#yegart

[artofbeans]

Just like a cat, leave a box lying around that's big enough, you'll find him there.

New vinyl Toothless sticker, available now!

https://artofbeans.etsy.com

#how to train your dragon #toothless #httyd #httyd fanart #stickers #etsy #cat in a box #whoops I meant dragon #yegart #yegartist

[kayhoganarts]

I always have the absolute best time at @sketcharoundyegclub this time at the @enjoycentrestalbert . Great coffee, great plants and great art! This time I was inspired by a mossy and barky planter. I decided to work on fantasy landscape design! I want to finish it more, but I'm happy so far! - #yegartist #yegart #sketchclub #sketcharoundyegclub #fantasyillustration #landscapedrawing #whimsical #inkdrawing #sketches #art #sketchbook #findthefrog #illustration #yegillustrator (at The Enjoy Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp8wMXRPh0c/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#yegartist #yegart #sketchclub #sketcharoundyegclub #fantasyillustration #landscapedrawing #whimsical #inkdrawing #sketches #art #sketchbook #findthefrog #illustration #yegillustrator

[mizzashibear]

This is 100% my favourite piece I have done so far, and by far the longest I have worked on any single are project. I just loved the picture of my friend @jenfrolics at Disney and decided to start this project as figure drawing practice, and after 12 hours and 15 minutes of work, it’s done and I am so incredibly proud of what I’ve accomplished. Swipe to see the original photo and the stats provided my procreate ✨ ——— #digitalart #disney #disneyadult #disneyhalloween #besties #art #photoredraw #photo #procreate #jackolantern #mickeymouse #artist #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artistsofyeg #yegart #yeg #feelingproud (at Strathcona, Alberta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpN8hQCJ6cs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#digitalart #disney #disneyadult #disneyhalloween #besties #art #photoredraw #photo #procreate #jackolantern #mickeymouse #artist #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artistsofyeg #yegart #yeg #feelingproud

[lydia-duggan]

• Taken September 18, 2023 •

Ft. Some recent artwork I made :P

#photography #photographer #yegphotography #yegphotographer #yeg #edmonton alberta #edmonton #canada #art #artist #yegart #yegartist #artwork #artworks #mandolin #mandolin books and coffee co #mandolin book store #books #book store #coffee shop #coffee #cafe #drawing #skeleton #sun #moon #stars #creepy art #surrealism #2023

[brazenstudioarts]

Day 22 #100daysofwatercolourminis #dothe100dayproject #the100dayproject #absrtactartdaily #watercolours #abstractart  #florals #landscapes #artforsale #yegart #foryou #shoplocal #assc  #goodwillfinds @goodwill @artstrathcona https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3_wsVONi5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#100daysofwatercolourminis #dothe100dayproject #the100dayproject #absrtactartdaily #watercolours #abstractart #florals #landscapes #artforsale #yegart #foryou #shoplocal #assc #goodwillfinds

[rootedromantic]

WIP Wednesday with a behind the scenes look into the new packaging thanks to Artful Laser Co  in Edmonton!

#wip #yeg #yegLocal #yegArt #yegArtist #behindTheScenes #howItsMade #packaging #stamps #archivalInk #canadianMade #albertaMade #canadianArtist

[inkfable]

Timelapse of orange kick Michelangelo.

#artlife #grinding #yeg #yegart #876art #procreate #inkfable #ipadpro #workinprogress #art #artistalley #artistontumblr #noai #timelapse #drawingwhileblack

[yegarts]

I Am YEG Arts series: Donita Large

Donita Large is a Cree singer-songwriter whose powerful stories and beautiful melodies pack an emotional punch. With a passion for singing that started at an early age – having been immersed in Métis, country, and gospel music all her life – Donita started out singing at funerals and weddings in her community of Saddle Lake First Nation, AB. Understanding how music can be a powerful tool in healing, during the pandemic she took the plunge into releasing her own songs. A year and a half later, Donita has released three original songs, hitting number one on the Indigenous Music Countdown, and she shows no signs of slowing down.  

This week’s “I Am YEG Arts” story focuses on Donita Large.  

Tell us a little bit about your connection to Edmonton and what keeps you living and working here. 

I grew up in my community of Saddle Lake First Nation. I finished high school, and I came to the city for post-secondary, like many people do. And once I landed here, I started to get connected with the Indigenous community here. I think once you lay your roots someplace and you start getting involved in community it's harder to leave. I really love the music community in Edmonton. It's very dynamic and there's so many amazing artists, so it's pretty easy to stay. 

What drew you to music as a creative outlet, and what guides or informs the music that you make? 

That is a really big question. I have a very musical family back home in northeastern Alberta – in Saddle Lake, but also Moose Mountain where my mom's side of the family is. I grew up listening to my uncles play fiddle and guitar, and so for me, music was just a part of life. It wasn't like I chose it. I can't imagine having grown up without music.  

When I came to the city, I didn't have those connections right away, and so I started to reach out to different organizations and places. What really got me going was when I started jamming, playing ukulele and just getting together and having some fun, trying out some new things. And it got me writing music as well. I had only written one song at that point, and I don't know how other songwriters are, but I think there's a bit of imposter syndrome. Like, can I really write? Is this something that I can do? and you kind of limit yourself. So, I started to write more music and that inspired me to focus on creating more music.  

And then it became, well, what am I going to write about? What's the focus? What got me writing originals is that I really wanted to write songs that honored my ancestors, and honored the stories that I think people are just starting to hear, and some of the stories that are just starting to be told. Some [songs] have that Indigenous inspired sound and some are specific to things that are in my heart and in my mind around reconciliation and around the stories that I just feel like it's a good time to tell. 

In what ways does your Indigenous heritage influence your art? 

I think it influences everything. It's not something I feel like I can separate in any way. It's just who I am and that's my experience in this world. One of my songs, “Reconciliation Sky” honours residential school survivors; those who went to residential school and didn't come home, and those who went and had the experiences they had at residential school. I have many people in my family who went to residential school, including my father. And so, I felt it was an important story.  

The very first song that I wrote – it's not the first song I released – but the first song I wrote was called “Ancestors in my Bones”. It was just something I felt. I pulled over on the side of the road and wrote these lyrics, and it was something that I felt like I just needed to sing.  

And while jamming with a group of ladies, the song that came out was a song about women's empowerment. Having gone through unhealthy relationships in my past and thinking about that story, I wrote a song called “Going to Walk that Line” about creating healthy boundaries and feeling really good about what I'm going to accept in my life and what I'm not going to accept. All of those pieces are influenced by who I am as an Indigenous person. 

As a storyteller, what narratives or inspiration do you find yourself returning to in your songs? 

Being a mother, I contemplate what messages I want to put out in the world because I know that music and words have power. Knowing that my daughter is going to be singing along and hearing these songs, that impacts the words that I say. But also, as much as I want to tell the stories of our experiences, whether it be hurt or intergenerational trauma, I also want to tell stories of hope or healing.  

One of the songs that I wrote that I haven't released – it'll be a part of what the work that I’ll be doing this year – is called “Sweetgrass”, and it's a really beautiful healing song. It makes people feel good when they hear it, and if I can sing a song that allows people to feel really grounded, connected, and happy in their heart to hear it, that makes me feel good about the music I'm putting out in the world.  

But to balance it, I also wrote a song that has a lot of angst in it. It's a really heavy, hard rock song that hasn't come out yet. I'm kind of all over the map when it comes to genres because I really love all different kinds of sounds. I think that at the end of the day, a lot of it just has to do with my own experiences of wanting to share a story and also do some education through my lyrics.  

Tell us more about your new song “Reconciliation Sky” and your experience working with mentor/producer Chris Birkett. 

I had the privilege of getting to meet Chris [Birkett] when I was looking for a producer to do “Ancestors in my Bones”. When I first wrote the song, I'd been performing it with a drum or a rattle and I was trying to figure out how to get a sound for the recording with more of a “World Rock” feeling to it. I was able to connect with the music publisher Eric Alper and I said, look, this song would be the kind of song that someone like Buffy Sainte-Marie would appreciate. He told me Buffy doesn't produce her stuff anymore; she's at a time in her life where she gets other people to do that work. Then he asked, “would you like to meet her producer?” And I was like, that sounds like a great idea! I was so surprised that I asked a question, and here I was being introduced to Chris.  

We connected on Zoom because he lives in Toronto. He was so humble, and he's got a spiritual, cool vibe and it was so easy to talk to him. And then I sent him my song and he loved it. He did the producing for that first song.  

I was able to get a grant through the Edmonton Arts Council to go to Toronto and be mentored by Chris for a week. And during our time together, we wrote four songs together and “Reconciliation Sky” was one of those songs. 

It was interesting because when you work with somebody where energies connect, things flow really easily. I told Chris that I felt it was really important at this time that I tell this story. I want to find a way to be able to talk about and honour the 215 that started in Kamloops with the unmarked graves, and how that story is continuing across Canada. You know that story hasn't ended. And I think because it's not in the media, I'm not sure how many people are really aware of how many residential schools are still recovering family members. I thought that was an important story to tell.  

Thinking about how to tell that story, Chris and I were talking and he said, “I have this really beautiful lullaby that I used to sing my son that I wrote for him. And I have this melody. Do you want to hear it?” And I said sure. He played it for me, and I was like, that's the sound. The lullaby piece is so fitting because in my second verse I acknowledge the mothers didn't have a chance to sing those lullabies because their children were at residential school. 

What advice would you like to share with emerging artists? 

I think part of it is that you can’t wait for people to make it happen for you. Regardless of what medium you're in, it's important to make connections and to ask those questions and get out there. And know that there's going to be times that you're not going to know what you're doing. There were times when I was trying to figure out how to release music. I was like, this is so beyond me and I had to reach out to people in the industry. I have a cousin who had released music in Saskatchewan and he was doing really well so I reached out to him and I'm like, hey, how do I do this? He gave me tips, and then I started reaching out to a mentor and he would give me tips. The more that I asked questions, the more people were helping. Sometimes people won't help, for whatever reason, and that's OK. But there's lots of people who do want to help, and I think the hard part is to stay on top of it; you’ve got to stay engaged. There's a lot of work involved. It's not something that just magically happens. 

Tell us about what you're currently working on and what you hope to explore next. 

Well, I have some shows booked, I'm doing shows with my guitar player Anthony King. Anthony King is the lead guitar player for Buffy Sainte-Marie, and he happened to move to Edmonton. I'm very grateful he's here. And then also I have a band – Donita Large and the Small Band.  I've done some festivals and different shows and I'm hoping to hit more stages.  

My daughter is also doing a show with us in March. She'll be doing some pow wow dancing/ fancy dancing for the SkirtsAfire Festival, as a part of our show Nikâwiy, meaning ‘my mother’ in Cree. I'm with the Indigenous women's group called Nîpisîy (Nîpisîy meaning ‘willow’ in Cree) along with Sherryl Sewepegaham, Debbie Houle and Cindy Paul.  

And I've decided that I want to finish an album. At this point I've released three singles, and I’ve decided that this is the year that I want to focus on getting an album together and getting that out. I'll be working with Chris Birkett again, and hopefully either going to Toronto or having him come here.  

What excites you most about the Edmonton art scene right now? 

When I think about what exists in Edmonton there's so much dynamic art that is happening in so many different areas. For example, prior to Christmas the Indigenous Artist Market had done shows and I got to sing at three different weekends. Just to walk through and see like 30 Indigenous artist vendors – that didn’t exist before. It used to be harder to find beadwork or mukluks that were made here. To have so much available, to me, that's one way people have come together.  

When it comes to music, you can go find live music – amazing live music – any night of the week. It's really a matter of how much time you have and whether you can make that work. But there's just so many amazing musicians and so many different genres that are represented. And it feels like it's a very welcoming community. I think the opportunities that are presented now, especially for young people if they choose to get into art, there's so much more support and there's so much more opportunity than there ever was before. 

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along! Click here to learn more about Donita Large.  

About Donita Large 

Donita Large is Cree from Saddle Lake First Nation and is a singer-songwriter and has been mentored as an associate vocal coach. She has an education in social work, addictions and adult education and is a Four Directions Wellness Specialist and a Circle of Safety Women’s Family Violence Facilitator. Performing solo or in groups, Donita has sung in Indigenous women's acapella and drum groups, for special events like in the Indigenous & Black Choir for a Johnny Reid CCMA performance, an Indigenous quintet performance at Carnegie Hall, and on intimate stages like the Pêhonân stage at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival.  In May 2021, Donita created and produced the music for a University of Alberta educational video called “Territorial Acknowledgements: Going Beyond the Script”. 

#yegart #edmontonarts #yegmusic #iamyegarts #indigenousarts

[jeffdwoodward]

Love Your Bean

The Love Your Bean is part of a series of artworks on loan from the Vancouver Biennale to Arts on the Ave, in collaboration with The Places, as part of an effort to transform the neighbourhood into a community arts district.

“The sculptures in Love Your Bean break the boundaries that exists between objects and humans. They compel one to touch them, crossing borders when you allow yourself to be led by your senses.” – Cosimo Cavallaro

According to Cosimo Cavallaro, the bean is the truest shape to create, a shape that occurs naturally through process. Unlike a perfect circle that can be traced, a bean is an organic shape, one that cannot be easily duplicated and one that changes with each person that creates it. The beans are whimsical, joyful, interactive, and a little bit unsettling as they seduce and dwarf their viewers by their sweetness and smooth form. “Love your bean” was a mantra that Cavallaro told himself while he worked on the highly polished fibreglass resin of the sculpture, inspiring a deeper focus on the nature of love shape, and colour.

I did a couple of Bean self portraits too.

#photooftheday #original photography on tumblr #original photographers #artiseverywhere #publicart #edmonton art #yegart #sculpture #street photography #street art

[dalegreenearts]

Some new painted rocks

#mandalla #mandala #paint #painting #rocks #colorful #yegart #yegartist

[artofbeans]

True fact: real velociraptors were perfectly sized to be ridden by tiny bunnies.

This will be available as a print at my booth at the upcoming #edmontonexpo — table A914!

#velociraptor #raptor #dinosaur #rabbit #bunny #netherland dwarf #digital art #yegartist #yegart

[eglinski]

Attack on Edmonton in winter. My first images created using artificial intelligence, unintentionally in the style of Polish artist Jakub Ró��alski.

#yeg #yegdt #yegart #edmonton #alberta #jakub rozalski

[dianabillingsart]

This is hanging ay Blue Chair Cafe right now. Ready to be purchased. #art #artist #artofinstagram #artwork #artstudio #painter #paintersofinstagram #drawing #draw #yegartist #yeg #yegart #canadianartist #canadianart #iloveart #oilpainter #rootoo #theatticstudio2019 #dianabillingsart #movingforward #thefutureisnow #lookingintothefuture #painting #procreate #arthistory #draw #practice #artculture #bluechairyeg https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgdg6t8O4Ix/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#art #artist #artofinstagram #artwork #artstudio #painter #paintersofinstagram #drawing #draw #yegartist #yeg #yegart #canadianartist #canadianart #iloveart #oilpainter #rootoo #theatticstudio2019 #dianabillingsart #movingforward #thefutureisnow #lookingintothefuture #painting #procreate #arthistory #practice #artculture #bluechairyeg

[arumlilyedmonton]

We Are Planning to Get NEW interior Paint! Same Staff, Same Location, Awesome Customer Service and With a Little Funk Floral Designs.

ARUM LILY FLOWER SHOP EDMONTON, 17006-100 Avenue, North-West, Edmonton, Alberta, T5S 2E7. 2024 Top Choice Flower Shop in Edmonton, Alberta. We’re a Back-to-Back Gold Winner for Readers Choice Awards in the Best Florist and Flower Shop in Edmonton.

We deliver within Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Devon, Morinville, Nisku, Leduc, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Parkland County, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County and any place in between! . You can order flower arrangements online 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Order Online by 2:00 pm and have the same-day delivery. For same-day and last-minute deliveries, please give us a call at 780-475-3545, toll-free at 1-855-475-3545 or email at [email protected]. We are happy to serve flower arrangements and gifts to all in the Greater Edmonton Metropolitan Area.

#localsupportinglocal #yegfamily #yegbusines #yeg #edmonton #yeglocal #yegbased #madeinedmonton #madeinyeg #yegbusiness #yegcommunity #yegartist #yegart #yegdeal #albertacanada #alberta #albertabusiness #yegflorist #supportsmallbusiness #sprucegrove #beaumont #stoneyplain #leduc #devon #instagrambusiness #instagramyeg #flowerpic #nature #floweroftheday #art

[brazenstudioarts]

Day 20 #100daysofwatercolourminis #dothe100dayproject #the100dayproject #absrtactartdaily #watercolours #abstractart  #florals #landscapes #artforsale #yegart #foryou #shoplocal #assc  #goodwillfinds @goodwill @artstrathcona https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp1mOZjuR9a/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#100daysofwatercolourminis #dothe100dayproject #the100dayproject #absrtactartdaily #watercolours #abstractart #florals #landscapes #artforsale #yegart #foryou #shoplocal #assc #goodwillfinds

[theodoraharasymiw]

Loving the strawberries!🍓🍓 #mccauleyneighbourhood #studiotheo #mosaicartist #yegartist #yegart https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr1YBgjP_MaBIbT7XCYxujnv5oPhY--FIXbfuo0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#mccauleyneighbourhood #studiotheo #mosaicartist #yegartist #yegart