Sarah Bradfield: Celebrating Canada Through Colourful Brushstrokes

 Sometimes, you just have to follow the ebb and flow of life’s tide and see where it takes you. For Ottawa-based landscape artist Sarah Bradfield, this is her motto. The Canadian contemporary artist who lives in Manotick with her two sons and Maltese terrier, Tater Tot, has been into art

The Wise & Wondrous Animals of Artist Clara Kim

 The artists of the Korean peninsula began to explore naturalistic characteristics as early as the Three Kingdoms period that dates from circa 57 BCE to 668 CE. While their work has long shared ideas, motifs, and forms with the art of neighbouring China and Japan, Korean art evolved a distinctive

Ottawa’s Nayana debuts her new single April 16th!

 Photo: Sean Sisk @siskphoto By Jason Wilkinson We caught up with Ottawa singer/songwriter Nayana ahead of the April 16th launch party for her new single Hellbound. In 2020, Nayana’s debut feel-good single Pretty Good To Be Here was added to Sirius XM CBC Country on the day it was released and jumped

Cultivating Creativity: Enriched Bread Artists’ Open Studio

 “It hasn’t been the same without you.” After a lockdown, Enriched Bread Artists (EBA) is welcoming you back to their 29th annual Open Studio this October. No, EBA isn’t a bakery of fine bread; they’re a non-profit collective of 22 artists, cultivating a culture of art in Ottawa. The historic

Jason Wilkinson on a global livestream event and an industry in need

 PHOTO: SEAN SISK Ottawa Life Magazine sat down with Jason Wilkinson, a local music entrepreneur and owner of Canadian artist development company and studio, The Artist Alliance, and also lead vocalist/songwriter for rock/pop band Beyond The Fall. Ottawa Life: Jason, thank you for joining us! Tell us about the new endeavour taking

Spending quality time with her dad has led to an uncommon passion for Emily Shaw

 Photo: Krystal Villeneuve Every odd Saturday night growing up, Shaw, her dad Mike and her siblings had a family evening in the basement workshop of their Elmwood, Ont., home learning the meticulous task of crafting a guitar. “We did it here as a pastime, as a hobby,” said Mike. “It was

Happy belated 80th birthday Bob Dylan

 by Bill Woodley I turned 80 last December, and on learning that Bob Dylan turned 80 on 24 May, I was reminded of the only time I have seen him perform live. It was in 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival. But I missed the big news story, when he

Ottawa Arts Council announces recipients of annual Arts Awards

 The Ottawa Arts Council recently announced the recipients of the annual Arts Awards, celebrating the exceptional artists in our community. The nominations were evaluated by a jury composed of arts leaders in the community representing different artistic disciplines. In light of the coronavirus, the Arts Awards presentation event was held

Travel the world from home with HARTLEYBEE destination bracelets

 As lockdowns roll over the nation like waves on a beach, that’s where plenty of people go—in their minds, at least. We dream about big vacations and destinations, both past and future, as we stay stuck in our homes. Though you could rely on your imagination to recreate the beautiful

Naturally beautiful: the art of Nicole Allen

 All photos: OLM Staff As I walk up the steps of the old Standard Bread Company building at 951 Gladstone Avenue, I wonder if I’ve come to the right place. The only reason I press the bell for the third floor buzzer is the sign above the door marking The

BEST OF OTTAWA 2021: Murals and street art

 After over 20-years writing about life in Ottawa, we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this weekly series, we share our picks with you — our top spots for takeout, live music venues, local brews, bands and more. Check, share

Krista Hartman’s new release Transcend

 Photo: Kamara Morozuk Music is about sharing feeling, and Krista Hartman's latest tale about sustaining love feels like the perfect track for our time of isolation. "I'm Your Garden" is the first release from her new album Transcend, a release she's marking with a single-by-single basis when the first track

Local artist turns lockdown sketch into lasting tribute

 For many creatives, the inspiration for their art reflects the reality of life around them. In the case of local illustrator and muralist Dom Laporte, a trip through South East Asia cut short due to the novel coronavirus is now enshrined as a tribute to front line workers. Laporte’s ten

Ottawa’s Fairy Art Mother has advice for struggling artists

 As COVID-19 continues to impact the lives of many people around the world, artists are struggling to make a living amid these difficult conditions. Fortunately, help is on its way, in the form of fairy wings! With advice on ensuring a bright future for artists, The Fairy Art Mother’s Guide

A creative cook up simmers in Hintonburg

 Jamaal Jackson Rogers wears many hats. Some in the nation’s capital know him as an award-winning arts educator, poet, creative entrepreneur, and performance artist. A father of six, Jackson Rogers is also the Artist-In-Residence at Carleton University’s music program and was formerly the City of Ottawa’s English Poet Laureate from

The painterly gestures of an unruly gardener

 As a young person, Stefanie Leigh Kirby dreamed of being a professional dancer, but like so many youthful dreams of passionate pursuits, Stefanie found herself facing reality. Stefanie worked hard to learn the intricacies of contemporary jazz, but a kindly, forthright dance instructor told her that she just didn’t have

Ottawa singer Sophie D’Orléans celebrates her first release

 Sophie D’Orleans, daughter of a second wave feminist and a scientist turned computer guru, is an indie R&B sing-songwriter and pianist. On March 8, 2020, the Ottawa-based artist will be celebrating the release of her first single, From Me, and performing for the first time with her new trio. With

Unreal Talent on Display at Ottawa Comic Con’s Artist Alley

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals! Like a good sunscreen, Ottawa Life

Alyssa Reid’s Flaming Phoenix

 By Katie Hartai As enchanting as the mythical bird itself, Alyssa Reid’s new album Phoenix will surely set fire to the hearts of fans when released on November 27. It may also spark a pleasant surprise. With Juno and MMVA nominations under her belt, the 22-year-old singer songwriter is no stranger to Canada’s

Kat Jetté’s Local Abstraction

 Northern Whisper, 2015, acrylic on wood, 36" x 36" Image courtesy of Kat Jetté. Ottawa Life had the chance to catch up with Kat Jetté, an abstract painter who has been a working artist for over 15 years in Ottawa. We talked about abstract painting, local artists and Jetté’s thoughts

Hair Republic Salon Celebrates Art

 Owners John and Michelle Nguyen (Hair Republic Salon), Laura Herrera (I.A.M.) and Ottawa artist Patti Kelly. On Saturday, May 2, Hair Republic Salon (HR) in Old Ottawa South hosted its spring vernissage featuring the work of up-and-coming local artist, Patti Kelly. Kelly’s debut was a real success. Her black and

2nd Annual Spaces Issue

   Premier Ottawa designer Tanya Collins shows us that we can have a beautiful home even it’s filled with kids and pets. It's all about making the  right style and function choices. Tanya shares her tricks and  her sources for beautiful fixtures and finds.   London Calling: Classic British Style

Ottawa Artist on the Rise

 By Shelley Cross Maybe it is a painting of a rosy-faced child with piercing blue eyes who captures you with her glance. Or, perhaps it is an abstract of such intense colour that you are drawn into its enduring story. These are some of the images captured by Ottawa artist