There are many interesting happenings around the Milton area. Vibrant outside activities can be seen especially during the summer months when citizens leave their cars at home or in a handy spot and spend their free time walking about, enjoying all that the town has to offer.
The Farmers’ Market attracts a multitude of citizens, many of whom rise early on Saturday Morning to buy fresh produce, meet friends, walk their dogs, listen to musicians, and also discover local artists,armed with paints and brushes painting au ‘Plein Air’. These talented people may be painting scenes at the market depicting swarms of local people around the colourful tents and shop fronts.
The artists are also branching out to paint historic buildings in the old Milton area.
“A lot of the people I do plein air paint with,” FASM Artist Barb Tate explained, ” are part of an artists’ collective called Norval Studios & Gallery. The group consists of 12 artists, many of whom are members of the Fine Arts Society of Milton. We are located at 16 Adamson Street South, in Norval. We rent an old church hall built in 1927 from St Paul’s Anglican Church that is right next door. Our hall was once frequented by the famous Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery in the 1930s when she lived in Norval.”
Their gallery in Norval is open weekends 1-5.
Artists that regularly paint with Barb are : Kathleen Bignell, Linda Ross Gallagher, Monica Burnside, Bea Roche , Heather Meehan, Peter Reitsma and Monica Stanley .
Art by several of these artists can be also viewed at the regular Fine Arts Society of Milton’s Winter and Spring shows at the First Ontario Art Centre on Main Street as well as in offices and restaurants in Milton.
Barb is drawn to painting the heritage homes downtown in Milton but she says: ” We do paint in other locations. Last week several of us went to a lavender farm called Erin Hills Acres and this week coming we are going to Rockwood Conservation.
“We all paint on our own in our own homes and studios but plein air painting really sharpens our skills and teaches us to paint quickly and loosely as the light changes constantly when you are outside.
“My ability to see perspective and colour has improved dramatically since I started plein air painting.”
They would welcome whoever wants to join them painting au Plein Air anytime.
Barb has been painting the heritage houses downtown for a few weeks now. She has several finished canvases that she will show at the FASM Studio Tour towards the end of the summer on September 28th and 29th.
For more news and information about Milton Artists and their work please visit : FASM | Fine Arts Society of Milton | Milton, ON
