Open Studio this weekend

Well it’s finally here! The weekend I’ve been excited and nervous about haha

This Saturday I invite you into my cozy home studio for some appetizers and a unique art shopping experience.

This is my creative space, a space that few people get to experience and I’m opening it up to share with you.

My art like my studio is bright and eclectic. We aren’t “fancy” people, we live a pretty low key humble life and you won’t find our house to be a show home, pristinely decorated. What you will find however is a cozy lived in space. I don’t say this to down play things I say this so that you’ll have a bit better idea of who we are and where my art evolves from.

I strive to create work that is honest and full of life and color made from moments that sparkle in the everyday using elements that are repurposed giving them a new life. My work is my expression of life and my reflection of the every day transforming moments that change the ordinary into something beautiful and extraordinary.

What I hope you’ll feel when you join us this weekend is something that we should all feel both at Christmas and year long and that is invited, welcomed and accepted.

I look forward to seeing you this Saturday.

Cheers!

Amanda

Prayers- a new series

These mixed media pieces are part of a new series I’m calling “Prayers” 
Each piece is a prayer expressed in visual form. ❤
The repeating patterns are symbolic of a spiritual language/dialogue. Just as braille forms shapes and patterns to communicate, I too am feeling my way with brush and pen to speak.

Each mixed media painting in this series is created on 4″ x 5″ watercolor paper that is handmade in Montreal and then mounted on 6″ x 8″ black mat board ready to frame. Each piece is $20

Please contact me if you’d like to purchase any of the pieces below. This is an open series so more will be added on a regular basis.

September exhibit

So I know as per the usual things have been quiet on here. I spent the summer quietly recharging with family and preparing to send my two littles off to school. Juggling family life with art career isn’t always the easiest but I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. My girls have grown up having access to my studio allowing them to create and explore art by my side and it’s been wonderful. Now with a new school year starting and both of them learning all day it means this mamma has more time to create and what better way to kick off the season then with an Art exhibit.

I’m stepping outside of Fort Saskatchewan in September with my latest art exhibit at TwiLite Frames Gifts & Gallery at 5008 – 50 Street in Stony Plain, AB

The opening reception for this exhibit will be THIS Thursday starting at 6pm and I’d love it if YOU came out. I’ll have my latest art, some food and it’s sure to be a fun and relaxing evening.  We can just kick back and chat and get to know each other. Won’t you join me?

blue

Behind the Paint brush

Behind the Brush

…it’s been awhile since I’ve said hello and introduced myself to all my new followers.
So here’s a little bit about me and my art.
I’m Amanda Milke, I live in Fort Saskatchewan just outside of Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I’m originally from #Moncton NB so I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the best of Canada it’s oceans and it’s mountains and they both have my heart.
I’m a self taught artist and have been painting and creating since 1995 probably earlier. Originally I focused on acrylic abstract/impressionist portraits and then gradually started exploring different mediums while we were living and teaching English in Japan.

Gradually over time, my style evolved into mixed media. I kept my love for acrylic’s bright bold colors and paired them with acrylic mediums and found elements for texture. My creative inspiration comes from my faith. I am a follower of Jesus, I like to say a practicing Christian because everyday is a work in progress.

I love using my mixed media elements with my faith theme because it reminds me that we aren’t one dimensional beings. Each and everyone of us is multifaceted and can be seen from different angles. I love using broken and found objects and recreating them into art because it reminds me of redemption. No matter how broken or lost we are we can be transformed into a work of art. And lastly I use bright colors and reflective rhinestones in my work to symbolize the joy, light and hope we have. Too often art focuses on the dark and hopelessness of life and I just want to spread some love, light and hope around with my paintbrush 🖌❤