By permission of the artist, The Cyber Art Show is pleased to feature the second of two 12-piece exhibitions of works by contemporary 

International landscape painter Grace Croughan (born 1961 in Okinawa, Japan). 
 

Grace Croughan is a soft-spoken artist who is versatile in watercolour and pastels. When she sees her open case of pastels with hundreds of beautiful colours or her watercolour palette she feels an overwhelming surge of energy and excitement and can't wait to dive in and create. Her pastels are always laid out and ready. No need to prepare, premix. You never need to wait for it to dry. That's why it's her medium of choice.

 

Grace was born in Okinawa, a small island in the very south of Japan. During the next 10 years her father's studies and vocation took them back and forth between the United States, Canada and Japan, finally settling in Toronto, Ontario. Finding herself in new places, she turned to art, which came naturally. Always drawing or painting or singing and playing the piano, which is still is her favorite pastime.

 

Being warned about the hard life of an fine artist, Grace decided to study Graphic Design and received her degree from Andrews University in Michigan then went on to study Advertising Design at the Ontario College of Art and Design. After graduating from OCAD she went to work for Jerry Goodis at his new advertising agency, Goodis Inc., where she honed her creative skills as an Art Director.

 

After 10 years in the advertising industry she decided to take the time to raise and enjoy her two young children.

 

Fast forward a number of years. Grace's passion for creating art would not let her be still. Over the next few years, Grace pursued her love of pastels and worked on capturing peoples unique personalities in her portraitures. She takes a more traditional approach to her portraitures. She also likes to use a colourful, cheerful palette for the skin tones. It is important for her to capture the persons' uniqueness and bring them to life on paper.

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Grace is also inspired by the natural beauty of Southern Ontario and captures the romance of the landscape with pastels.

 

Grace is a signature member of Pastel Artists of Canada with Master Pastelist status, Associate member of the Pastel Society of America, the Richmond Hill Group of Artists and the Toronto Watercolour Society.

 

Grace works out of her home studio in Richmond Hill, Ontario. To see her work please visit her website (link below) or Facebook @gracecroughanartist.

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Awards, Solo and Group Shows, and Juried Exhibitions

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Solo and Group shows (selected)

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2016 – “Breakfast by the Lake” solo exhibition – Flato Markham Theatre Gallery

2016 – Mackenzie Health Centre - group show

2016 – “Small Treasures” group show – Mill Pond Gallery

2016 – Sunnybrook hospital group Show

2015 – “Spring Fling” group show – Richmond Hill Group of Artists

2013 – “Culture Days” group show - Mill Pond Gallery

2012 – Delmanor group show - Richmond Hill Group of Artists

 

Awards

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2016 First Place – Pastel Artists Canada Online Competition

2016 Honourable Mention - Richmond Hill annual Juried Show

2015 Merit Award – Richmond Hill annual Juried Show

2013 Best in Show - Richmond Hill 35th Annual Juried Show

2012 Honourable Mention - Richmond Hill Annual Juried Show

2011 Jurors Choice Award - Artcures

2010 Honourable Mention - Richmond Hill Annual Juried Show

2009 Sunnybrook Hospital Christmas Card competition

2009 Town of Richmond Hill Award -Richmond Hill Annual Juried Show

 

Juried Exhibitions

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2016 Open Juried Show – Mill Pond Gallery

2014 2nd Online Juried Show – Pastel Artists Canada

2014 30th Aquavision - Toronto Watercolour Society - Papermill Gallery

2014 23rd Annual Open Juried Show - Purely Pastel - Pastel Artists Canada – Beaux Arts Brampton Gallery

2013 Richmond Hill Annual Juried show - Mill Pond Gallery

2013 Pastel Artists Canada – 1st Online Juried Show

2013 Aquavision - Toronto Watercolour Society - Papermill Gallery

2012 Purely Pastel - Pastel Artists Canada - Joseph D. Carrier Gallery

2012 Richmond Hill Annual Juried show - Mill Pond Gallery

2011 Purely Pastel - Pastel Artists Canada - Neilson Park Creative Centre

2011 Richmond Hill Annual Juried show - Mill Pond Gallery

2011 Artcures - Aurora Cultural Center

2010 Richmond Hill Annual Juried show - Mill Pond Gallery

2009 Richmond Hill Annual Juried show - Mill Pond Gallery

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