{"Id":8214,"Name":"Rosemarie Christina Armstrong","Biography":"\u003Cp\u003ERosemarie is a painter of landscapes and seascapes; her paintings convey the constant transformation of the natural world. Her skilled and purposeful technique results in a multi-dimensional, illuminated quality of atmosphere, earth and water. The creative process begins in nature; plein air studies, sketches, photographs and memories which provide the foundation for studio work. In order to witness and paint nature\u0027s reality, Rosemarie explores Canada\u0027s majestic and often remote locations.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERosemarie has been painting for four decades. Her paintings reflect her artistic soul and her professional calibre. She believes that through artists, people can envision the best of our world and the human spirit. Creativity in all its forms, can draw attention to world issues; climate, environment, change inflicted by progress. Artists can engage others in conversation about\u0026nbsp;environmental issues through their artistic images.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThere is an abundance of atmospheric, often turbulent images in many of Rosemarie\u0026rsquo;s works. She explores the illumination which follows darkness, and the darkness that precedes light. This epochal shift in her work is a commentary on the state of our environment. She is strongly influenced by great masters such as J.W.M. Turner, Ilya Repin, and Winslow Homer.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERosemarie\u0027s artistic journey began in early childhood, influenced by both parents. Her mother Helga was a talented oil painter born in Czechslovakia and trained as a\u0026nbsp;colorist for fabrics in\u0026nbsp;Oberkotzau, Germany.\u0026nbsp; It was a lifelong exposure to her mother\u0060s creative process that set the foundation for Rosemarie\u0060s own artistic journey.\u0026nbsp; As a teen, Rosemarie loved to illustrate people and wildlife. Recognizing her daughter\u0026rsquo;s talent, Helga signed Rosemarie up with a local art group at age fifteen and enrolled her in figure drawing and sculpture classes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHer father emigrated from Switzerland in the early 1950\u0027s and built a decorating business. Rosemarie was intrigued by the process of making and using colour and as soon as she was old enough, joined her father and brother on job sites.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEventually she decided to pursue her education; high school with Honours and post secondary studies in English, Psychology, Roman and Greek Classics and Law, at the University of Waterloo. She acquired her Teaching Certification and taught Arts and Drama curriculum to senior elementary students. The making and teaching of Art continued to be a focus of her professional life.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMany life altering events have shaped Rosemarie\u0027s journey as an artist.\u0026nbsp;In 1992 Rosemarie was exhibiting and demonstrating in Kitchener Ontario.\u0026nbsp; She met a soft spoken man who had been watching quietly as she worked.\u0026nbsp;Mr. Zeng was a \u0026lsquo;Living Master Painter\u0026rsquo; who had recently emigrated from China. He invited her to study with him; a lifelong mentorship and friendship resulted.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring the late 1990\u0026rsquo;s Rosemarie was encouraged by her Board of Education to join an excursion which would take her from Vancouver to Ketchikan, Alaska. Her task was to learn about west coast art and culture in order to design curriculum\u0026nbsp;which would complement the Board\u0026rsquo;s Resource Library for junior and senior elementary students. Rosemarie utilized her artistic talents to illustrate the curriculum.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERosemarie has traveled through many European countries. A large network of relatives has provided many places to call home base. Adventures in the mountains, exploring tiny villages and absorbing a range of physical geography\u0026hellip;..she also studied centuries\u0027 worth of art exhibited in cathedrals, museums and public buildings. Exposure to these great works has had a subtle but strong influence on her own style of realism.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2006, Rosemarie retired from education to pursue a professional art career.\u0026nbsp;She joined local and regional art groups, facilitated forums and workshops, taught art lessons and volunteered as a Board member of a local arts organization, while co-curating two public galleries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn August of 2011, Rosemarie lived in the tiny community of Los Tolas Ecuador, high in the cloud forest of the Andes, surrounded by active volcanoes.\u0026nbsp; While living the life of an Ecuadorian, her goal was to help develop a sustainable local economy with art. This project included sourcing raw materials such as wood to build stretcher frames, and fabrics which could be primed with leftover house paint for use as canvas.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShe appreciates how these diverse experiences have shaped her artistic practice and realizes the importance of change and growth. Rosemarie is an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America and the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. She is\u0026nbsp;a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation International (AFC), the world\u0027s leading artist group supporting the environment. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","Awards":"\u003Cp\u003E5th International Prize Leonardo Da Vinci - EffettoArte Foundation, Milan Italy 2023\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Artistic Excellence - Circle Arts Foundation, Lyon France December 2022\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECertificate of Honor - Art Impact International Art Exhibition June 2022\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECertificate\u0026nbsp;of Excellence - Circle Arts Foundation, Lyon France\u0026nbsp;June 2022\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Excellence - Circle Arts Foundation, Lyon France October 2021\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Excellence - National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society August 2021\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Artistic Excellence - Circle Arts Foundation, Lyon France July 2021\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Artistic Excellence - Circle Arts Foundation, Lyon France May 2021\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Excellence - ATIM Masters Awards, New York USA 2018\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAward of Excellence - ATIM Masters Awards, Florence Italy 2017\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThird Place - NOAPS Best of America Plein Air Competition, Massachussets USA 2016\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEstablished Artist Award - Arts and Culture Annual Award, Orangeville ON Canada 2013\u003C/p\u003E","HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":false,"HasRelationships":false,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":true,"HasLetters":false,"HasLibraryItems":false,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":false,"TotalArtworks":22}