B6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 26, 2000 Arts & Entertainment Oakville Beaver Entertainment Editor: Carol Baldwin 845-3824 (Extension 254) Fax: 337-5567 Artist with a mission Karlene Blandsays she' ll paint on anything including lamps, furniture and heirloom pieces and 4 p.m. The opportunity to display her work locally is something she cherishes. SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER "The shows I participate in are generally in Give Karlene Bland a stationary item and the southern Ontario area," said Bland. "I have a very fixed and organized day. My schedule she's bound to paint it. "I will paint on anything that doesn't walk revolves around my kids, and naturally there are other things to do as well. So I have to plan my away," the Oakville artist said with a laugh. This mother o f three children only recently day and allot a certain amount of time to paint found her love and talent for art. Bland, who has ing." Bland has an ever-expanding clientele who an accounting and auditing background, realized she was on to something when she took some of come to her for specific needs. "People will come to me with, for example, a her artwork to a show at her son's elementary piece of small furniture that they want painted to school three years ago. "We were living in Calgary at the time and I match the rest of the room it's in," she said. "So had taken some local art courses to get out and I will either visit their house to get a feel for the do som ething different," she said. "W hen I colouring or have them bring swatches to me. Then all that is left is creat entered some o f my work at ing the desired image. the school show, I was sur "I believe that something "I want to get into mak prised to find out that other hand-painted to fit the ing more heirloom pieces people wanted to buy my for people," Bland contin work." individual's needs adds a ued. "Pieces that families The budding new artist personal touch that is can look back on fondly in can rem em ber being adept very im portant.." the years to come. I've at art w hen she was in done a bit of that already school, although she could and it's definitely a niche not take advantage of her that I've found and would like to continue pur talents at the time. "I can rem em ber my high school art teacher suing." Other interests include painting furniture for retaining me after school to help her with draw ings for the next day's lesson, which was fine children. Bland painted a stool for her children except that I didn't like being kept after school," featuring some of their favourite TV characters, she explained. "But I was always encouraged to including Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. As take the math and science route and sure enough, the days go by, Bland's home becomes further I didn't do much with my artistic talent until inundated with her work. recently." "I've painted part o f one of our bathrooms Bland's studio, a room that overlooks her and I've done some work in my powder room," backyard, is full o f completed and in-progress she said, noting that her artistic side has created works. In one corner sits a lamp with a painted other benefits at home. "I 've become less floral design and in another she has created a cranky." Bland conducts two or three open houses portrait of her kids playing road hockey. "Very often I will take photographs and recre every year to showcase her work. She is open to ate the image I see," said Bland, who works pri new clients and encourages anyone interested in marily with acrylic paint. "I enjoy painting pic sampling her work to call her at 815-1783. "Sometimes when you go to have something tures o f my family, and I enjoy fantasy drawings professionally done it looks like it was stamped such as fairies." Bland's art keeps her busy, and she is current on," said Bland. "I believe that something handly preparing for the A rt and Artisans by the Lake painted to fit the individual's needs adds a per annual show at Appleby College, which will take sonal touch that is very important, and that's place on Saturday (April 29th) between 10 a.m. what I try to provide for people." By Scott M acArthur Photo by Riziero Vertolli Karlene Bland will be displaying and selling painted lamps at the A rt and Artisans by the Lake show and sale at Appleby College, 540 Lakeshore Rd. 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