arts. Graduating as an Associate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, she quickly established herself in the commercial world of art and within 4 years was running her own successful design studio.
Darlene Kulig’s paintings are bold and joyous, whimsical and eye-catching. Her work is described as semi-abstracted spirited landscape and each painting is dotted with her signature, effervescent champagne bubbles. Darlene’s artwork focuses on landmarks and landscapes from around the world, each containing her signature style. The paintings featuring her home country, Canada, are reminiscent of a time spent at a lakeside cottage, a hike through an Ontario woodland, the majesty of the mountains in the west, and the beauty of the red sand dunes in the east. They are organic and semi-abstract, but unmistakeable as the Canadian landscape. Her love of the beauty available in the Canadian landscape is clear. What is especially impressive is that she has developed a unique very personal approach that “feels” Canadian.
Christi Anne Abraham is a self-taught Caribbean Canadian artist who uses acrylic, watercolour, and multi-media to create illustrations and fine art inspired by nature. She is a muralist for Mississauga Arts Council, a children’s book illustrator, art instructor, and a member of SONSI. Growing up near a rain-forest, and helping her father show tourists the coral reefs of Trinidad and Tobago, she quickly became obsessed with all the fishes, birds, and beetles in her backyard. Christi’s passion for nature has led her to explore the beauty of our planet through an artistic lense, and she hopes her paintings can inspire others to take action to protect and preserve nature for future generations.
Scott Cooper graduated from the Communication and Design department of Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) in 1978. He spent many years as a studio artist producing illustrations, cartoons, comic books, character design for animation and graphic design and illustration for advertising and CDs. He went the route of a freelancer in the early 90s.
Scott began teaching in the early 2000s, offering courses in cartooning, fundamental drawing, and painting to adults and children at the Mississauga Valley School of Art, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Barry Coombs Studio. Currently he teaches adults and teens at Visual Arts Mississauga, takes painting commissions and continues with some freelance illustration and design.
Adam de Vries is a Canadian character designer known for his appealing posing ability. Born in Toronto and raised in Mississauga, he loved Looney Tunes cartoons and the Muppet show, Calvin and Hobbes comics, movies, and ice hockey, which led him to his logical career choice, drawing silly stuff for tv.
Adam graduated from Algonquin College’s Animation Program and went on to work for John K (Ren and Stimpy creator) as a character layout artist, and then later worked for multiple tv animation studios. He worked as an animation artist on Peep and the Big Wide World, then as animation director on Iggy Arbunkle where he used to hand draw a lot of the main poses to guide the artists like in ways Chuck Jones used to back in the day. Later on, he worked on shows such as Scaredy Squirrel and Sidekick, where he really pushed the animation posing. He then continued to excel in hand drawn posing as he moved onto such shows as Peabody and Sherman for Netflix, and then Tom and Jerry.
When he’s not drawing, he enjoys being outdoors, photography, and playing ice hockey. Adam and his wife and their two daughters live in Mississauga where they have fun drawing together and having ice cream.
Stephen Uhraney is an award-winning Canadian photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work looks beyond the surface to capture the essence of life. In 2024, he became the only Canadian ever to win the International Association of Fire Fighters Media Award for his “On Duty” documentary, a four-month immersion with Fire Station 104 in Port Credit. He was named Mississauga’s visual Artist of the Year in 2023 and received the 2024 Heritage Mississauga Modern Heritage Award for his long-term documentation of Port Credit. His acclaimed projects include Life in the Marsh, a two-year documentary on migrant farm workers in the Holland Marsh which was featured in the 2013 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, he has also produced five solo exhibitions. A former staff photographer with the Toronto Sun and a current contributing photographer with Canadian Press Images, his work has been featured on CBC’s local and national newscasts, and continues to resonate locally, nationally, and internationally. This Fall, Uhraney will also be teaching at George Brown College sharing his immersive approach to documentary photography with a new generation of artists.
Lynda D’Souza’s portraits and sculptures are deeply rooted in the traditions of the 19th-century masters. A graduate of the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto, where she studied Realism, her work is best described as “Classical with a strong dose of Romance.”
Her graphite and oil portraits are rendered with the Bargue technique and a reverence for the Old Masters. Lynda’s approach to portraiture is not merely representational; it is psychological. She seeks to uncover and convey the inner world of her subjects—their emotions, quiet strength, and vulnerabilities. Working primarily on panel, she uses layered oil glazes, delicate brushwork, and controlled tonal shifts to evoke presence and atmosphere. Whether in graphite or oil, her portraits are intimate and timeless, often infused with a poetic stillness that invites contemplation.
In sculpture, Lynda draws deeply from architectural history—especially the ornate rhythms and dramatic contrasts of the Baroque period. She brings a sculptor’s sensitivity to form, detail, and materiality, crafting works that are both grounded in classical technique and boldly imaginative.
Lately, she has been exploring the integration of sculpture and painting by creating highly detailed, ornamental frames that are sculpted, kiln-fired, and then painted on. These hybrid pieces blur the line between object and image, merging two- and three-dimensional art forms into a singular visual experience. This innovative body of work reflects her desire to push traditional boundaries, reimagining how classical aesthetics can function in a contemporary context.
Lynda is continually evolving her practice, seeking new ways to express the emotional and symbolic potential of the human figure through both sculpture and portraiture. Her work bridges classical craftsmanship with modern storytelling, rooted in tradition yet always looking forward.
Michaela is a multi-disciplinary artist from Mississauga with a background in both business and the arts. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Business and Humanities from McMaster University, with a minor in Sustainability. This academic foundation informs her creative process, grounding it in a deep respect for the natural world and its endless shapes and forms. Having completed 12 years of French immersion, Michaela applies her bilingual skills as a French ArtReach Instructor at VAM, creating art experiences that inspire creativity and foster an appreciation for the French language.
Lejla is a Montenegrin-Canadian artist whose work is deeply informed by her academic background in Art History and her Balkan identity. Her fascination with intricate detail, which began during her master studies at UofT, has found tangible expression in her textile art.
Lejla incorporates detail work through knitting, embroidering, and painting to produce art that blends traditional craft with contemporary vision (jewelry).
Beyond her creative work, Lejla is building a career in educational programming and arts marketing, where she continues to share her passion for culture and creativity
Carla Gonzalez was born in Caracas -Venezuela but left her native land at the early age of 3 to travel the world with he parents, this gave her an opportunity to explore and learn a lot about cultures and colours which will come into play when she started picking up drawing and painting at an early age, her first drawing class took place in Hong Kong, Design & Caribbean history in Trinidad and Tobago, back to Caracas for Art Fundamentals and finally she earned her Fine Arts Diploma from Toronto School of Arts in 1997, in the following years she worked as a Graphic Designer in Colour Vision Inc. and after she went on to one of her favourite journeys teaching art to kids and adults alike. Her favourite subjects for art are women & mother nature, her mediums go from pencil crayon, ink, acrylics & oils. She believes life is a collective journey and is her intention to make it a colourful one for her and those who she is blessed to share it with.
“One of my aspirations is to share my creative spirit with others in ways that inspires them to find their own creative potential. I strive to also engage people to think critically and feel with their hearts on global and local challenges that we all collectively face, be it political, environmental or on social issues. I feel it is incumbent on all of us to find solutions that go beyond our own lives and to think more of the legacy we leave behind for future generations.
My style of painting is impressionist / expressionist. I predominantly use acrylic paints along with more contemporary techniques, such as applying paper and aggregates onto the canvas to create texture and volume. Along with using paint brushes and pallet knives, I also utilize mark making tools from found objects to create more intuitive expressive lines that add depth and dimension to the painting.
My two main passions are creating intuitive abstract paintings which allow me to explore and release my emotions as part of the creative process. The other more realistic paintings explore the themes of nature, animals and portraiture. “
I am currently displaying my paintings at Pixie Blue Studio and have previously exhibited at Arts on the Credit Studio Tour, Mississauga Art Gallery, Kaleidoscope Studio, Arts on the Credit Spring Show, Pazan Gallery, Lakeshore Art Trail, and Mississauga Central Library.
I have also had several solo and group shows at the Imagemaker, Port Credit BIA, Clarke Hall, Promenade Gallery, Almada Negreiros Gallery, Gallery 888, Image Matrix and Mississauga Sculpture Studio.
For further information and Inquiries on my work visit: http://www.leodias.ca
Kaitlin received her B.A. in Visual Arts from The University of Western Ontario as well as her art teaching degree from The University of Wollongong in Australia. In addition to teaching art classes with Visual Arts Mississauga, she works as an artist, painting floral inspired artwork with acrylics on canvas.
Deepa Krishnan is a self-taught artist based in Mississauga. She specializes in the art of Paper Quilling which involves manipulating narrow strips of paper to create exquisite designs. She discovered this art form when she was looking for a creative outlet from her engineering job. She was amazed by the possibilities and beauty of paper quilling, that she decided to pursue it as a full-time career. Since then, she has been passionately mastering this technique and has created many artworks drawing inspiration from nature, music and travel. She cuts the paper strips in different widths to add depth and dimension to her creations. She loves to play with the colours and experiment with the quilling techniques to create her own distinctive style. Deepa believes that anyone can learn this art form, regardless of their age or skill level and she hosts many workshops to spread the joy of quilling. She enjoys seeing her students discover their own creativity and style in paper quilling.
Fulya’s love for art began at an early age. She travelled as a 19 year old to visit many European museums solely to see the art she admired in the art books. She taught herself how to paint with soft pastels more than 20 years ago when she had her first baby, thanks to the ease of the medium with no drying time, no set up requirement. To this day, soft pastels remain her first love due to the intense pigment, vibrancy and the natural painterly effect of the medium. She is mostly a self-taught artist, and understands the trials and tribulations of learning how to paint and accelerate one’s skills and technique without the structure of an art school. Today, she paints in multiple mediums, and regularly exhibits her work. She participated in many group and juried shows including Women’s Art Association of Canada, Visual Arts Mississauga, and the Grange. She was also a selected painter at the Joy III exhibition at Summer Grace Gallery. She is an active organizer of Sauga Plein Air Group (SPAG) and regularly paints with this group. She is also a board member at Neilson Park Creative Centre. She enjoys attending workshops with the artists she admires to continuously learn.
Aisling is a Mississauga-based artist and graduate of OCAD University with a deep love for painting, especially in oils, acrylics, and encaustics. With over ten years of teaching experience and a background rich in continuing education, she brings both technical precision and a warm, approachable style to her classes.
Having taken countless art classes and workshops herself, Aisling understands that the most effective learning happens in an open, relaxed environment—one where students feel supported, encouraged, and inspired. Her teaching is rooted in traditional, skill-based techniques, with a strong emphasis on foundational principles like composition, value, colour theory, and drawing.
For Aisling, painting is as much about learning to see as it is about applying paint. Helping students notice the nuance of tone, light, and form—and especially the subtle shifts in value—is, in her view, the most powerful tool she can pass on.
Her goal is to equip students with a deep, working understanding of painting as a craft, so they can confidently develop their own voice, take creative risks, and build a personal, lasting relationship with their painting practice. Above all, Aisling believes painting should be fun—a way to find joy in the visual world and connect more deeply with what we see every day.
Born in Bogota,Colombia,Gustavo is a self-taught artist specializing in portrait drawing in pastel,pencil and colored pencil.In elementary school he would help classmates with their art projects and in high school he would be selected by teachers to work in art project for the entire school,during these years,Gustavo enhanced his skills by enrolling at the school of art.During his working years,Gustavo made a living by working in art,graphics and art commissions In 1991,Gustavo and his family moved to Canada,here he continued working with his arts as well as in a factory until retirement.
Since retiring,Gustavo has worked as an art teacher in mani locations in the GTA such as the City of Mississauga,Dufferin peel and Visual Arts Mississauga,to name a few. Gustavo Currently teaches at the Mississauga Valley Seniors club,Visual art Brampton,Visual arts Mississauga and several retirement facilities.
Gustavo is very grateful for the opportunities to be able to work with art which is his passion.
Connie is a visual artist born and raised in South Korea. Naturally fascinated by art, she spent her youth constantly drawing. As a child she loved to read illustrated novels. As such, she was drawn to realistic illustration art style which effectively conveyed the depth of the emotions in the narrative. She departed from her artistic path for the period of her teenage years and twenties in favour of more pragmatic pursuits, but at the age of 30, she travelled to Canada to study fine arts in the diploma program of Visual and Creative Arts at Sheridan College. During her studies, she explored different mediums to create representational art. During this time she developed a keen interest towards the world of portrait arts. Immediately captivated by the beauty of individual personalities expressed through that medium, and the various techniques and methods of depicting them in the flowy richness of oil colours, she has worked on cultivating techniques and artistic intuition through the eye of a portrait artist since then. Already having years of experience in completing commission work, Connie is continuing her journey of capturing interesting personalities in her medium of choice, always committed to making her best effort. Presently Connie is focused on expanding her artistic repertoire by painting different art subjects such as still life, landscape, and animal portraits. She is always open to learning new techniques and methods from other fellow artists, and experimenting with different mediums.
Another great passion for Connie is to teach students, sharing her artistic knowledge and inspiring them through her guidance and leading by example. Her classes are designed for learning representational arts rooted in realism, which are taught through timeless principles, however she also values and promotes individual interpretation and creative freedom. By teaching big concepts, incorporating fun activities, and assigning personal projects, she always makes sure her students get artistic knowledge and stimulation, and acquire the right skills to walk out of the class with a higher level of confidence as an artist!
Sofia Sue-Wah-Sing is a GTA-based multimedia artist. Their work deals with personal psychological and political themes, often bridging them to critique the norms that govern queer bodies and people of colour. They have a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto for Psychology and Art and are currently completing an Interdisciplinary Masters of Art at OCAD University.
Tanzina is a dynamic and passionate Bangladeshi-Canadian visual artist, recognized for her vibrant and expressive artworks. With a background in architecture and extensive experience in corporate management roles, she brings a unique perspective to her artistic endeavors. Tanzina is the co-founder of Artusiasm, an innovative art gallery and curatorial business that provides an inclusive platform for artists.
Driven by a transformative personal journey, Tanzina shifted her priorities in life after undergoing intensive grief therapy in 2019. She decided to leave the corporate world and dedicate her time to volunteering, art creation, and practicing wellness programs. As a certified Reiki Master and palliative and bereavement support volunteer, she utilizes creative and holistic approaches to support others in their healing processes. Tanzina completed a certificate course on Healing with the Arts through the University of Florida, further enhancing her ability to facilitate healing through art.
Tanzina not only creates captivating artworks but also shares her knowledge and passion through teaching. She offers drawing and painting lessons and conducts innovative workshops, such as meditative art, pet portraits, and expressive self-portraits. Tanzina also offers 1:1 and group healing workshops to help individuals that are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief and loss. Since 2020 she has been conducting virtual art classes and workshops, making her expertise accessible to a broader audience.
Although primarily self-taught, Tanzina has expanded her artistic skills through professional courses and lessons in oil painting, acrylics, abstract expressionism, and design theories both in Bangladesh and Canada. Her diverse portfolio showcases a range of styles, from realism to abstraction, with a particular focus on expressionist portraits and figures characterized by vivid colours and bold strokes. Tanzina’s artworks have found homes in private collections across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Colourful ethnic cultures and traditions serve as a constant source of inspiration for Tanzina. She is particularly drawn to forms that exhibit powerful simplicity and embrace an abstract style. Art has always been Tanzina’s refuge from the demands of a fast-paced life, and she channels this passion into her creations.
Tanzina strongly believes in the transformative power of art for mental health and overall well-being. Her art and holistic approach aim to bring positivity and healing to individuals’ lives, making a lasting impact through creativity and self-expression.
Tritan is an accomplished artist with expertise with oil on canvas, watercolor, pencil and charcoal drawings, and life drawings.
He was a London, England based artist for over 18 years and received his Masters of Fine Art from Byam Shaw School of Art, London England. I have been living and working as an artist in Oakville and Toronto, Ontario since 2011. You can see his most recent work on
Jasmine Bournes is a Toronto, Canada-based storyboard artist. She graduated from Sheridan College with a Bachelor of Animation and a passion for storytelling through visual media. Jasmine’s specialties lie within digital art, ranging from digital painting, character design, layout, animation, and of course storyboarding. She has a passion for traditional media as well, especially of the ink-based variety.Ink, markers, highlighters, and anything colorful that breathes life into a sketchbook page (even stickers) are something that she especially loves. Jasmine strives to share her stories with those around her through new and innovative ideas, combining digital and traditional art to tell stories in new and exciting ways. She has completed a production internship with Pipeline Studios and participated in a storyboarding workshop with House of Cool. Jasmine’s goal is to always be open to new ideas and constantly adapt her art skills to better share her experiences with those around her.
Jenna DeFacendis is a background designer and painter for 2D animation, and a 2023 graduate of Sheridan College’s Animation Program. During her final year of schooling she independently created the short film “Artist’s Alley”, which went on to win multiple awards at local festivals around the GTA. Alongside her animation work Jenna enjoys getting outside for plein air sketching and painting, always finding inspiration throughout the world around her.
Anna is a Korean-Canadian self-taught artist from Brampton, specializing in resin abstract art and ceramics. She draws inspiration from her daily life, travels, and the beauty of nature, particularly aerial landscapes, marble, and crystals. Her intuitive approach to painting allows her to explore free-flowing forms and rich, vibrant colors, which also translate beautifully into the glazes of her ceramic pieces.
Anna’s journey with clay began during her first wheel-throwing class at the Toronto School of Art. She instantly fell in love with the meditative, yet playful process of working with clay, feeling a sense of freedom and creativity as she shaped each piece. Today, she shares that passion through teaching both wheel throwing and handbuilding. One of her greatest joys is watching her students develop their skills and fall in love with pottery, just as she did when she first started.
Sima Naseem is a Pakistani-Canadian mixed media artist who works with multiple mediums with a focus on animation, illustration and public art. She enjoys telling stories of exploration, discovery, and personal family life. She enjoys using bright colours and playful designs that have a positive impact on her community through inclusivity, diversity and inspirational imagery. Sima is always looking for new and creative ways to share her cultural and personal experiences through art.
Sierra Peca is a second-generation Maltese/Italian Canadian painter and writer with a passion for art history. She holds a BA from the University of Toronto with a double major in Art & Art History (joint with Sheridan College) and Professional Writing & Communication. She is trained in painting, drawing, and photography, and combines these media in the production of her paintings. She has worked as a painting assistant for Tony Scherman and an assistant for the Painting 1 class at Sheridan College. She is also the recipient of the Excellence in Painting 3 Award from the University of Toronto and the Dr. Annie Smith Travel Scholarship from Sheridan College. Her work has been exhibited at the Women’s Art Association of Canada, the Blackwood Gallery, and Visual Arts Mississauga. She has a passion for storytelling and hopes that her paintings offer small glimpses into individual stories that relate across borders. Her first book titled Mizia follows the life of 17th century artist Artemisia Gentileschi and combines her passion for art and literature.
Tiina Salo-Devries is a Finnish artist and teacher living and working in Mississauga. She likes to work on her own art projects and teach students of all ages and levels. Her education credentials, BA and Specialization Studies in arts and crafts, are from Finland as well as her Vocational Teachers’ Training.
From 1988, Tiina has sustained an active record of exhibitions both locally and internationally such as Florence Biennale in Italy and solo exhibitions in Dubai, UAE. She has taken part in international art camps and symposiums in Europe. Her artworks have been integrated into public spaces such as city halls, banks, and collections. As a founder of an artist’s group Liite in Finland, she has made installations, exhibitions, and performances. Additionally meantime, Tiina has given many lectures and workshops in arts, crafts, and design.
After moving to Canada in 2016, Tiina has actively been exploring Canadian art and taking part in various exhibitions. From the 2019 exhibition “In the wild” at Beaux Arts Brampton, she received the First Place Award. In addition, in the 2022 Halton & Peel Juried Exhibition in Joshua Creek Arts Centre, she received a certificate of excellence for her painted textile collage.
Tiina´s inspiration and theme of work evolve around the study of natural elements, light and color, found objects, and human spirits. Tiina´s philosophy is inspired by the fact that art is an endless learning endeavor. Travelling and living in different countries has giving her a new perspective to her own background and culture. New cultural influences are filtered and accompanied with important themes from the past in her artworks. Her artworks have both symbolic and surrealistic elements. She does not give answers, she raises more questions, and she wants to lead the viewer onto the thinking journey. For the most of the time she paints with acrylics on canvas, paper, and textile collages.
Tiina is now an art instructor in Visual Arts Mississauga and a principal and teacher in the Toronto Finnish Language School.
Bonnie Steinberg is a practicing artist with a great passion for capturing colour and light through her transparent watercolour paintings. She teaches watercolour painting courses online and in-person workshops at Visual Arts Mississauga. Her focus is on teaching colour theory, its interpretation and design emphasizing architectural elements from urban and rural landscapes.
Bonnie is also a guest artist and teacher for many art groups in Canada, the United States and Europe. Before Covid-19 Bonnie taught a watercolour painting workshop in Halifax ,Nova Scotia. She has also taught in Newfoundland, in Italy, including Florence, Venice and Tuscany, and a weeklong watercolour workshop in Sedona, Arizona. She has also taught in Quebec City, and Victoria, British Columbia and also for Leading Edge workshops in Winnipeg Manitoba. For the summer of 2022, she taught in Prince Edward Island, in a week-long Watercolour workshop. For the summer of 2023, she will be returning to Newfoundland to teach a one week watercolour workshop. .
Bonnie Steinberg is a graduate of York University where she received her Honours (B.F.A) Bachelor of Fine Arts. Bonnie is also an elected member of the C.S.P.W.C.,(the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, the S.C.A.(the Society of Canadian Artists, the IWS, (the International Watercolour Society) and a platinum member of the Toronto Watercolor Society(T.W.S) where she has been juried into 50 plus art shows. She has also studied under Jack Reid, John Joy, Zalton Szabo, and Steven Quiller.
“My visions encompass my views of the world and will aim to give the viewer a glimpse into the world. If this relationship occurs, the painting has been successful.”
Winifred is a seasoned artist with over 25 years of professional experience. She is a proud elected member of The Society of Canadian Artists and The Toronto Watercolour Society.
Continuing to expand her expertise, Winifred participates in workshops across the globe and shares her knowledge by teaching watercolour, oil, and acrylic painting. For the past seven years, she has been an instructor at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre.
Win’s teaching approach emphasizes the use of a limited palette, helping students develop their colour-mixing skills to create harmonious compositions. Renowned for her plein-air and still life sessions, she also offers studio-based instruction using photo references.
