As an artist and art teacher, creativity has always been at the centre of my life. The body of my work is driven by the combination of colour with texture. I have explored a wide variety of art forms (printmaking, clay, watercolour, acrylic, glass mosaic) in order to translate an idea or image into a successful visual statement. Currently, I paint in both encaustic (pigmented hot beeswax) and more recently, cold wax and oil. These media allow me to build several layers, to imbed images and words, to create textural surfaces as well as to scrape away to find hidden treasures. Their capacity for translucency and colour encourages endless possibilities. Visual expression feels natural and creating is empowering.
Bachelor of Visual Arts, University of Guelph
Bachelor of Education, Dalhousie University
2018 Reignite Your Creativity, Art Life, Nicholas Wilton, Molokai, Hawaii
2016 Stretching Further into Abstraction, Rebecca Crowell, Gloucester, Maine
2016 Paper Plate Lithography, Vancouver Island School of Art, Victoria, BC
2015 Encaustic Transfer Processes, Truro Centre for the Arts, Truro, Massachusetts
2014 Encaustic Collograph Monotype- Elise Wagner Studio, Oregon
2013 Painting with Encaustic - Cullowhee Mountain Arts School,Lisa Pressman, North Carolina
2012, 2011, 2010 International Encaustic Conference, Provincetown, Massachusetts
2011 Cold Wax plus Oil: Painting Workshop, Elora Centre of the Arts
2009 Advanced Encaustic, Elora Centre of the Arts
2008 Encaustic Workshop, Supria Designs
2008 Encaustic Painting, Haliburton School of Fine Arts
2005 Collage and Assemblage, Toronto School of Art
1999 – 2012, Relevant Media Classes, Haliburton School of Fine Arts
1996 Watercolour Painting, Toronto School of Art
2014, Growing Rockwood, Community Art Project, Workshop Instructor,Facilitator, Rockwood Centennial School,
Harris Mill Public School, Rockwood, Ontario
2002, Mask-making, Workshop Presenter
University of Toronto Drama Ministry Course, Toronto, Ontario
2001, Mask-Making, Workshop Presenter
Imagination Conference for teachers, Hockley Valley, Ontario
1994, Creative Thinking, Professional Presenter
Western University, London, Ontario
1974 – 2004, Elementary Teacher and Art Teacher
Upper Grand District School Board, Ontario
1971-1973, Director/Curator, Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Arts
2019, 2020, 2021 Guelph Studio Tour
2019 Insights :40th Annual Exhibition of Fine Arts, The Wellington County Museum and Archives, Fergus, Ontario
2019 All things Abstract, Art @ Ebar, Guelph
2018 Guelph Studio Tour
2018 Art$Pay NOW! Waterloo
Arts$Pay NOW! Guelph
2017 Guelph Studio Tour
2016 "Stones ReTurned", Gallery M, Cambridge, Ontario November 10 - January 9
2016 Guelph Studio Tour
2016 "Insights", 37th Annual Exhibition of Fine Arts, curated by R. Isaacs, S. Dobson, P. Morin, The Wellington County Museum and Archives, Fergus, Ontario
2016 "Elemental", Octarine Women Artists Collective, Joshua Creek Heritage Arts Centre, Oakville, Ontario
2015 "Winter Whimsy", Illumine Gallery, St. Thomas, Ontario
2015 Guelph Studio Tour
2015 "Insights", 36th Annual Exhibition of Fine Arts, curated by R. Shuebrook, T. Smart, I. Gassinger, The Wellington County Museum and Archives, Fergus, Ontario
2015 "Encore", Octarine Women Artists Collective, Studio 404, Guelph. Ontario
2015 "Whitestone Redux", Gallery M, Cambridge, Ontario
2015 "In Flanders Fields at 100", curated by Dawn Owens, Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph, Ontario
2014 "Eight Dimensions", Octarine Women Artists Collective, Studio 404, Guelph, Ontario
2013, 2014 Guelph Studio Tour
2012, 2013 Elora Centre of the Arts, Elora, Ontario
2012 Guelph Chamber of Commerce Office, Guelph, Ontario
2012 "Ebb and Flow", Solo Show, Whitestone Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2013, 2012, 2011, Monthly Group Shows, Whitestone Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2010, 2011, Solo Shows, Einstein’s Café, Guelph, Ontario
2011, 2010, 2009, "Avenue of Artists", Fergus Scottish Festival, Fergus, Ontario
2015, 2010, 2009 Group Shows, Einstein’s Café, Guelph, Ontario
2010 "New Beginnings", Café Creperie, Elora, Ontario
2010 "Blossoming", The Teak Barn, Erin, Ontario
2009 ENCAUSTIC, Fergus Recreational Centre, Fergus, Ontario
deborahdryden.com
deborahjdryden@gmail.com
519 820 2378