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I am SO excited to OFFICIALLY release my collection of HAND JEWELED 8" x 10" Beauty Art Prints! Now everyone can afford a sparkling piece of art! :)

BUY - https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/595486451/hand-jeweled-prints-embellished-8-x-10

Watch the promotional video ...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme/videos/1602187506484861/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/4nftjOCaMr0

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Malinda Prud'homme's paintings that include real acrylic gems are among her fans favourite pieces. She receives frequent inquiries about prices but for many the cost of these time consuming and expensive paintings is beyond their budget. This is why Malinda decided to offer hand jeweled prints! So that those who really love that radiant sparkle paired with beauty portraiture can enjoy a piece of their own at a fraction of the cost. :)

SIZE: 8"x10" paper with a white border for easy framing/matting. It will easily slide into a standard 8 x 10" frame or matte.

SPECIFICS: These prints are reproduced from original paintings by Mixed Media Artist Malinda Prud’homme. They are printed in-studio on Supreme Satin photo paper which has a lovely weight, a flawless velvety smooth surface, is tear resistant, curl resistant, and fade resistant. The artist will adhere real acrylic gems to the print by hand. She will choose in the moment what gems to apply as the print is not completely covered. While she will NOT be copying the gem patterns exactly as seen in these images, she will stay true to the amount of gems portrayed. Prices will vary based on the amount and colour of gems. Every portrait comes with either the colours shown in the photos, all crystals, or crystals and aurora borealis (multicoloured shimmer - AB) crystals. You can make your selections using the drop down lists.

All prints are signed by the artist at the bottom of the print.

SHIPPING: The print will be sent in a 100% recycled hard cardboard Mailer.

Please remember that this image is copyrighted & not to be reproduced for any purposes without permission from Malinda Prud’homme. Purchase of this print does not transfer any image rights.

For more images and information please visit
www.MalindaPrudhomme.com
www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme
www.Instagram.com/MalindaPrudhomme
www.MalindaPrudhomme.Blogspot.com.

If you're a fan of Malinda Prud'homme's Artwork you will LOVE these fun MYSTERY BOXES!!! :)

BUY ON ETSY - (Starting at $25 CAD)
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/580131978/malinda-prudhomme-art-mystery-box

Each mystery box will contain a random number of Malinda Prud'homme Art items with a value higher than what is paid. You could get one or more hand signed 8" x 10" Prints, Art Pendant Necklaces, Bookmarks, Magnets, and/or Postcards. What's the catch? The artist gets to choose the items based on your budget and you have no idea what you're going to get! Each item will be wrapped to make it extra fun! :)

The lovely Stephanie Walsh purchased a $35 Malinda Prud'homme Art Mystery Box and, like the awesome gal she is, video taped the process so I could share it with all of you!

TESTIMONIAL:
"I decided it would be fun to get a mystery box from one of my favourite artists Malinda Prudhomme, so I did! I was really excited to open the box and see what goodies were inside! Malinda had taken the time to individually wrap each and every piece which added to the fun! The value of the mystery box far exceeded it's $35.00 purchase price!! Among the several items was a gorgeous print of one of her incredible beauties as well as a piece of her custom jewelry! I had a ball playing Malinda! Such a fun experience!! Thank you for sharing your beauties with the world!! Kindest regards, Stephanie Walsh"

Your Malinda Prud'homme Art Mystery Box MAY include ...

8" x 10" Art Prints - https://www.etsy.com/shop/malindaprudhomme?section_id=11454123
Art Pendant Necklaces - https://www.etsy.com/shop/malindaprudhomme?section_id=11853135
Bookmarks - https://www.etsy.com/shop/malindaprudhomme?section_id=12322874
Postcards - https://www.etsy.com/shop/malindaprudhomme?section_id=12296651
Magnets - See Image 7 in Etsy Listing

For more images and information please visit
www.MalindaPrudhomme.com
www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme
www.Instagram.com/MalindaPrudhomme
www.MalindaPrudhomme.Blogspot.com.

Emergence & Rebirth
TWIST Gallery
Art & Design District
Queen West, Toronto
February 2nd - 24th 2017
Opening Reception: February 02 2017

Taking part in this group exhibition was a really exciting achievement for me. TWIST Gallery is around the corner from my home and studio so I see it very often. I think it's pretty obvious but I'll say it anyways, it's GORGEOUS! I always got the impression it exhibited more established artists and it was a dream of mine to have my work on their walls. And what a dream come true it was! I felt so honoured to hang alongside the works of some of Toronto's most talented artists. It was truly a night to remember. :)

BIG ART BOOK 2017
Scarborough Arts
Todmorden Mills Gallery
January 26 - February 05 2017
Opening Reception January 26 2017


It's been around 9 months since this happened and I'm still over-the-moon thrilled about it. I had been published in Scarborough Arts' BIG ART BOOK before back in 2014 and was even honoured with a Juror's Choice Award; a moment I still cherish. So getting three artworks into the 2017 publication was a delight ... but I was not prepared for the very great honour of being chosen for the cover. The theme for this issue was "Spectacular Celebrations" and they felt my piece embodied that well. Holding this beautiful book in my hands, with my bright beautiful painting "Cheeky Beauties" featuring the lovely Alyestal Hamilton on it, was an incredibly proud and happy moment. Another memory to cherish thanks to Scarborough Arts! :)

"Restless Mind ~ Beautiful Spirit"
November 2016
Acrylic Paint on Bamboo Board
6.7" x 11.7"
SOLD

This stunning portrait painting on a bamboo board is actually a revival and re-imagination of one of my older styles. Back in 2012 I created a series on bamboo board entitled "Restless In Wonderment". Two of the three pieces were damaged in a storm during an outdoor art show but the most beloved one remained perfectly intact. Over the years it was published in magazines and was even on a cover! But for some reason it never sold. Then during my Solo Exhibition in November 2016 it sold TWICE. A gentleman from out of town purchased it at the gallery as a gift for his niece's wedding; while I had taken a payment from a long time supporters father. It turned out the daughter had always loved the piece. I decided to create her one from scratch using my new techniques and skills. The piece depicts her as one of my Restless Beauties, being filled with an abundance of thoughts. I wanted the painting to exude a calm beauty while expressing her restless mind using colour and design in the background. It's our thoughts and our feelings that makes us the truly beautiful and unique beings we are.

"Santa"
December 2016
Acrylic and Oil Paint on Canvas
11" x 14"
COMMISSION

It has been almost a year since I worked on this beautiful heartwarming piece and it's meaning still makes me misty eyed. Diane contacted me a couple of years ago asking if I could take a photo of her deceased father and create a portrait of him as Santa. She explained that it was a cherished family memory, him dressing up every year for the holidays. I knew in my heart I had to take on the challenge. So much detail went into this cheerful Santa and I am beyond thrilled with the results. Diane ordered many prints for family members so it truly warms my heart knowing my artwork will bring so much joy to so many this holiday season and many more to come. :)

November Art Salon 2016
Gallery 1313
November 24th to December 4th 2016
Opening Night: November 24th 2016



That's right folks, I'm a YEAR behind in my posting! LOL Life has really gotten away from me this last year and I feel like I'm constantly chasing my tail. But despite being so behind I still want to share my special moments with you. This was my second time taking part in the November Art Salon and once again I really enjoyed myself. This time my friend and fellow artist Nadia Gurkova was also exhibiting in the show so we met up at the vegan restaurant Fresh to have a bite to eat beforehand. It was a really lovely night, the crowd was incredible, and I always love exhibiting at Gallery 1313. :)

"Cheeky Beauties"
November 2016
Acrylic & Oil Paint on Wood Panel
12" x 16" / Each

This series hopes to capture women in a “cheeky� moment. More often than not, women in the media are portrayed with a rather calm or sultry expression or a soft smile. It is quite rare to see a woman being a goofball but oddly enough that’s when women are truly expressing their spirit. In my mind there isn’t anything quite like a woman who, in that moment, is comfortable being her adorable quirky self. My two beauties show different sides of their cheekiness with Alyestal being a ‘Silly Goose’ and Marie-Claude channeling her ‘Old Soul’. I hope the two colourful pieces bring a smile to your face. :)

HUGE EXCITING NEWS!!! I'M GOING TO BE ON TV!!!


Last year Apartment 11 Productions asked me to be their portrait specialist for their TVOKids television series The Mystery Files! How crazily amazing is that? Out of all the incredible Canadian portrait artists ... they chose me. I can't even begin to describe how overwhelming and touching that is.

It was last September when out of the blue I received a call from Ariel at Apartment 11 Productions asking if I'd be interested in being in an episode. I was floored. He went on to tell me that he had searched for the right candidate online and after a short while of watching a few artists' online presence, he knew I was the perfect candidate. He saw me as a highly talented portrait artist with a good heart and a good message; a good role model for children. Still to this day those words touch me. Soon I was speaking with their writer Claire and come November we were shooting the episode right in my neighborhood at the Gladstone Hotel where I had set up a rental studio. Everything was very surreal. I still can't believe it.

I'm definitely no actor and I'm terrible at remembering details, never mind lines! But the director, Kyla (one of the stars), and the whole filming crew were beyond kind and helpful. Very patient, very easy going, and super encouraging. They made me feel like I belonged there. I will cherish those memories forever.

I've waited all this time for the episode to air and it has finally come. This is a BIG MOMENT for me! I would love to share it with as many of you as I can. Please join in the excitement and watch my episode "The Mystery Of The Way We See". Kyla and I talk about the history of portraiture while we create portraits of each other! Grab all those beautiful babies of yours, furbabies, or just your beautiful self, and tune in to TVO Kids on Monday August 28th at 6PM! Don't forget to set your PVR!

I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm grateful. I'm in denial. I'm proud. I'm terrified. I'm happy. I'm ... I'm ... I don't know what I am! :P


Rogers Cable 2 & HD 580
Bell TV 265
Bell Fibe TV HD 1209 & SD 209
Shaw Direct HD 39 & SD 353

"The 20s Reborn"
November 2016
Acrylic Paint, Oil Paint,
Crackle Paste, and Gems
on Wood Panel
12" x 16"


Original Artwork:
BUY

8" x 10" Prints:
BUY

Larger Prints:
BUY


Having painted and become friends with her sister, it was only natural that Janique St Laurent and I would become a part of each others online circle. What a blessing that was because she would soon post a picture that would inspire one of the most delicate, beautiful, and unique pieces I have ever created. In her photo she wore a lovely 1920s inspired headband and I couldn’t help but feel this gorgeous old soul with a passion for social justice embodied the spirit of the roaring era. With that in mind I decide to capture her beauty somewhat translucently to convey that this 20s spirit is being reborn into our modern world. A particularly special aspect of the piece is a sculpted antique frame that, like the portrait, seems solid but then becomes ghostly. Lastly the gems in the jewelry give the piece a dream-like sparkle. I’m an avid history lover, and the 1920s is one of my favourite eras, so creating this piece truly touched my soul.

See more photos on FACEBOOK!

Like most artists I offer a whole variety of items with my artworks on it. With the exception of my Etsy Shop, I depend on outside manufacturers to make the items for my fans to enjoy. I have a Fashion Clothing line with VIDA (currently under re-construction) and a print/everyday item shop with Pixels (also known as Fine Art America). On occasion I will purchase my own items to test out the quality of the products I'm providing. TWO years ago I purchased this beautiful "Golden Indian Bride" Tote Bag from my own print shop and was not disappointed. The image quality is gorgeous and the bag is built really sturdy. It has been my go to bag for all of my running around, including quick grocery runs, since I received it and it's still kicking! I figured since the quality and look of this bag is so great it wouldn't hurt to share my experience. You can get your own Tote Bag with any of my artworks on it at my Print Shop HERE! Happy shopping! :)

Darren and I are very excited to introduce our new #Furbaby boy, TYRION! <3

This sweet little #Cat stole Darren's heart when he went to pick up some food for our big ball-of-love Maverick this past Sunday. He texted me first with a picture of his name thinking it was adorable! If you don't know, Tyrion Lanister is a dwarf with an incredible wit and personality from the novel/TV series "Game of Thrones". It just happens to be one of Darren and I's favourites ... and Tyrion just happens to be one of our favourite characters. After receiving the text I felt I could picture him and almost had a feeling "he's ours". I asked Darren for a picture of him and bam, he was exactly the cat I had imagined. Perfect little fluff bean! I immediately went to the store to meet him and, after seeing how talkative and cuddly and playful and sweet he was, we quickly returned home to apply for our interview. They told us many people loved Tyrion and were considering him for their family so we were a bit on edge. The Toronto Cat Rescue called us within hours and after a lovely and cheerful interview we were given the go-ahead to pick up our sweet baby boy. <3

Here's what we know about Tyrion. He was rescued from a hoarding situation so we are hopeful he will grow to love Maverick. Because he had to fight for food his whole life, he is very teeny tiny. When he was originally seized they thought he was only 1 because he is so small ... little bird bones (sad but so cute too) ... but after the vet neutered him he figured he is more like 3 years old. Our big boy Maverick is about 8 years old, so Tyrion will be the new baby of the house. <3

We bathed him when we brought him home, you can see him drying in the picture, but usually his fur is very fluffy (he's a long haired domestic) and disheveled looking which is so adorable. He's smart, but such a goof when he plays. I think his most charming characteristic is his "singing" or "chit chatting" he does non-stop. A very talkative and cuddly little boy. <3

Tyrion's been with us for 2 days so far and we've already made great strides when it comes to his and Mavericks relationship. Maverick is a big time doufy douf so he just wanted to be friends and play right away. Tyrion was very nervous and there was definitely hissing and "twacking". Maverick's expression was sad but hilarious too. "Parents, why doesn't it like me? Doesn't it see I just want to play? I'm being so gentle and submissive." LOL Maverick is a very good boy. He shows his dominance sometimes by using his size to corner Tyrion. But he just keeps eyes contact, he doesn't to anything physical. It's a conversation they're having with their eyes and it seems very intense but we are seeing improvements fast. We keep Tyrion in the bathroom at night for now (so they both feel safe and have a good rest) and Maverick will "sing the song of his people" to him starting at 5am or so. Eventually Tyrion began talking back and it seemed like a good happy conversation. Yesterday was a bit hit-and-miss but this morning they played together and ate together and seem to be doing really well. They are currently both sleeping on the couch beside me, Tyrion on the seat and Maverick on the head rest. Super super cute and such a relief to see. <3

We're very happy and excited to grow our family! I've been feeling a bit better lately, hopefully it lasts, but this is definitely a good time to introduce a new life into our home. We love him so much already and we know that love will only continue to grow as we get to know him better. Here's hoping Maverick will love him too! <3

Back in early September, Darren Edward and I tied the knot in our hometown of Sudbury. We wanted to keep our "real"wedding ceremony very private so it didn't make sense having a stranger there to marry us. We decided to get the legal wedding done the day before at Sudbury City Hall so that my younger sister Meagan could officiate our true ceremony the next day. On Saturday September 3rd, 2016 we began the day with setup, then we got ready, then Darren and I did a cute "first look" shoot, then we took some photos in the forest, then we came back to my childhood backyard to gush over each other with our private ceremony, and then we all PARTIED! It zoomed by but man was it fun! And everything turned out exactly how I'd imagined it; better, even! On Sunday we threw a wedding brunch so that all of our extended family members and friends could join in the celebrations! I have a HUGE family so it was absolutely awesome getting to see everyone. Since Darren and I live in Toronto we don't get to see our family very often. The whole weekend was SO special! We couldn't have asked for more.

Of course after the wedding we were very excited to see our photos but had to wait the usual couple of months. When we finally received them we excitedly clicked through them and were overjoyed with the beautiful results. But then my solo show came up, and then the holiday season, so there just never seemed to be time to post them. Well here they are! I hope you love them as much as we do. :D

- Friday September 2nd 2016 ~ City Hall Wedding ~ Northern Lovebirds Photography (Brandon Lefebvre)
- Saturday September 3rd 2016 ~ Backyard Wedding ~ Mirth Photography (Stacey Lalande)
- Sunday September 4th 2016 ~ Wedding Brunch ~ T.L. Photography (Tracey Labelle)

WANT TO SEE A BIGGER COLLECTION?
See them on Facebook

While my photo may surprise some folks, the fact that the most common New Years resolution is to “loose weight” probably doesn’t surprise anyone. Lately there has been TONS of posts going around about the holidays making us all fat. It’s a common thing but it drives me nuts. Lately I’ve also seen lots of very young ladies (teens) fretting over their very teeny tiny bodies expressing how they’ve let themselves go … it kills me. It’s been years now since I’ve grown to truly love and accept my body exactly as it is in whatever state it’s in. I tend to fluctuate between 155lbs and 180lbs; I’m at my highest here in the photo. The only reason I even know my weight is because I weigh myself to tell how much my artwork packages weigh for shipping. LOL I honestly do not care one little bit what the number on the scale tells me and while I’ve gotten used to that idea, the holiday season and all those terrible posts remind me of how painful it was to hate my body and constantly want to shrink and change it. Back then, even if I was doing really well and loosing lots of weight, it was never ever enough. There was always something that wasn’t perfect. I no longer believe in “perfect”. I believe in the power of unique beauty. We are all unique creatures with unique bodies and those bodies are doing the best they can to keep us alive and house our beautiful souls. There is no way we should be hating on something so precious. I want everyone to remember that everyone sees beauty in different ways. If you’re judging yourself based on the unrealistic demands and expectations of our society then for goodness sake STOP. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Stop comparing yourself to others or what you see in the media. Just focus on you, focus on the things you love about yourself, realize you’re a unique human being, not some photoshopped version of flawless perfection. NO MATTER WHAT SIZE YOU ARE, you are beautiful! :D

Now I can just hear people crowding to say, “But health! But health”! DON’T. Size isn’t the be-all-and-end-all of human health. It’s a factor, yes, but not EVERYTHING. Personally, I think being happy mentally, enjoying your body and enjoying your life without shame or dissatisfaction, is WAY MORE healthy than being small and trim. If your New Years resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle that is 100% awesomesauce! Honestly, following through with that would be life changing! But if deep down inside you’re doing it to be thin and stereotypically attractive then I would say, please don’t feel that pressure. Getting healthier is great but you don’t need to be thin to be beautiful. You are beautiful exactly the way you are. I would also say, I have totally been there, man. I have had countless “I’m going to get thin before summer” New Years resolutions. I either failed, which made me feel shitty about myself, or I became unhealthily determined and ate 400cals a day, exercised like a fiend, lost tons of weight, and still felt there were things I needed to improve on. SO NOT WORTH IT. And definitely not healthy! TRULY caring more about health, not even considering your looks because you already love the way you look, will put you in a much better frame of mind to create a realistic health regime that you can stick too and progress at a natural rate. :D

How did this post come about? I have my hair tied in a braid everyday so I didn’t realize how long my hair was getting and I excitedly wanted to show off my “princess hair” with a photo. I started off with closer shots of my belly and hips (where my hair length ends) and found myself (something that hasn’t happened to me in a long while) feeling embarrassed by my underwear lines, surgical scars, and my tummy. It felt SO awful! It reminded me of how painful it is to be hard on your body. I figure the numerous posts I’ve been seeing may have had me feeling a little uneasy and with the posts continuing, “all I got for Christmas was fat”, over and over, I felt I might make a post of my own showing most of my body. Because I love my body. I truly do. Underwear lines and stretch marks, PAH! Everyone has those! A tummy? I love my fertile looking tummy. I’m a soft woman and I like that! I’m an Elven Fairy Princess Mermaid gosh damn it! LOLThen I was concerned about other peoples judgments, not about me being thick or thin, I couldn’t care less, but about me posting a nude in general. I actually deleted the photo but it kept nagging at me. I’ve lived YEARS without caring what people think, why would I start now? I ended up discussing it with my amazing husband and he encouraged me to see that the potential to help people love themselves is important to me and that it’s worth braving the naysayers. How lucky am I to have someone so supportive; someone who truly gets me?! :D

TO ANYONE WHO FEELS OFFENDED, NEGATIVE, OR SEXUAL - KEEP SCROLLING. This post isn’t for you. I don’t care if the naked body offends you. I personally think nudity is beautiful. Besides, draw a line on either side of my hips and between my breasts and you can pretend I’m wearing a bikini. LOL If you plan on being negative about my body you can save your fingers the typing because I DO NOT care about your opinion. I love my body. My husband loves my body. Your opinion means absolutely nothing to me and if you do leave an unkind comment it will be removed immediately so that your negativity doesn’t infect my kindhearted followers who are working towards loving their bodies as they are. Lastly, if you think this is in any way a sexy post you are 100% wrong. This has nothing to with sex; I am not posing in a sexual way or discussing anything sexual, so if you see it that way it sure says a lot about your mind and the respect you have for me (or lack thereof). Wishing you all happiness and positivity in your life! Be kind and be well. :D

BOLD Expressions
Super Wonder Gallery
November 4th and 5th 2016

A couple of weeks before my solo exhibition, "Beauty is Varied", I had the pleasure of exhibiting three of my beauty portraits at Super Wonder Gallery in the BOLD Expressions group show. The show boasted hundreds of artworks in a variety of mediums and capturing a variety of subjects. The curators Tanzina Amin and Carlos Sa Rodrigues did a fabulous job arranging the artworks in a beautiful and meaningful way. I feel so honoured to have been a part of it and to have my work hung alongside that of such talented artists! Not to mention, Super Wonder Gallery is among my favourite galleries in Toronto. It was truly a great night!

2016 ETA Awards
Lead Judge Technical Excellence Category
Friday October 21 2016
District 28

I had an AWESOME night last Friday! Not only was I incredibly honoured to be chosen as the lead judge for the Technical Excellence category, I also had the opportunity to meet and hand out awards with some incredibly talented and successful artists; all of which I have been admiring for a long time. To be up there with the likes of Alex Garant, Richert Ahnert, and Lee Howard is beyond gratifying. And the cherry on top? I got to dress up like XENA! My all time favourite kick ass female warrior princess hero! The theme of the event was "Gala Of Heroes" and we were invited to dress up. You don't have to tell me twice! (lol) It really couldn't have been any better! A big huge congratulations to all the emerging artists who placed and won awards! You guys have got major skills! For those who didn't, don't fret because you were all incredibly talented and with hard work and dedication you will continue to be Thriving Artists! :D

I'm Looking For An Artist Protégé!

Hi! I'm Malinda! I've been working as an artist professionally for the past six years. The first two years were part-time while working other jobs and the last four years have been full-time. My career began with me experimenting with styles and mediums and doing the usual craft and outdoor shows. But by the time I was ready to take the leap into a full-time art career I had become an established portrait artist being sought after for commissions. The last four years have been a whirlwind of unbelievable experiences and really hard battles. While I was being awarded for the Technical Excellence of my work, exhibiting my artwork overseas, and gaining clients from all over the world; I was also getting sicker and sicker from an unknown illness that had my doctors stumped. This past Spring I finally received a diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis (an auto-immune disease) and though I still suffer on a daily basis I am glad to say my life is beginning to get back on track. At this stage in my career, and with this disease slowing me down, I need someone to help me with the smaller stuff so I can get back to what's most important in my business; creating my beautiful artwork. I'm ready to take this incredible career of mine even further and I'm looking for someone to join me on that journey while at the same time fostering the beginnings of their amazing career! If you're an Emerging Artist who thinks working with a Mid-Career Artist would be a valuable learning experience you've come to the right place! :)

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
www.MalindaPrudhomme.com/Protege

ETA Awards Pre-Show
Lead Judge "Technical Excellence"
Guest Speaker "Business Of Art"
Super Wonder Gallery
Friday September 23rd 2016


I am incredibly honoured to have been given the role of "Lead Judge" for the 'Technical Excellence' category of the ETA Awards​ (Emerging Toronto Artists Awards) this year. I was also asked to be a guest speaker at the ETA Pre-Show event on the "Business Of Art" which was a very nerve wracking experience for me (being very shy and introverted) but I think it went rather well and it showed me I have a lot of valuable knowledge and experience to share. Here are just a few snippets from the night, first of my speech and second of me judging the artworks. I must say that the collection of work being presented at the ETA's this year is MIND BLOWING! The talent in this city is just incredible! I included some of my favourite pieces near the end of the video but I have to admit there were SO many that I loved that I wasn't able to include. Everyone who is a part of this event should be proud of themselves! :)

MUSE Exhibition
Super Wonder Gallery
September 16 - 21 2016
Opening Reception: Friday Sept 16th


I am SO glad everything worked out and I was able to be a part of this show! The call for submissions was going on while I was frantically preparing for my wedding so I saved the link and set a reminder. But as my wedding date got closer I became more and more busy and didn't get a chance to apply before I left for Sudbury. Luckily the curator, Daniel Anaka, contacting me a few days before the deadline asking if I was planning to apply. I love being in Daniel's shows. My very first gallery exhibition in Toronto was curated by Daniel at Moniker Gallery and he has been a supporter of mine ever since. Not only are his shows filled with talent and garner a large crowd, he also always hangs my work in a way that emphasizes it's beauty and quality. He had mentioned that the MUSE exhibition would be his last at Super Wonder Gallery (a HUGE space on Bloor where I absolutely love to exhibit) so I knew there was just no way I could pass it up. Four of my portraits hung beautifully together, two newer pieces and two from 2013, near the front of the gallery.

I almost didn't make the opening that evening because my health was acting up but after a nap I decided to give it a try. I felt extra cute in my outfit and although I wasn't still quite well I was definitely happy to be there. Sometimes people think if you're smiling you can't possibly be sick. Those people don't live with chronic illness. When you're always unwell there comes a time in your life when you just have to decide not to let your physical mood dictate your mental mood. It's definitely a tough thing to conquer and when times are really tough it's still something I struggle with. But I'm pretty much capable of smiling, laughing, and loving life even if I'm in pain, or nauseous, or exhausted, and so on. I'm not just putting on a happy face ... it might seem like that at first ... but I'm actually happy. That night, I was not feeling great, I had a hard time communicating, but I was happy! The artwork in this exhibition was just breathtaking and to be among such talented artists is always an honour. I also got to speak to some fellow artists I hadn't seen in a while and I got to preview the work of some of the emerging artists I'll be jurying tomorrow (Friday September 22 2016) at the Emerging Toronto Artists Awards (ETA Awards)!

I had my little outfit planned for this exhibition since my wedding. I purchased two book necklaces for my wedding brunch outfit and ended up wearing one that was custom made with special little personal touches. I still loved the other one though and wanted to wear it with the complimentary book earrings I received and my beloved book skirt which I felt matched perfectly! I'm a big book nerd, I agree Kobo's have their place, but nothing will ever be as good as a book in my hands. Especially an old smelling book .... and turning pages ... it's an obsession I know, but a good one I think. If you happen to have a love affair with books too, my necklace and earrings were made custom for me by AV Workshop on Etsy. Svetlana was easy to communicate with, she created the piece very quickly, and it was shipped promptly as well. It was a pleasure doing business with her. My Book Skirt is by Nerd Alert Creations on Etsy. I have worked with Rachel a couple of times now and I am never disappointed. She is very kind and willing to take on all sorts of projects. I know I'll be back in her shop again! What do you think of my outfit? Are you a book lover too?

On Saturday September 3rd 2016 I promised to spend the rest of my life loving my best friend in the whole world, Darren Edward. We had been engaged for three years and this gave us lots of time to think about what we really wanted to do for our celebration. In the end we decided on a Private City Hall Ceremony the day before the wedding to make things legal, another Private Ceremony on the Saturday to speak OUR words and promises, a small Party Saturday night, and a nice big Wedding Brunch on the Sunday to celebrate with all of our family and friends. The weekend flew by but it was absolutely perfect and we are SO thankful to everyone who attended and helped make it happen just the way we imagined it. I can't describe how happy I am to have taken this step with Darren and to have so many wonderful new memories with him. He has always loved me just as I am and supported my dreams no matter how difficult or time consuming they may be to achieve. I certainly would not be the full-time artist I am today without him. He makes me happier than anyone in the world could. I am truly the luckiest woman in the world. :)

See the entire album of 88 photos on Facebook -> HERE

The second opening of We Paint Live's Virtual Reality Art show took place on July 28th 2016. Toronto's Mixed Media & Portrait Artist Malinda Prud'homme was given the opportunity to not only see the beautiful works of art created by Amanda Maccagnan and Vera Malitskaya, but also to try out virtual reality painting for herself! In this video you can see her entire experience which was AMAZING! But don't be fooled, this video doesn't do it justice one bit! You'll have to look out for We Paint Live's next event and try it out for yourself! :D

Malinda Prudhomme ~
www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme
www.MalindaPrudhomme.com

We Paint Live ~
www.Facebook.com/WePaintLive
www.WePaint.Live

AHHHH! I AM ECSTATIC!!!

I could not feel more honoured to be featured in Artist Unknown's "Artifact" web series! They did a fabulous job portraying my work and expressing my message. I am by no means a public speaker and yet using their magic they were able to put this together beautifully! SO grateful! I cannot wait to hear what you all think! :D

Malinda Prud'homme
Solo Art Exhibition
Living City Health
Toronto, ON
July 7th 2016 - August 23rd 2016

Opening Reception
July 7th 2016
6pm to 7pm


It is such an honour to have my entire collection of artwork exhibited throughout the beautiful office of alternative medicine, Living City Health in North Toronto. When their marketing manager Anija first contacted me I thought the opportunity was too good to be true. A solo exhibition, receiving lots of traffic via patients, free of charge for TWO months?! That's unheard of! I am so grateful to be given this gift and I am thrilled to give all my local fans a chance to see my work in person. My artworks, although still beautiful in photographs, are very highly detailed and impressive when you look at them up close. Don't miss your chance to see them at this venue until August 23rd 2016.

A special thank you goes out to my supportive fiance Darren Edward who always accompanies me to my events no matter how busy he is (he has the patience of a saint). Big thanks also to Patrick Lemieux for stopping by the opening for a grand tour and Derek Macrae for playing beautiful guitar throughout the event! :)

Do a Collaborative Artwork with Malinda Prud'homme in this COLOURING CONTEST! You have until August 13th 2016 to complete your piece and submit it here on my page wall or to Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com! Your piece will be shared in an album on my page and will include your link if you provide one! This is a great way to show off your talents and gain some new followers. BUT this contest isn’t only for artists; it’s for EVERYONE! No matter what your skill level is you still have a chance to win a great prize! :D

PRIZE #1 ~ Personal Favourite:
Last year I held my first Colouring Contest and made it so that winners were either voted in or drawn at random. This created a bit of controversy so I am trying something different this time. A lot of artists wanted me to choose the winner based on my own opinion and at that time I didn’t feel very confident doing so. BUT this year I will be a judge for the ETA Awards leading the Technical Excellence category. I still firmly believe my opinion is not the be-and-end-all but to warm up to this task (taking place in September) I thought this would be great! For the SERIOUS artists out there (whether or not you’re full-time, part-time, or hobbyist) I’ll be choosing my personal favourite based on ...

1) Clean use of materials
2) Creativity
3) Use of Colour

The WINNER will get to choose THREE 8” x 10” Art Prints from my entire collection! They will be shipped worldwide FREE of charge! This special prize also includes a post by yours truly on my blog about the winner’s artwork/passion! I’ll promote the blog on ALL of my social media sites reaching tens of thousands of people! :)

PRIZE #2 ~ Random Draw:
I absolutely love my colouring sheet and the message of LOVE it holds. I wanted to make sure anyone of any age and any skill level would feel they could take part in the fun of this contest. Include your students/camp kids! Print some off and offer them to your clients/patients in the waiting area! Share these far and wide because there’s just something beautifully lethargic about a good ol’ colouring contest where participating is all that counts. EVERYONE who submits a colouring sheet will be included in my draw.

The WINNER will also get to choose THREE 8” x 10” Art Prints from my entire collection! They will also be shipped worldwide FREE of charge! :D

Download your full 8.5" x 11" colouring sheet!
Download the PDF: http://goo.gl/rcqK7A
Download the JPG: http://goo.gl/I0pLSG

Important Notice:
You are free to change this image as you see fit however in order for it to be considered for the prizes it will have to resemble the original design in some way. Remove lines as much as you wish but the basic idea of the composition should be the same. Also, please do not remove my copyright notice from the colouring sheet. If it gets covered during the creative process please put it back on at the end. When the piece is complete please also include your copyright notice above mine so that we are both protected and are both given proper credit for the work we have done. When/If you post a picture of your completed piece online please be sure to mention that it is a collaborative piece done with Malinda Prud’homme (links would be appreciated but not required). It wouldn’t be honourable to claim full credit for something that was not done solely by yourself. I’m sure you all agree. :)

Meaning Of The Artwork:
I have spent many days on this piece and hold it very dear to my heart. It is titled “LOVE”. I was inspired by PRIDE which was recently celebrated here in Toronto. In my eyes these two beautiful women are in a loving committed relationship .... a beautiful and calming sight. I feel very connected to this idea because, although I am engaged to an incredible man, I am pansexual. If you haven’t heard the term before it means I am attracted to people based on who they are, regardless of gender or gender identity. I don’t really care about people’s bodies, they’re all beautiful, I care about people’s souls. Darren is the most beautiful soul I have ever met which is why I love him to pieces. Needless to say I feel very connected to this theme of “Love”. I’m sure everyone here believes ALL love is good love, but I do understand that not everyone can personally relate to this type of love. If you decide you’d prefer to make these two women best friends, sisters, mother & daughter, and so on I will in no way be offended or take it as a slight towards the LGBT community. You may even depict one or both of the people as men if you wish. I titled the piece “LOVE” with big capital letters because I wanted it to encompass all possibilities of love. The type of love you depict is totally up to you! Follow your hearts my dearest supporters and spread love far and wide!

On Friday June 24th 2016 I turned 30. My life thus far has been a real mix of good and bad just like everyone else’s. :)

I had a beautiful childhood. While I didn't have the best time socially at school and my teachers were hard on me for being introverted; I had some amazing neighbourhood friends, a sister that I have many fond memories with, I had lots of fun exploring my imagination and playing outside, and I had parents who supported and loved me.

My pre-teens were the start of a rough time ahead. I didn't fit in socially and was labelled a "slut" at the age of 12 (having no sexual experience whatsoever). My teacher said I would never amount to much and that I would never be a top student. I was an odd ball but I have some great memories from that time too. That's when I really started to explore my art as a way of expressing and releasing my emotions. I got into loud music and read a lot. I had a happy home and I think that was an important key to what got me by.

I wish I could say my early teens were better but unfortunately things got worse. My reputation as a slut spread far and wide in my small town and many young men tried to take liberties with me. When I didn't go along with it I was socially tortured. I quite honestly hated the world. My daily motto was, "life's a bitch and then you die". I became a punk/goth/grunge whatever you wanna call it .... I was dark and stormy inside and out. My peers and some of my teachers took pleasure in bombarding me with their most creative insults. I’ll always remember them calling me a “cat eating dyke”. The abuse got physical when few people were around but luckily it wasn’t anything I couldn’t push past. I escaped through my fantasy novels and released my rage and sadness with my music. But some positive came of those years too ... even though I'd been out of school for two months due to illness I still received 80s in ALL of my academic level courses. I was determined to prove my middle school teacher (and now many of my high school teachers) wrong.

In my late teens things started to improve. I changed schools and with time I even had some really kind and inspiring friends. I'd changed to an art school and I was delving into my artistic abilities more and more. Also, I not only maintained my high grades but improved them and was among the top of my class. Not to mention I was taking courses meant for students older than me. On top of all of that, I met a boy who loved me and was my best friend. These years I will cherish forever.
Then came my early University years ... which weren't great. My new found friends longed for bigger cities and new horizons (like I did). They left, I didn't. I went to the local University and again had trouble socially. The two boyfriends I had during this time did some major damage to my self-esteem; being cheated on and being constantly told I was not enough. A man I thought I loved once told me I needed to loose weight while I was being intimate with him. What a winner that guy was. I was young, foolish, and insecure. I continued to do well in school but University was much more challenging, and with two part time jobs, there was no longer any time for art or reading for pleasure. These years were tough.

My later University years are a mixed bag but I feel the good outweighs the bad. I'd decided to volunteer in Ecuador for a month and this had a huge impact on my life. I decided to end my relationship, to gain back my confidence, give up materialism, and find the right man for me. I wasn't looking for the most handsome man (although the one I found was very handsome), or the most exciting challenge; I was looking for someone who shared my interests and wanted the same things in life. It didn't take long before I found him (Darren Edward). What a blessing that was because I'd soon be hitting some turbulence. I was diagnosed with a small brain tumor. There were worrisome options but in the end I decided to live with it. At the time I was very sick and my professors, knowing the situation, understood if I was late, if I missed classes, if I had to go to the hospital, or if I had to leave to go to emerge ... but I suspect my peers couldn't see past the seemingly unfair treatment and (without asking me what was up) they'd begun to shun me. But things would soon look up! One of my most supportive professors suggested I go back to University (I'd already been there for a 5 year - two degree honours program) to get my Visual Arts teaching qualification. This advice also changed my life. I went to a new University, excelled beyond my wildest imaginings, continued to thrive in my relationship, and made many like-minded friends.

My first years in Toronto were pretty amazing! I had a good job working for Mitchell Sandham Insurance Brokers as the receptionist. I will always be grateful for that job since it got me here to Toronto, my beloved home. I loved working there and truly felt like the staff were a part of my family. I eventually left to teach at a private school. I absolutely LOVED my students and had so much fun teaching them. At this time I'd been struggling with body shame for a few years. Due to my medical problems and a bit of lifestyle change I had gained over 40 pounds. I hated my body. I felt like I wasn't good enough to feel beautiful. I tried so many things .... my weight went up and down ... but one thing didn't change. I hated myself EVERY. DAMN. DAY. When I began teaching and hearing my young female students talk about themselves in such a negative way I was shocked and determined to change myself first so I could inspire change in others. This led me down my path of truly loving myself and being able to see TRUE BEAUTY outside the limits and rules of our society.

This thought fueled me especially in my art career which was at this time part-time while teaching. Soon enough though my portraiture was gaining recognition and custom requests began to come in more steadily. I made the jump into a full time career and never looked back. This is where life really impressed me. I looked back at that poor teen I used to be ... the one who thought life was shit ... and felt so glad that I was never tempted to resort to suicide like so many other teens have. Because life changes in the biggest and most beautiful ways. I've traveled to some of the most beautiful places in the world. I've become a successful full time artist working in one of the biggest and most popular cities in the world. More importantly I've found a person who I love more than anything. He's my best friend and the first and only person to love me truly for the cuckoo person I actually am.

But hey, life's not perfect! I got really sick for a while and it took years to find out I have some sort of rare auto-immune disease. An auto-immune disease and a brain tumor ... I felt like life just wasn’t fair. Some days were and still are hell. But I've come to accept that life isn't "all good, all the time" for anyone. We ALL have ups and downs, big things or small things, it's all relative to the individual. I think it's plain to see that I definitely have some negative shit I could think of and focus on and battle with in my mind every day if I wanted to. I have just as much right to the ol' "woe is me" mentality as anyone does but I don't let myself go there. I fight it. Sometimes it's a tough fight and I'll admit sometime I loose. But I do everything I can to focus on all the GOOD because it's also plain to see that I've been blessed too. Life throws a variety of things at all of us; it's the way we handle them and think of them that matters.

On my 30th Birthday I looked back on all of it and thought about how connected all of my "bad" things were to my "good" things. How if certain bad things didn't happen the good things may not have followed. SO in the end I'm thankful for ALL of my life and wouldn't change a thing. Everything led up to the incredible life I have now and the person I have become. I could not be more grateful. <3

"Family Is A Beautiful Thing"
June 2016
Acrylic & Oil Paint on Canvas
8" x 10" / each
COMMISSION


I am absolutely thrilled to share my newest commissioned project "Family Is A Beautiful Thing" with all of you! When Brian first contacted me to paint a family portrait for his wife I was incredibly honoured. He told me how much they both admire my work and how impressed his beautiful wife Deb is every time I post a new completed commissioned piece. This only further fueled my excitement for the project. In the end we decided on five individual 8" x 10" portraits with soft metallic washed backgrounds. I can't explain how fulfilling it was to finish each piece. The entire process took well over two months so I was quite pleased while putting the finishing touches on the last portrait of their son Sean. I recently heard from the happy couple and it seems Deb really loved her surprise! It is so nice to know that five of my artworks will be bringing this family joy for years to come.

Malinda Prud'homme
Solo Art Exhibition
The Kingston Social
Scarborough, ON
June 1st - 27th 2016

Opening Reception
June 3rd 2016
7pm to 10pm



On Friday June 3rd 2016 I opened my Solo Art Exhibition at The Kingston Social in East Toronto/Scarborough. There is absolutely nothing like seeing a gallery filled with my artwork. The night was truly magical thanks to those who came to show their support. A big THANK YOU to Val Peter of Artist Unknown for some of the beautiful photos included in this post as well as the "Artifact" feature coming soon! Filming was a tad nerve racking but also very exciting. I cannot wait to see the final result! On top of this coverage, a couple of beautiful ladies came all the way from Peterborough I believe (how cool is that?). Also two very talented artist friends of mine Alexandria Karakis and Amanda Maccagnan came to show their support. And lastly, the owners of the gallery invited some really lovely friends who were all incredibly kind and supportive. I am so grateful to everyone for making it a night to remember! If you missed the opening stop by the gallery until June 27th 2016! :)

Custom Half Sleeve Tattoo Design
COMMISSION
May 2016
Pen and Pencil on Stonehenge Paper
10" x 13"


Last year an old friend from primary school and secondary school contacted me to create a personal half sleeve tattoo design. He'd been supporting me online for years and wanted me to put together all of his ideas. I was so honoured that he'd want my creation on his body for life ... what's an intense thought! He had an existing tattoo on his arm honouring a friend so I had to incorporate that into the design along with a family motto and a compass. In order to tie everything together I used a background texture he mentioned he liked and included two of his favourite quotes. In the center, also tying all of the personal elements together, is a map of the Netherlands and two sets of numbers. The clients ancestry is partially from that part of the world and the numbers have personal relevance as well. We discussed the project on and off for over a year and after two basic sketches this final design was created using black pen and pencil. I am thrilled with the results and so is my friend! I cannot wait to see what it looks like on his skin! :)

Everything happens for a reason ...

Though I'm definitely feeling better than I was last summer I knew I wouldn't have the energy needed for my usual Outdoor Exhibition schedule. That plus an abundance of commissions and a September wedding to plan meant it absolutely would not happen this summer. I was a bit bummed. It's a ton of work doing outdoor shows but it's so nice to hear people speak about my work in person. Submission deadline after submission deadline passed. I would briefly consider
them and eventually realize, nope, not gonna happen.

But it was all meant to be! Over the past week I've been contacted by multiple different venues offering me FREE Solo Shows in their establishments. So on top of my 2nd Solo Gallery Exhibition (Gallery 50 - November 2016) and my 3rd Solo Gallery Exhibition (Ben Navaee Gallery - March 2017), my ENTIRE SUMMER is booked with two Solo Shows; one at The Kingston Social (ALL OF JUNE) and the other at Living City Health (ALL OF JULY & AUGUST)! I am so excited to fill these awesome venues with my artwork!

Here's the dates to mark down in your calendars ...

1) Solo Exhibition @ The Kingston Social
June 1st - 27th 2016
OPENING Reception - Most Likely Friday June 3rd 2016

2) Solo Exhibition @ Living City Health
July 1st - August 26th 2016
OPENING Reception - July 7th 2016

3) SOLO Gallery Exhibition @ Gallery 50
November 16th - 20th 2016
OPENING Reception - Saturday November 19th 2016

4) SOLO Gallery Exhibition @ Ben Navaee Gallery
March 17th - 23rd 2017
OPENING Reception - Saturday March 18th 2017

REversion Exhibition
Super Wonder Gallery
Portrait & Figurative Show
April 28th to May 2nd 2016
Opening Reception April 29th 2016


I absolutely LOVE the REversion exhibitions at Super Wonder Gallery curated by the very talented Daniel Anaka. The large gallery is a great venue for such an incredible collection of talented portrait and figurative artists. This was my second time taking part and I could not wait to see the inevitable collection of fabulous artworks in person. The Friday night Opening Reception was such a blast and the work was so impressive, just spectacular! To top off an amazing exhibition, on the last day my "Golden Indian Bride" sold. Though I have to wait five weeks for the payment to come in I am over-the-moon thrilled to have sold my most expensive piece yet. This piece was truly one my all-time favourite paintings I've created to date so I am ecstatic that someone would love her as much as I do. I cannot wait to take part in another exhibition at the Super Wonder Gallery.

ART SHOWDOWN
1 hour Painting Battle
April 16th 2016
& Company Resto Bar
Mississauga, ON


This past Saturday April 16th 2016 I competed in &Company Resto Bar's ART SHOWDOWN! I didn't end up placing but I am very pleased with the results of this piece. Strangely I felt like I had so much time to spare! I got my eyelashes in precisely and put tons of detail in the eye colour. I even had time to include purple and green pen in the eyes! What a blast! I received lots of kind compliments and felt really good about the whole experience. This piece along with my two practice runs will be available to purchase at very low prices! Stay tuned to my blog! :)

$150 CAD
BUY

"Pushing Past Familiar Sights"
April 2016
Acrylic Paint, Pencil
and Pen on Canvas
20" x 24"

On April 16th 2016 I took part in a 1 hour speed painting ART SHOWDOWN at &Company Resto Bar in Mississauga. I did two practice runs throughout the week so I had an idea of what I wanted to do. I decided to do the painting on an angle so that it could be hung square or askew. I didn't place but I am very pleased with the results of this piece. Strangely I felt like I had so much time to spare! I got my eyelashes in precisely and put tons of detail in the eye colour. I even had time to include purple and green pen in the eyes! What a blast! I received lots of kind compliments and felt really good about the whole experience. :)

$100 CAD
BUY

"Seeing A Challenge And Facing It"
April 2016
Acrylic Paint, Pencil
and Pen on Canvas
16" x 20"

I did a couple of live 1 hr speed paintings in preparation for April 16th 2016's ART SHOWDOWN! This was my first attempt and I'm quite pleased with it. I decided to call it "Seeing A Challenge And Facing It". My work generally takes days, weeks, even months at times, so to create a piece in only 1 hour was quite the challenge. Not to mention, at the last minute we were told we would no longer be allowed to use references which I usually work from to create my pieces. The project was daunting but sometimes challenges can teach you something if you face them with confidence. I did just that and learned that I could create a stunning eye off the top of my head and in such a short time. I hope you like it!

$100 CAD
BUY

"Seeing A Challenge And Embracing It"
April 2016
Acrylic Paint, Pencil
and Pen on Canvas
12" x 16"

In preparation for April 16th 2016's ART SHOWDOWN I did a couple of live 1 hr speed paintings. My first attempt went surprisingly well so I was feeling excited to create the 2nd attempt. I decided to call this piece "Seeing A Challenge And Embracing It" because I was feeling more confident this time around. I love the soft flesh tones and interesting angle of the eye.

"A Celebration Of Love"
March 09 2016
Oil Paint on Canvas
11" x 14"
COMMISSION


This artwork has so much meaning to me. Here's the story ...

~ I had wanted to be a Teacher since I was 12 years old. I worked my butt off all throughout Secondary School and University, doing an extra year of courses, completing extra qualifications, and even traveling to Ecuador to volunteer. When it came time to get the job I'd worked so hard for it turned out there were none available. Greedy Universities were flooding the teaching market with new teachers to the point where I couldn't even find a volunteer position. How insane is that? I was devastated. Thankfully I'd started my Art Career part time and was seeing some success. I had never allowed myself to put much hope into a full-time Art career because for some reason it just never seemed like a realistic option. But hey! My realistic option certainly didn't pan out so, thanks to the support of my selfless and loving fiance, I decided to leave my dream of being a teacher in the past (and the broken heart that came with it) and fully immerse myself into my TRUE dream.

~ It took some folks a while to get on board. I don't think many of my friends took me very seriously. But I think out of everyone it was hardest for my Grandparents to accept. Living in Toronto meant I didn't see them very often, and maybe because of that they didn't quite see how serious I was about my new path, but every time I'd see them they always asked about teaching and how sad it was that I wasn't a teacher. But as the years went on and I became more and more successful I think it became clear to them that Teaching was no longer on my radar and that despite the odds all artists face I was making a living doing something I was very good at and that I loved. Having this experience made this commission extra special to me. My Mémère and Pépère contacted me last year in order to commission this 11" x 14" wedding portrait of my Matante Fran and Duane as a gift for their 10 yr anniversary. It felt really amazing knowing that they not only trusted me with such a special item but also that they wanted to support my new career path. It really meant a lot to me.

~ Creating this custom portrait was also very special because, like I said, it portrays my Matante Fran and Duane on their wedding day. When my Matante Fran received her official wedding photos after the big day she was very disappointed. They didn't have the professional look since the photographer hadn't used any backdrops or lighting. Can you imagine how devastating that would be? Not having a nice picture of the most special day of your life? This always made me so sad so it was very exciting creating something beautiful for her. Something they could proudly hang on their wall to commemorate that amazing day. It was such a challenge. I was working from the aforementioned not-great photos and on a very small scale. I swore to myself I would never do anything like it again! Haha! But in the end it looks stunning and I was very proud to hand it off to my grandparents here in this photo.

~ Also, as many of you know my Papa Gilles Prud'homme Master Carver is a professional artist part time (along with a full time job as an Electrician at one of Sudbury's local mines) and was a big artistic influence for me throughout my life. He still inspires me with his incredible skill for detail and his belief in me that I can achieve my dream of making a comfortable living as an artist. But what some of you may not know is that my Pépère was also a part time Carver! A talent for the arts really does run in my blood. So you can imagine my Pépère has been an inspiration to me as well. On top of being an amazing artist I have also looked up to him in other ways. I love this man very deeply. He is so soft and kindhearted. And, like me, he LOVES to laugh! I have so many happy memories of him taking us fishing, teaching me to play pool, but most of my memories are of him laughing. He’s got the best laugh! Haha! It was cool making this piece for him and hearing that he was impressed with it. I just love that he passed down his knack for capturing realism through the generations to me. Such an amazing thought!

~ Lastly, I love my Grandparents very much and it was really nice to have this moment with them. I don't get to see them very often and we don't often take nice pictures together because both my Mémère and Pépère dislike taking pictures and are shy about smiling in them. It's always a struggle let me tell ya! Haha! But I really do think this photo turned out beautifully and I'm definitely going to cherish it.

Face & Figure Exhibition
Ben Navaee Gallery
Toronto, ON
April 1st to 7th 2016
Opening Reception - April 1st 2016


I was absolutely thrilled to exhibit my work in Ben Navaee Gallery once again! Some of you may know that I was offered my First Solo Exhibition at Ben Navaee and it went off without a hitch! So naturally I couldn't wait to get my work in there again. When Ben contacted me about the theme of this show I knew it was PERFECT for my work. The Opening Reception of the exhibition actually took place on my fiance Darren Edward's 30th Birthday! Arriving a little late to the gallery, I was overwhelmed by a lovely group of people who really enjoyed my work and had lots of questions to ask. It felt incredible seeing how much interest these folks had for my work and how impressed they were with my style. On top of that, I finally feel like I really know my artwork, my message, and my techniques down-pat so talking about them, even when I'm very shy, has become so much easier. It was truly a night to remember and I cannot wait to have my work up at Ben Navaee Gallery again. :)

"Inspiring Freedom"
March 2016
Acrylic Paint on Canvas
18" x 24"
COMMISSION


I got a surprise commission the other day to do an abstract. I mean a pure abstract focusing mostly on texture. It's been SO many years since I've done something like this and my goodness it is such a nice change of pace. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my work to death. When I make my work I feel skilled, organized, planned, and when it comes down to it; I feel like I'm totally in control. That doesn't appeal to everyone and I get why, it can be exhausting, but I just thrive off of that. However, it's really nice to have a canvas in front of me and not feel entirely restricted by rules and plans. I still have a plan in my head but it's not rigid. I can splash and scrape and smudge and slap ... it's just so freeing!

I am happy to say that I was able to deliver this piece in person while visiting Sudbury last week. The new owners have been so supportive of my dreams and this is actually the third piece in their Malinda Prud'homme Art Collection! They love the piece and it was so nice to see them and catch up a bit. An all around amazing experience. :)

"See With Your Soul"
February 2016
Mixed Media on Canvas
Watercolour, Coloured Pencils,
Acrylic Paint & Gems
8" x 10"


Original Artwork:
BUY

8" x 10" Print:
BUY

Larger Prints:
BUY

VIDA Tank Top:
BUY


For the past few years I've been so busy with the business side of my art career that I had stopped making pieces based on instinct and bouts of inspiration. I focused my energy on commissions, practice pieces, contest prizes, and pieces made specially for exhibitions. I can't begin to tell you how many ideas popped into my head over the years but instead of starting them I would add them to a list; "Pieces I Want to Do". I think as the years passed and the list got longer and longer I began to feel a bit disconnected from my work. I longed to make work from my soul but I couldn't find the time. Finally I've decided I MUST make time because an artist can't sit on passionate messages, they have to get them out. Moments after having this realization I was struck with a thought that often comes to me.

How much better would the world be if we were all accustomed to questioning the things that are presented to us? What if we all questioned ourselves, our thoughts, our morals, and our beliefs? This thought is based on my personal journey of deciding to question our world and my thoughts about myself and people in general. It was this internal investigation (one that will go on for the rest of my life) that has allowed me to challenge a lot of societal norms and personal beliefs that were causing me harm. I have changed drastically in the past eight years and it is all because of internal thought and what I call "evolving my soul". One of the biggest ideas I challenged was the concept that people can be compared as equals; that one person can understand another person. Despite what the media tells us, we can never be like anyone else, ever. It doesn't matter if you're an identical twin being raised in the same household. You are a unique person because no one has lived your life completely and no one truly knows all of the thoughts and feelings that have gone through your mind. From this came my belief that it is our uniqueness that makes us beautiful and extraordinary. This then led to never comparing myself to anyone else because we are all on a unique journey. Once that thought sinks in it is much easier to stop judging, to be kinder, to take joy out of other peoples joy and successes, and to know that we can grow and change for the rest of our lives. This concept of communicating with my inner self, my soul, is represented in this piece by the golden eye. It alludes to the idea that if we see the world and ourselves through our soul we will inevitably understand ourselves and others better which can only lead to change and happiness. The idea of inner reflection is sometimes a scary thing. Learning that we don't like certain things about ourselves or admitting that we've been wrong can be very hard. But getting passed those hurdles, realizing there is no shame in admitting you're not perfect, can open you up to a world of understanding and a sense of peace. No matter how many or how few people you have in your life, you will ALWAYS be in the company of yourself so why not make yourself the best and most content person you can be. :)

"Mehndi Indian Bride"
February 2016
Acrylic Paint, Oil Paint, Mica,
Pearls, and Gems on Canvas
24" x 24"
COMMISSION


This piece and I have had quite the journey! I remember when my client from Hong Kong first commissioned me to create this painting last February 2015, just over a year ago, I was over-the-moon excited. The piece captures the natural beauty of my client's wife on her wedding day using layers of acrylic paint, washes of oils, and 3D features such as gold pieces, pearls, and gems. There were some fantastic challenges that I knew I'd need to overcome such as the sheer look of the veil, the mehndi on her hand, and the multitude of fine adhered gems, pearls, and metallic pieces. I'm happy to say the results of these challenges have come out better than I imagined! Another challenge was getting the facial features highly realistic, and an exact likeness to my client's beautiful wife, at this unique angle and when the reference image contained many shadows. In the end her true beauty shines through the smooth luminescent washes of oil paint. All of those challenges were inspiring! I figured I could complete it by the original due date in the Summer of 2015 but it wasn't meant to be. A challenge I couldn't predict was that my health would take a bad turn. Though I tried to work on her little by little, the deadline was forced way back. This was the first time in my life that I'd been this tardy with a project or deadline. I was one of those "goody two-shoes" in school that always had homework done on time and to the best of my ability. And that was school, something forced on me that wasn't always fun; when it comes to my art career I'm even more eager and serious about my professionalism and meeting deadlines. It quite literally broke my heart not being able to complete my work. It was a tough year but I won't dwell on it; when I think back I'll remember how I battled through it and spent what time I could on creating this breathtaking portrait! I can never thank my patron enough for his patience. I hope that the piece will bring his lovely wife lots of joy and that the two of them will enjoy the painting for years to come.

Art Maze Exhibition
By Exhibit Here
At the Historic
Oxo Tower Wharf
Bargehouse Gallery
London, England
Dec 16th - Dec 20th 2015
Private Viewing: Dec 16th 2015


I am so very blessed to have had this incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. In December 2015 I created a special series "Bejeweled Beauties" inspired by UK based women specially for the "Art Maze" Exhibition being curated by Exhibit Here and displayed in the historic Oxo Tower Wharf in London, England. I'd shown my work in London twice before but this time would be extra special. On December 13th I flew 8.5 hours from Toronto to London to set up and see this exhibition in person. As a humble full-time artist the cost of the trip was quite the challenge but thanks to some space on my loan, my incredibly supportive husband to be, and my supportive fans who purchased my 2016 Art Calendars, I was able to make this dream a reality. :)

Some of my fans may already know that I'm an avid traveler but what they may not know is that I am constantly cursed with travel nightmares. In my dreams I loose my luggage, I miss my plane, a ship I'm on is sinking, my belongings are thrown into deep water, a tall building I'm in starts to fall over ... and on and on. Why do I have these dreams? Your guess is as good as mine. Although I suspect some of it is due to flights having lost my luggage TWICE while travelling alone. Because of all this I never travel with luggage. Never. I fit everything I'll need, in this case for almost three weeks, into a school bag (back-pack). I'm not a typical girl that needs a ton of fashionable outfits, a set of makeup, a hair straightener, and whatever else many women feel is the requirement. I survive on a couple of comfy outfits which I wash in hotel sinks as I travel, some mascara and blush, a brush with hair ties and clips, and I purchase some necklaces as souvenirs as I go along which I love to wear while I'm still traveling. So generally packing light wouldn't be a problem ... but this time I also had to bring my artworks. Storing them in luggage was too risky! I couldn't invest so much into this trip only to have the flight loose my artworks. So I planned to make small 8" x 10"'s on paper and frame them once I arrived in London. The plan seemed like a good one until I arrived in London on Monday Dec 14 and had a real heck of a time finding a store that offered frames. In the end I did find a store that specialized in frames but was quickly informed that 8" x 10" wasn't a usual size in the UK. Thankfully they did have 4 available in two different styles so all worked out in the end.

The day after was quite the challenge as we were required to set up our artwork ourselves at the Bargehouse Gallery. Thank goodness the curator, Leila Bibizadeh, had her father there to help me because drilling holes into brick walls is something I simply physically could not do. I am so very grateful for his help. I also had the help of a new friend Katrina Steinman (who is also one of my "Bejeweled Beauties") and after set up was complete we went out and had a lovely dinner. :)

The Private Viewing on Dec 16 was a two hour long whirlwind! I had the pleasure of meeting of all my "Bejeweled Beauties" in person as well as their family and friends. I also had a brief chance to meet some of my fellow artists which I'd come to know through social media. I cannot express just how grateful I am to everyone who showed me support that night. It truly was a night I will never forget. My only regret is that I didn't have enough time to chat and get to know everyone. But you never know! I may get another chance to make my way overseas in the future.

"Bejeweled Beauties"
December 2015
Mixed Media And Gems
On Mixed Media Paper
8" x 10" / each
$425 CAD / each
£250 GBP / each


Back in the Fall of 2015 I was invited to take part in a special exhibition "Art Maze" being held at the historic Oxo Tower Wharf in London, England. I had exhibited in London twice before but this time would be very different. The curator Exhibit Here required all Artists to be present in order to install their work in the gallery. After seeing pictures of the unique venue I KNEW I had to make it to this one in person. With my passport quickly renewed and some money freed up on my loan I was soon purchasing flight tickets for a trip of a lifetime! Seeing as the trip was going to be rather costly for a humble full time artist I knew I had to take full advantage of the experience and create a series specially for this show. I put out a call for UK based beauties, seeing as the exhibit would be in London it seemed right to celebrate the women living in that country, and I was surprised to receive many submissions. Originally I only planned to create six new pieces but these eight women really inspired me so I took on much more than I could chew. Luckily with early mornings, long nights, and full work weekends I was able to finish the series just in the nick of time, the day before my flight to London!

Watch the video of the Exhibition HERE!

Using watercolour paint, pastels, pencil, acrylic paint, and real acrylic gems and gold/pearl mica, I hoped to celebrate each unique women's beauty by staying true to their facial features while at the same time giving each women the opportunity to feel incredibly glamorous! We are so often bombarded with glorious images of stars, models, and royalty but are rarely given the chance to feel like we're among them. I wanted these women to feel like stars, to feel like royalty, for at least one night during the Private Viewing or whenever they look at the portrait. Because in my eyes they are all just as beautiful and glorious and the women we see in the media.

"Boomer"
December 2015
Acrylic and Oil Paint on Canvas
11" x 14"
COMMISSION


Creating this piece and seeing how it affected the owner really brought back to me just how important artwork can be. Sadly, Boomer had to leave his loving parents P.J. and Jaime not very long ago. As a Christmas gift Jaime wanted to surprise P.J. with this portrait of his beloved pup where he was most happy, at camp. The whole time I was creating this piece my heart strings were being pulled because I too am a pet parent and I cannot imagine the devastation I would feel if Maverick had to leave us. But I also knew that a painting like this could help keep him in their daily lives forever. Jaime was sweet enough to forward me a personal video of P.J. opening his present and I can only say that his reaction proved to me that THIS is what art is for. THIS is what my skills are meant to do. To celebrate a soul (whether or not that's a furry soul doesn't matter). I am so glad P.J. and Jaime see their Boomer in this piece and that it will bring them joy. I am incredibly proud of the way it turned out and spent far longer on it than I had anticipated. Every detail was put in with love and care and I hope that shows. Feel free to continue scrolling to see close ups of this gorgeous painting. :)

November Art Salon
Gallery 1313
Queen West Toronto
November 26th - December 6th 2015


Tonight is the Opening Reception of the November Art Salon 2015 at Gallery 1313 on Queen West in Toronto! It was such a pleasure seeing my work amongst so many incredible and diverse pieces of art. Not to mention it has been a dream of mine since moving here in 2010 to see my work up in this gallery. An incredible night! I'm so very blessed. :D

Let me start by saying I live in my own little bubble. I do, I truly do. My Art Studio is in my home so I don't often have to converse with people who live by society's rules and standards. When I do socialize the people I hold close to me don't conform either. I go for walks and I look at the people, the architecture, and the nature. I try my best never to look at ads and when I watch TV I fast forward the commercials. I don't buy it. The messages they're trying to push, that I'm not good enough, that I don't have enough, are wasted on me. But when I do encounter something harmful I can't help but think of the women (and men) who feel pressured by these messages. While visiting many doctors offices and medical testing offices I have seen MANY of these types of magazines in the waiting area. Last week I came across the one featuring Kaley Cuoco (on the left) and I just couldn't help but shake my head in frustration.

First of all, how are magazines like this helpful to people who are suffering with medical problems? Really?! The LAST thing women with health issues need to be thinking of is how big their belly is or how their arms aren't "sleek". Not to mention that apparently they should be having lots and lots of sex. It's ridiculous. I find it absolutely shocking that in places of supposed well-being these are the messages that are being provided to women who are suffering both in body and mind (because let me tell you from experience, once you've been physical ill for some time your mind eventually follows). I've conversed with other women who are ill and was surprised to hear them say that when they get better they still have so-and-so many pounds to loose. I'm at a loss for words because it seems so ludicrous. Health and happiness should be the ONLY goal for these women. But how can they escape these poisonous thoughts when magazines like this are staring them in the face at every medical appointment they go to? Be strong ladies, we must be strong.

The message that jumped out at me first (probably due to the big bold lettering) is "Shrink Your Belly!". I thought as a society we were moving away from this nonsense! Shrink your belly? Really!? No woman should worry about the size of her belly. Health ... worry about health! Leave the size of things up to your natural and unique genetic makeup. I think it's rather sick (and I use that word literally) to focus on flat thin bellies at all times. Some women will NEVER have thin flat bellies no matter how hard they try. Some people aren't believing me right now but it's true. I've been very small in my lifetime but not ever did I have a perfectly flat tummy. Never. I have always had a small little bubble in my lower stomach which I used to despise and now I LOVE! It's such a gorgeous piece of my body. And what about women who have had children. Sure, some can "shrink" back down and have their pre-existing flat tummy once again, but for many that isn't the case. Muscles go through a lot when carrying a child and quite often things don't just go back to where they were. Should those women feel inadequate and unattractive? No, they are gorgeous! Their bellies are beautiful and show the miracle of growing life within them. Stunning, gorgeous, magical. And yet, we still live in a world where these women are shamed. Hiding their bellies at the beach and cursing their stretch marks. It's sad but only we can change the trend by showing we don't subscribe to their "rules" for beauty. ALL bellies are beautiful.

I also find it outrageous that the headlining message from the June Edition (Kaley Cuoco is October) is pretty much the same. It's as if they thought, "Well it's summer. Time to make them feel like shit about their bodies" .... "Well, it's been a few months, better remind them how ugly and inadequate they are". What gives? Is there really nothing better for women to read about. Is there nothing more helpful for their "Shape". How is it still all about being thin? Notice how both issues also want women to have "Lean Legs", Toned Abs", "Sleek Arms", and "Firm Perky Butts"? Really?! Who out there loves their luscious thighs as much as I love mine? How about soft arms? Yup, I love mine too. Perky butt? My goodness, no thank you! It's not that those things aren't beautiful, they just aren't me. And I refuse to feel like less of women, less attractive, because I don't fit into society's mould of what beauty is. YOU don't need these things to be beautiful. You don't! You also don't need these things to be healthy! It makes me truly sad to think that some women might read this and think, "Oh ya, my butt is awful and my arms are so fat and ugly and ...." on and on and on with the negative thoughts about their body. Because that's what this magazine is hoping for. They want you to feel awful about yourself so you buy a copy and browse through the mostly ads and then feel pressured to buy some of those items, and then buy more and more and more. This is how our current society works and it makes me sick. Don't fall into the trap, please I beg you. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Worry about health and not about looking like ANY OTHER WOMAN. Be you. Be happy. Be healthy.

Speaking of health, I know some of you might be thinking, "Oh but it's unhealthy to be overweight"! To you I say, "You know what's unhealthy? Constantly berating yourself over what you ate. Criticizing your body. Comparing yourself to others. Counting calories and focusing on a number on the scale or measuring tape. THAT's unhealthy!". People are constantly thinking of the body and only the body when it comes to health. Our minds are INCREDIBLY important to our overall health. So much so that your thoughts can actually make you physically sick. Imagine how much damage you're doing to yourself when you are constantly hating on yourself. Don't. Don't hate yourself over what society (a money making machine) is telling you. Please don't. HEALTH comes in all different shapes and sizes. YES, you can be "overweight" and healthy. Eat well, exercise, go outside, smile and laugh! If you do these things you're on a healthy track! I don't want people to think I'm condemning those who make changes in their life in order to get healthy. Far from it. But please don't loose weight so you can have a small stomach or a tight bum. Don't do it to be sexy or beautiful. Do it for longevity, do it to feel good; because you're already beautiful!

The world we live in wants us to think that we are never enough. That in order to be worthy, in order to be beautiful, we MUST be thin. This is so false. Whatever you are now, whatever you have been, and whatever you will be; you are ALWAYS beautiful. It's your unique features, character, life experiences, and heart that make you beautiful in a way that only you can be. Whether you feel broken or on the rise, you are beautiful just as you are. You don't need to be thin, you don't need to be a certain colour, you don't need to have expensive things, or wear makeup, or sport the most fashionable hairstyle. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL just as you are! I mean it. Becoming a bit of a recluse has allowed me to take our society's blinders off, if you will. Once you've done that, once the brainwashed messages are removed, you will see just how beautiful you are and just how beautiful EVERYONE is. Kaley Cuoco and Jessica Alba (on the covers above) are gorgeous! No doubt about it. But so are you. There is only one you. You're special. Never forget it.

"Jasmin"
November 2015
Acrylic and Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION

When I first began creating this adorable portrait of little "Jasmin" I was concerned that the blurry and shadowy reference image would hinder the overall look of the piece but quickly discovered that would not be the case. In the end I LOVE the results and am very fond of the crisp bold lines making this sweet baby "pop" out of the background. Not to mention her cute expression will certainly melt hearts. I hope her parents will cherish this piece for many years to come. :)

"Lucy"
November 2015
Acrylic and Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION

This adorable portrait of little Lucy was such a pleasure to create despite the challenges of working with a somewhat blurry reference image. I definitely feel her smile and character shine in this painting and I hope it will bring joy to her family for many years to come. :)

“Rowan And Karan”
November 2015
Oil Paint on Canvas
9″ x 12″
COMMISSION

I’m thrilled with the results of my adorable commissioned portrait “Rowan And Karan” which clearly expresses the love between these two brothers. I hope that this piece will make their family smile for generations to come.

"Why The @#&! Do You Paint?"
Gladstone Hotel
Second Floor Gallery
Opening Reception October 22 2015
SHOW RUNS UNTIL DEC 7th 2015
12pm to 5pm DAILY!


One of my artistic dreams came true last night! When I moved to Toronto in 2010 I quickly discovered that the Gladstone Hotel was one of the most happening places for arts and culture in my area (the Art & Design District). I attended concerts, exhibits, and Art Battles there and every time I would think to myself "wouldn't it be amazing if my work was shown here some day?" At this time I was doing art very part time and the thought was almost comical. I'd have to prove both my skill and my presence as an artist in this HUGE city. How many are lucky enough to achieve that? Five years have passed and I can truly say I have! Two years after being part time in Toronto I took the leap into a full-time career and have watched my practice blossom rapidly ever since. When I saw the call for a painting exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel I figured, why not apply?! I was absolutely ecstatic when I received my acceptance letter! My dream was coming true!

Last night, October 22 2015, I attended the Opening Reception for the "Why The @#&! Do You Paint?" exhibition and it was AMAZING seeing my work up on those walls next to many other works by talented artists! With this goal on my list checked off, who knows what's next!

Continue scrolling to see photos from the evening! :)

2015 Emerging Toronto Artists Awards
Palais Royale
October 20th 2015

3rd Place Winner for Technical Excellence!


October 20th 2015 was an exciting evening for many of Toronto's best Emerging Artists! The Second Annual ETA Awards (Emerging Toronto Artists) were held in the beautiful historic Palais Royale and this year the theme was La Belle Epoque! The talent showcased during the event was absolutely spectacular and everyone had a wonderful time.

I was thrilled to take part this year as a featured artist having won 1st place Technical Excellence last year in 2014. I was absolutely over-the-moon excited to win the 3rd place Technical Excellence award this year and though this is my last year competing I hope to join the event next year as a judge.

Continue scrolling for more photos of the event or watch the video below ...

Join The Facebook Event
HERE


Your attendance to the ETA Awards is really important to me this year! Thanks to your online voting I am up for the BIG Top Emerging Toronto Artist Award!!! The award will be based on the online voting (Thank you), TEXT2VOTE at the event (I NEED YOU THERE), and the judges marks! This will be my last year taking part in the ETA's so it is MY LAST CHANCE to win this prestigious award! If you can make it out, PLEASE DO! :)

On top of being in the running for the Top Emerging Toronto Artist Award it was also announced this morning that I have been nominated by the judges to be in the running for the Technical Excellence award! I was extremely fortunate to win the first place prize in this category last year, and since I feel this is where my work really shines, it would just be AMAZING to win it again. :)

Making it out to the live event will not only give you the chance to support me but you'll also have the pleasure of seeing 70+ incredibly talented artists and their work as well as live performances! I sincerely hope to see you there! :D

Access the Facebook Album
HERE
And start commenting!


For the first time EVER I've decided to make a calendar filled with my beautiful artwork! When I set out to choose which art pieces I would include it was just too hard! I'm hoping you'll help me choose your top 12 favourites to include this year! Those who don't get chosen this year may make the cut next year. Please be sure to share the album with your friends and ask them to take part in the fun! Not only will it help me choose but it may also help me sell more calendars! Win/Win! The calendars will be $25 + Shipping! If you'd like one please contact me for purchase details. Message me on Facebook or e-mail me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com! Thank you so much for your help and I hope you enjoy browsing my favourite works of art! :D

"REversion"
Figurative & Portrait Art Exhibition
Super Wonder Gallery
October 9th - 14th 2015
Opening Receptions
Friday Oct 9th 8pm-2pm
Saturday Oct 10th 8pm-2pm



Last night I enjoyed an AWESOME first Opening Reception for "REversion" a Figurative and Portrait Art Exhibition taking place at Super Wonder Gallery in Toronto! It's probably quite obvious that my favourite genre of art is Portraiture. Being in a HUGE gallery filled with beautiful and impressive portraits was literally amazing! It was so wonderful to see how each artist stood out with their unique style even though we all capture the same genre. Seeing my work up among the greatest talents in this city and within my field was very inspiring. It opened my eyes to the fact that I truly have developed my own unique style over the years and that my work does stand out. What people mention most often is my fine detail which requires a lot of time and is something I am very proud of. On a person level it was also really wonderful to meet some artists I had only previously known online and talk with some other artists whom I had met but hadn't had the chance to really have a deep convo with. Among them are Ramona Nordal, Eryk Harvie, Andres Silvera, Daniel Anaka (also the curator of the exhibit), and Alexandria Karakis. I couldn't help but take MANY photos of this exhibit so I hope you enjoy them! :D

Yesterday I was honoured by a fellow artist Lee Turnbull (Nineteen68) who focuses his work on Photography Art in the UK. He and I have been following each other for some years and he very kindly felt inclined to write a few words about me on his blog and share this lovely slideshow video he made of my work.

SEE THE BLOG
HERE

I absolutely love his work as well so I thought I might share some of my favourite pieces of his here on my blog! If you'd like to follow him on social media give his Facebook Page a "like"! -> HERE

"Sparkling Midnight Blues"
October 2015
Oil And Acrylic Paint on Canvas
16" x 20"


Original Artwork:
$600.00
BUY

8" x 10" Art Print:
BUY

Larger Prints:
BUY


This beautiful Eye Artwork was created as part of a Live Painting project done during a Nuit Blanche exhibition. I am eternally grateful to my stunning local muse Chelsea Collinson who offered her beautiful blue eyes to be painted and attended the event in order to allow me to paint her eyes live. Prior to the event I decided on a soft peach, light purple, and bright yellow/green for the drips. I felt the first two would bring out the warmth in her eyes and makeup while the last would strike contrast against them and really make the blue pop! Using many layers over a week the eyes were built up and during the live painting demo the iris' were brought to life and lashes were added in. When I brought the piece back to my studio I felt the lashes needed even more emphasis so they were elongated and made fuller. I really do believe the piece captures the shape of Chelsea's eyes and her character and I am thrilled with the results of this artwork.

To see a photo of Chelsea beside the piece and some close up shots please continue scrolling!

"Golden Indian Bride"
September 2015
Acrylic Paint and
Embellishments on Canvas
16" x 20"


Original Artwork:
$3000.00 CAD
HERE

8"x10" Prints:
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE


This piece was created in order to celebrate the beauty of Indian Brides. In order to make the piece striking and unique I applied a gold mehndi inspired trim on the veil, gold and pearl mica, and real acrylic gems. But what truly makes this piece mesmerizing is the brides multicoloured eyes which seem to pierce the viewer. This culture and its people are truly beautiful and it is an honour to capture them in paint.


Continue scrolling for close up photos of the artwork and the sparkly gems!

"MINUIT"
Nuit Blanche Exhibition
LIVE PAINTING
Exhibition Runs For The Entire Month Of October
Check out Nightowl Toronto To See It In Person


This year's Nuit Blanche celebrations were just amazing! Not only was I exhibiting my work at Red Head Gallery, I also had a "True Beauty" artwork up at Nightowl Toronto and completed a LIVE EYE PAINTING! I'll admit, my hand wasn't as steady as usual! I wasn't nervous but I was definitely out of my element; which is me alone in my studio in PJ's, but I digress. What made the night even more special was having my beautiful muse Chelsea Collinson there with me! We chatted and I was able to see into her eyes at the little details. She also stayed with me until I was finished so she could take a picture with the piece which truly shows just how well I captured the shape of her gorgeous eyes (scroll for picture). Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support me! It was an awesome night that I will never forget! :)

"Preeti Sapphire Indian Bride"
July 2015
Acrylic Paint and Gems on Canvas
4 ft x 5 ft
COMMISSION


I am thrilled to present my new large scale commission "Preeti Sapphire Indian Bride"! My amazing clients, who last year commissioned their first HUGE Indian Bride from me (See it HERE), were eager to add another slightly smaller piece to their collection. While the size went from 5ftx7ft to 4ftx5ft, the scope of the project got more detailed and time consuming. This piece features big beautiful opened blue contact lens eyes, a beautiful smooth hand holding a sheer veil, and many little gold pieces and gems. While the challenges were different this time I am still utterly pleased with the results and could not be more excited to share some close up shots with you! The piece was completed back in July but I did not have the time to post close up photos due to illness and other commissions, so I am sure many of you are excited to see what this piece looks like when we get closer to the details. Because of its size and the size of the gems/gold pieces, pictures will never do this artwork justice.

I am so utterly ecstatic to say that my lovely clients have booked in one more piece at this size to be completed in 2016! So stay tuned to my social media pages to see the next piece come to life before your eyes!

www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme
www.Twitter.com/MalindaArt
www.Instagram.com/MalindaPrudhomme


If you are interested in commissioning your own artwork please contact me at
Info@Malinda Prudhomme.com

"Beautiful Sikh Bride"
May 2015
Mixed Media on Paper
11" x 14"
DONATION

This Mixed Media Artwork was created specially for Seva Food Bank's Seva Spark Auction. My hope was to portray the natural beauty of this Sikh Bride using watercolour paint, chalk pastel, pencil, pencil crayon, acrylic paint, gold mica, and real acrylic gems on watercolour paper. If you like it please SHARE it with your friends! :)

"INSOMNIA"
Nuit Blanche Exhibition
Red Head Gallery
September 30th - October 4th 2015

SEE THE VIDEO


This year's Nuit Blanche was absolutely EPIC! Like a dream come true I had artwork in two exhibitions and was even asked to do some LIVE Painting! Getting into the "Insomnia" exhibition at Red Head Gallery was extra special for me because I generally apply every year and had never gotten in. When I received the acceptance e-mail I was ecstatic! Seeing my pieces "True Beauty" 'Alisha Gauvreau' and 'Natashia Heald' up on Red Head's beautiful walls was amazing! The entire exhibit was beautiful to behold and I am so honoured to have been a part of it! Continue scrolling for more photos of the exhibit! :)

VOTE HERE

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME! Please take a few seconds to VOTE for me as the Top Emerging Toronto Artist! You only need to vote ONCE! This could have a HUGE impact on my career and will certainly make me very happy! Please SHARE and ask your friends to vote for me as well! It would truly mean the world to me! Thanks a bunch! :)

Youthdale Art Exhibition
October 1 - 7 2015
Toronto Metro Hall
50% of Sold Artwork goes
to Sleep Psychology Research


I had a very lovely time at the Opening Reception of the Youthdale Sleep Clinic Art Exhibition last night which took place at the Toronto Metro Hall. The range of styles and quality of the artwork collected is truly breathtaking and you should certainly take the opportunity to see these works in person before October 7th 2015! A big thank you to my on-going clients Ravi & Preeti Mankoo for suggesting I take part it the event. I am honoured to exhibit among such talented artists! :)

Commffest International Art Exhibition
September 23rd to 30th 2015
St Lawrence Centre For The Arts
The Rotunda Toronto Metro Hall


Yesterday evening I attended the Opening Reception of the Commffest International Art Exhibition and had an amazing time! I had the opportunity to hang out with some incredibly talented artists such as Michelle Dinelle (also in the exhibit), Vera Malitskaya, and Alexandria Karakis, along with their guests and my amazingly supportive fiance Darren Edward. We enjoyed delicious snacks, the beautiful artwork, and great chats! When the crowd at the St Lawrence Centre For The Arts began to dwindle, Darren, Michelle and I decided to go on an adventure to the Rotunda Toronto Metro Hall to see the other part of the exhibit installation! We were quite excited to see our work up! If you'd like to see more photos from the evening continue to scroll. And don't forget, the exhibit runs until September 30th 2015 so don't miss the opportunity to see these works in person! :D

September ETA Awards Exhibition
Nightowl Toronto
647 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G 1B7
Installment ends at the end of September


Myself and a group of fellow talented ETA Award artists have been given the wonderful opportunity to exhibit some of our work, leading up to the big event on October 20th, at the new Nightowl Toronto on College St! Yesterday evening, September 12th 2015, a small group of us went out to see the installation in person and it looks fabulous! I took a few pictures to share with you but I hope you'll take a few minutes to stop by, have a bite to eat, and see the work in person. You will not be disappointed! :D

"Self Portrait"
December 2014
Acrylic and Oil
Paint on Canvas
12" x 12"
$1000



Fellow artists and students often ask me about my artistic process. Just this morning my website received a request from a student asking, "How do you make a perfect artwork?" My work is very smooth, very detailed, and very crisp due to the order in which I do my steps. So rather than continue to answer each inquiry individually, I thought I'd write a nice detailed post that I could refer people back to when they're curious to know what I do. Definitely feel free to share this post with anyone looking to learn how to do realistic portraiture. :)

1) Sandro Botticelli

august artist appreciation month, artists that inspire me, inspiring artists, malinda prudhomme, portrait artist, realism, inspirational art, botticelli, mandy saile, william john waterhouse, michelangelo, sunny choi, brian viveros
"Birth Of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli


Botticelli has been my favourite artist since I first discovered him during art class in secondary school. He was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance which was later referred to as the "golden age". The mythology depicted and the smooth realistic style achieved interested me greatly. I always aspired to create such smoothly blended skin tones.

www.SandroBotticelli.net



2) Mandy Saile

august artist appreciation month, artists that inspire me, inspiring artists, malinda prudhomme, portrait artist, realism, inspirational art, botticelli, mandy saile, william john waterhouse, michelangelo, sunny choi, brian viveros
"Black Cherry" by Mandy Saile


Mandy Saile is an incredible artist and bunny lover who I had the pleasure of encountering during my minor in Visual Arts in North Bay at Nipissing University. As part of my school work I was required to visit some galleries and write a review about an artist I had enjoyed. At first the task seemed daunting until I came upon Mandy's whimsical coloured pencil series depicting the beauty, grace, strength, etc. of women. Her style and her ability to capture this message in such an emotional way really captivated me and I am still a fan of her work today! Seeing her success and ambition was in part what inspired me to delve into this challenging career myself.

www.BijousWhimsy.Blogspot.ca




3) Michelangelo

august artist appreciation month, artists that inspire me, inspiring artists, malinda prudhomme, portrait artist, realism, inspirational art, botticelli, mandy saile, william john waterhouse, michelangelo, sunny choi, brian viveros
"Delphic Sibyl" by Michelangelo


I have always greatly admired the work of Michelangelo. I hadn't experienced much of his painting and mostly knew him as a sculptor until I visited the Sistine Chapel and saw his work for myself. If you're not aware Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer of the High Renaissance who extorted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. He is considered the greatest living artist of his lifetime and is considered by many to be THE greatest artist of all time. I absolutely love the softness seen in his blending and the amazing detail and realism achieved in his depictions of fabric. So inspiring!

www.Michelangelo.org



4) Sunny Choi

august artist appreciation month, artists that inspire me, inspiring artists, malinda prudhomme, portrait artist, realism, inspirational art, botticelli, mandy saile, william john waterhouse, michelangelo, sunny choi, brian viveros
"Marilyn, A Moment" by Sunny Choi


Sunny Choi has been inspiring me since I first discovered her upon moving to Toronto to start my career. I was very excited to find my beautiful little studio in the Art & Design district where Sunny had a stunning gallery. I would walk by the gallery every day and admire the piece in the window. On weekends I would venture into the gallery to admire each piece one by one. I love that she depicts women, like myself, but I also love the texture and looseness she has when applying her strokes. It makes her work very unique while still remaining realistic.

www.SunnyChoiGallery.com



5) John William Waterhouse

august artist appreciation month, artists that inspire me, inspiring artists, malinda prudhomme, portrait artist, realism, inspirational art, botticelli, mandy saile, william john waterhouse, michelangelo, sunny choi, brian viveros
"A Mermaid" by John William Waterhouse


John William Waterhouse was an English painter known for working in the Pre-Raphaelite style several decades after the style had ceased to be popular. I had absolutely no idea of his work until a University Art trip to Montreal to see his exhibition. I was blown away! The style, realism, and technique was truly something to behold. On top of that I absolutely loved his subject matter which was generally women from both ancient Greek mythology and Arthurian legend (two of my greatest interests)!

www.JohnWilliamWaterhouse.com



6) Brian Viveros

august artist appreciation month, artists that inspire me, inspiring artists, malinda prudhomme, portrait artist, realism, inspirational art, botticelli, mandy saile, william john waterhouse, michelangelo, sunny choi, brian viveros
"Baroness" by Brian Viveros


Brian Viveros' work, which depicts strong, powerful, defiant women, truly speaks to me. I LOVE seeing women being portrayed as powerful in any setting, particularly art. But it isn't his message alone that inspires me but also his smooth blending and precision. His is a self proclaimed "perfectionist" when it comes to his work and so am I therefore I can relate and admire him for that. His creations are truly gorgeous.

www.BrianMViveros.com




Special Note:




It was the lovely daughter of artist Patience Brewster who reminded me about Artist Appreciation month! Patience is an incredibly talented ornament artist! I absolutely LOVE seeing a woman who has built her company from the ground up as an artist, all while maintaining her stylistic integrity. Check out her work!

When people picture their idea of an artist working in their studio they likely see an avant-garde carefree person flinging paint and enjoying their favourite tunes. While this is certainly fun and something I like to do on occasion, it is not how I work. The type of work I do (you'll see examples throughout this blog post) is not "carefree". I create extremely detailed and perfectly proportioned portraits using very fine brushes. In order to achieve my balance of realism and bold crisp lines I need to focus on the task at hand. With a mind that is constantly racing with thoughts, I find focusing almost impossible with music alone. I either add the lyrics to my list of continuous thoughts making things even worse, or I'll start to sing which isn't good for my fiance talking with clients in his office next door. SO, I listen to TV shows! I absolutely love stories; books, TV, and movies are dear to me. Best of all, when I listen to a television show my mind is occupied in following the story, so it stops racing, and I can focus on my work. I have quite a few favourites that I go back to time and again but I thought I'd start with my TOP 10 TV Shows!

New Blue Indian Bride Portrait In Progress
4 ft x 5 ft ~ Acrylic Paint on Canvas



I thought it might be fun to go through my process for painting in the beautiful lips of my current work in progress. I often get asked for advice on how to paint and master artistic skills. While I am very confident in my work and absolutely love my personal style, I would never pretend to be "perfect" or all-knowing. I can only share my own techniques and ways in which I achieve my style. Want to know what colours and steps I took to achieve that pink pout? Keep reading!

NOTE: I'm planning to video tape the eye painting process! Stay tuned to my FB Page or YouTube Channel! :)

I am absolutely thrilled to have my "True Beauty" series featured on SIX pages in the tenth issue of Trillium Gallery Magazine! What an incredible honour! Six whole pages! I can't believe it! And the imagery is large and in charge, leaving the viewers with a real sense of each woman's beauty and my technique/skill. Accompanying my artwork is an artist statement about the entire series as well as a short statement about each individual piece being shown in the magazine. And as if this gift wasn't enough, I was also given a short congratulatory message on a separate page celebrating some other publications I've been in recently. So much going on! So much to be thankful for! If you're interested in getting yourself a copy click HERE to go to the Lulu Site where you can purchase it online. If you'd like a sneak peek before you make your purchase keep scrolling to see an early morning me excitedly showing off each page! :)

"Baby Zoey"
April 2015
Acrylic & Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION


I am so pleased with the results of my beautiful "Baby Zoey" portrait! I used textured acrylic paint in the background to add some interest and spent many days layering oil paint in order to bring her features to life as well as her stripped shirt, bow headband, and soft baby hair. This commission was the first by Toronto Realtor Angela Montgomery and I hope to do many more for her and her clients. These truly are gifts that will be cherished forever. :)

A couple of weeks ago I was approached on Twitter and asked to donate something to the Seva Food Bank. Seva provides culturally appropriate food to families in Mississauga who are in need. It was certainly something I wanted to support but didn't have any Sikh inspired artwork available which is what they were requesting. With some big commissions booked, and the Seva Spark event taking place on May 10th 2015, I really didn't have the time to create another piece but I felt I might be able to squeeze in something in Mixed Media. I set out to create the stunning Sikh Bride above using watercolour paint, chalk pastel, pencil, pencil crayon, acrylic paint, gold micca, and real acrylic gems on watercolour paper. Those who follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were able to see the piece come together bit by bit. Their encouragement was so great and very much appreciated. Since people were enjoying the piece I thought it would be fun to make a "Making Of" video!

Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the Seva Spark Gala but from what I see in pictures it looks like it was an amazing evening! I am so glad to have been a part of it and so happy to have contributed to such a good cause. Continue scrolling for some photos of the event! They were taken by COL Films Inc. :)

"Rare Art"
By Exhibit Here
Menier Gallery
April 14th
Private Viewing


As I mentioned in my PREVIOUS blog post, I wasn't able to fly to London, England to attend the Private Viewing of Exhibit Here's "Rare Art" Exhibition BUT thankfully I exhibited alongside some amazing artists who took the time to photograph my work and share all of their pictures with me. From what I can tell it was an evening unlike any other! I so wish I had been there! A big thank you to all the artists who thought to upload some pictures for me (and the other international artists who couldn't make it). It was very exciting seeing the posts going up on Facebook! It was almost like I was there. I will definitely be saving my pennies so that I can attend the next Exhibit Here show I'm in. How amazing would that be!? I would LOVE to see all of the UK friends/fans I've made over the years. :D

"Lola"
April 2015
Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION


I am so pleased with the results of my custom pet portrait "Lola"! I hope you're impressed too! Lola's Mom, Jan, contacted me last year in order to book her portrait of her furry baby into my schedule. Knowing I was preparing for my first solo exhibition, Jan realized I wouldn't get to her painting for many months but remained patient and supportive. When it came time to bring Lola's image to life on canvas I knew I had to pay extra attention to detail in order to make her fur vivid. Layer after layer and the desired results were achieved! Yet the part I love most about this portrait is the life in her eyes. I'm quite fond of those sweet dark eyes. Jan has received her portrait via Purolator and is thrilled with the painting! If you're interested in commissioning a portrait contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com. :)

I am beyond thrilled and grateful to have had the opportunity to exhibit my portraiture in London, England from April 14th to 18th 2015! Not only is the international achievement wonderful but the Menier Gallery in which the show took place is absolutely stunning in its historical state. Not to mention it's around the corner from the Tate Modern and the famous Shard! And if all of that wasn't enough, the caliber of artwork I had the honour of hanging alongside with was absolutely amazing! I am so thankful to all the incredibly kind artists who attended the Private Viewing and took pictures of my work with me in mind. Without the proper funds or time I wasn't able to make it to London for the show. Yet even though I wasn't there I felt I made some new friends. The whole experience is one I will not forget! Check out more photos of the exhibit in this blog and be sure to look out for the Private Viewing blog being posted very soon!

On Saturday May 2nd 2015, I had the pleasure of spending the night with Alexandria Karakis (Artist behind Fotoflares and creator of the ETA Awards) and artist Al Barazi at Art Katalyst Magazine's 1 Year Anniversary Party which took place at May. It's a terrifying and challenging endeavor setting out to publish an art magazine but they worked through an entire year of dedication and put out some truly powerful issues. It was an honour to have a small part in the evening; the opportunity to show my piece "True Beauty" 'Jenny Blackbird'. But it was also lovely just to watch the true joy of these ladies reveling in their amazing accomplishment. Big congrats to everyone involved with Art Katalyst! Here's to many more years!

Do a Collaborative Artwork with yours truly​ in this COLOURING CONTEST! You have until June 1st 2015 to complete your piece and submit it on my Facebook page wall! If you don't have Facebook, feel free to e-mail it to me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com. Download your full 8.5" x 11" colouring sheet and continue reading for contest rules! :D

Download the PDF: http://goo.gl/miAYdJ
Download the JPG: http://goo.gl/eVqA5y

Rules:

1st Place - EVERYONE who participates, no matter their skill, will go into the draw for first place - WINNER can choose THREE of their favourite 8"x10" prints which will be shipped to them free of charge.

2nd & 3rd Place - My TOP FIVE personal favourites will be posted for my fans to vote on! The artwork with the most VOTES gets to choose TWO of their favourite 8"x10" prints. The artwork with the second most votes will get to choose ONE of their favourite 8"x10" prints. All will be shipped to them free of charge.

You can do as LITTLE or as MUCH as you want to my drawing "Ambiguous Beauty" in order to make it uniquely yours. ANY medium can be used! Feel free to open it in Paint and remove things you don't want!

Here are some ideas to get you going ...
1) Choose whatever nationality you wish
2) Maker her into a man
3) Adjust facial features as desired
4) Change or add jewelry
5) Shorten her hair or add more
6) Make her into a fantasy or sci-fi character
7) Give her a detailed background
8) Add piercings or tattoos
9) Make her look like someone you know
10) Or enjoy filling her in exactly how she is

Have FUN folks!
And please SHARE!

HOLR Magazine
April - May
Get your copy at
Chapters/Indigo


On Sunday Darren and I went on an adventure to find a copy of the newest issue of HOLR Magazine. This one was a special one because I (my actual self) would be featured in the national magazine painting my new artwork "True Beauty" 'Delena Providence'. Thinking of past experiences, where it took many days for the magazine to actually hit the shelves after being released, I wasn't overly stressed about getting a copy. BUT I should have been! We tried the famous Eaton's Center first and they had one rather beat-up copy left! I snagged it fast (pictured above)! I asked the clerk if they had any others and she happily informed me they had all been sold. She even called the other locations to see if they had any left (I wasn't a fan of having a beat-up copy) but they had all sold out as well! Absolutely crazy! While I would have liked a crisper copy, I am beyond excited that all those copies were sold and thus all those people will see me and my artwork! Just awesome! Seeing myself in a national magazine was just completely overwhelming. I'm not the typical lady you'd see in a fashion magazine; being a chubby comfy kind of gal; so I give HOLR major props on diversifying what they promote as beauty and talent. In fact, they asked me to pose and dress "exactly as I am" without feeling the need to adhere to any social standard of what a woman in a magazine should look like. I LOVE that! If you get a chance please check your local Chapters or Indigo for a copy and be sure to take a picture with it/my page! You would put one big smile on my face if you did! :D

LLACIM
Fourth Episode
Download
FREE


Being published in this International Magazine is very exciting for me. This particular issue has been in the works for almost a year and I could not be more honoured (and surprised) to have 36 pages dedicated to me and my work. Inside you'll find an article written by yours truly as well as many large scale images of my artwork. The best part? You can download your copy absolutely FREE! Once you click the link you'll be brought to a page where you'll have to complete a captcha (this proves you're a human and not a bot). First click, "I'm not a robot". Then wait for the Captcha to load. Complete your captcha by typing in what you see. Once you get the check mark of approval you can click "Authorize Download". I hope you enjoy it! :D

Art Katalyst Magazine
Nature, Growth and Activism
"True Beauty"
4 Page Spread
BUY

I am absolutely honoured to have my series "True Beauty" included in Art Katalyst Magazine's newest issue 'Nature, Growth, and Activism'. By chance the Editor-In-Chief of the magazine, Danielle St Laurent, became one of my muses for my "True Beauty" series. While the mixed media artworks were in progress Danielle approached me and asked if I'd be interested in having my work in her amazing magazine. I was ecstatic! I'd been a fan of the magazine for some time and it was really a dream of mine to be included. After receiving my copy I am even more thrilled because, not only did they include a beautiful two page article written by yours truly, they also included a two page review by Patrick Lemieux, and my image in the Table of Contents! So awesome! Get your own print copy for $15.99 or digital copy for $4.99 HERE. Thank you so much to the team at Art Katalyst! You guys are amazing. :D

This past Saturday April 4th 2015 was the Closing Night Event of the "My Wildest Dreams" Art Show which took place at Duke's Refresher + Bar in Toronto! I had two of my "True Beauty" Artworks in the exhibition; the first 'Nici Shipway' and the other 'Tia Brazda'. The evening was made more special with the company of my fiance Darren, my muse Nici, her husband Aaron, and their awesome friends Morgan, Ian, Ashley, and Anthony! Together we enjoyed some grub, drinks, and FREE cotton candy! Kudos to Del Mahabadi who organized the event and asked if I'd participate. She did a fabulous job! The night was a blast! :)

"Rare Art"
Exhibit Here
Menier Gallery
51 Southwark Street
London, UK
April 14 - 18 2015

I am SUPER excited to say I will be exhibiting my artwork at the beautiful Menier Gallery which is situated within the historic Menier Chocolate Factory only minutes away from the London Bridge, Borough Market, and the famous Tate Modern! Since I don't have the funds to travel to London in person I opted to ship my artwork there via Canada Post Express. It's always stressful shipping artwork but I am glad to say the pieces arrived safely and in perfect condition! A big thank you to Leila Bibizadeh (owner of Exhibit Here) for taking pictures of my work to reassure me (see below).

I cannot believe my "True Beauty" artwork 'Dana McCool' and my "Self Portrait" will be internationally exhibited from April 14th to the 18th! If any of you lovely people in London can make it to the show to take some photos for me I would be SO very grateful! Exhibit Here always takes beautiful pictures of their exhibits but it would be so nice to have a few extra from friends and fans. Be sure to include yourself in them! If you're planning on making an appearance please let me know at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com!

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK


I am very excited to announce that the next issue of Art Katalyst Magazine will have an awesome feature on my newest series and exhibit "True Beauty"! A guest from the Opening Reception, Patrick Lemieux, has submitted his review of the show which will be very cool for people to read! I've also submitted my own thoughts about the series and event as well as many images of my work and the exhibit for the Art Katalyst team to consider. I am so excited to see the "Nature, Growth, and Activism” issue which is set to be released on April 1st 2015! Be sure to get your copy! :D

I'm so very fortunate to have met Neil Shelton, the Publisher of HOLR Magazine, at an outdoor Art Show! He has been so supportive and truly believes in my ability to succeed and thrive as an artist. He trusts so much in my career that he has given me the opportunity to show my work in his national magazine. In the first issue I was gifted with a centerfold featuring my "Curvy Beauties" series and a full page in the front of the magazine featuring my piece "One And The Same". In the next issue I was given the opportunity to show my HUGE Indian Bride painting "Preeti Ruby Indian Bride" on a full page. BUT THIS ISSUE is very exciting because he requested I ACTUALLY BE IN the feature along with my artwork! When we met to discuss it I was decked out in my usual PJ's, braid, and glasses; and he said he wanted me to look just as I did. Too cute! I definitely brought up my appearance a notch but still stayed true to my comfy down-to-earth look. I cannot believe my silly self will be in a NATIONAL FASHION MAGAZINE! I'm so blown away! This is definitely a fun issue worth checking your local Chapters or Indigo for! Stay tuned to any of these links to find out when it is released!


FACEBOOK PAGE

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

I'm thrilled to have two of my "True Beauty" artworks (Nici Shipway & Tia Brazda) hanging at Duke's Refresher + Bar (located on Gerrard off of Yonge). When Del Mahabadi contacted me to ask if I'd participate I was completely overwhelmed with other things (posting about my Solo Show, setting up new commissions, etc.). But when she explained everything to me; that my work would be up for a MONTH free of charge and with no commissions taken, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. And I'm so glad I didn't because I've had the pleasure of chatting with Del twice in the past little while and she is just absolutely lovely. :)

My works have been up since March 1st 2015 and will remain up until April 4th at midnight. Speaking of APRIL 4th; on that evening Duke's Refresher + Bar will be holding an AMAZING closing night event starting at 9PM for anyone 19+. There is NO COVER, there will be $5 beers all night, free cotton candy, and recently SIDE LAUNCH Brewery has agreed to sponsor 'My Wildest Dreams' with complimentary beer tastings all night! It's bound to be lots of fun and I hope to see you there!


Join the Facebook Event
HERE

In the summer of 2014 I was approached by Ben Navaee Gallery about doing a Solo Show and I was over-the-moon ecstatic! I spent the next 7 months planning and preparing a whole new body of work entitled "True Beauty". I also decided to included some of my other beauty inspired pieces to complete the show. It ran from January 30th to February 12th 2015; having been extended an extra week before the show even began. Seeing all of my work fill a gallery (and in Toronto, no less!) and host an awesome opening night was a dream come true. I will never forget this amazing experience. :)


Learn about my TRUE BEAUTY series:
HERE

See the VIDEO of the Opening Night:
HERE

See my BLOG POST about the Opening Night:
HERE

On January 30th 2015 I opened my very First Solo Art Exhibition at Ben Navaee Gallery in Toronto! My new "True Beauty" series looked lovely and it was incredible to have a gallery filled with my work. That alone would have been satisfying, but the amount of people who walked through the show that night makes me burst with gratitude. Local friends surprised me, many from the art community had my back, family and friends traveled hours to make my day extra special, and new admirers stopped by. Well over a hundred people saw my art that night ... it boggles my mind! I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for making this one of the most amazing nights of my entire life. I am still overwhelmed. I could not have asked for more. :)

A special thank you to Alexandria Karakis of FotoFlares for capturing the night in an awesome video! Also thank you to Frank McKinney from SNAP for photographing and doing a piece on the event. :)

"True Beauty"
January 2015
Mixed Media on Canvas
(Acrylic and Oil Paint)
Sizes Vary


I am very excited to release my new body of artwork, which includes 16 portraits of Canadian women, entitled "True Beauty: An Untouched Project". With my First Solo Art Exhibition booked at Ben Navaee Gallery in Toronto, I set out to create a series that would reflect my greatest message; that ALL women are beautiful. Using social media I sent out a call for un-retouched photos of everyday women. "Everyday women" meaning every single woman, whether they be a model or not, as long as their images were not edited. The number of responses I received, which was well over 100, is something I hold dear to my heart. When I began my career as a portrait artist it only made sense that women were not sure about my abilities to capture them and so I often resorted to models and actresses. The fact that so many women now trust in my skills and ability to capture them is a true indicator of how far my career has come and is so very exciting. Choosing at random from those who submitted a photo, my series soon began to take shape. With colour and symbolic iconic imagery I hoped to represent an aspect of each women's multifaceted spirit. In so doing, I wished that anyone viewing the series would not only see each woman as uniquely beautiful but also see the beauty within themselves.

If you'd like to know my thought process behind each piece please continue viewing this blog. :)


Detailed Shots of the Entire Series:
HERE

See the "True Beauty" Exhibition:
HERE

See the Opening Night Reception:
HERE

Watch the Opening Night Video:
HERE

A sneak peek of my "True Beauty" piece featuring
Delena Providence not yet released on my blog!


Since I posted my new Facebook profile picture on Monday (March 09 2015) I've had quite a few questions and comments about my hair! Haha! You guys have really made me feel like a star, let me tell you! :P

What do I do to my hair?
Pretty much nothing! I wash it 1-2 times a week. I know some people are thinking that's gross. Some are like, ya ok. And some are aware of the new "no wash" thingy that's being talked about. Is my hair oily at the roots? Ya, some days. Does it stink? No. It's super long and thick, hard to wash, stays wet forever, is impossible to brush when wet, and it's cold! That's why. But that being said, I do think less use of chemically shampoo is better for it. That's my experience, anyways. Other than that, I brush it everyday and usually put it in a braid or bun, keeping it safe from the elements. I style it once in a blue moon with hot curlers and spritz a bit of hair spray if it needs to stay for a while, if not, then I don't. That's it! I'm a no fuss kinda gal. :)

It was really nice to hear some kind comments about my hair because I feel like I'm often told it's too long or old fashioned. It doesn't bother me because I kinda like the thought of being old fashioned. I grew it because it reminds me of princess hair or elvish hair. I'm a nerd when it comes to stuff like that and personally don't follow what's "in style" (I have no idea what's "in" right now! lol). It's nice to know some ladies feel the same. What or who inspired your hair-do?

"Bryan's Beautiful Baby Girls"
December 2014
Mixed Media on Canvas
(Watercolour Paint and Pencil)
8" x 10"/each
COMMISSION


With my First Solo Exhibition finally finished I get a chance to share some projects I managed to complete during all of the hustle and bustle! Bryan contacted me before the holidays to ask if I had time to squeeze in a custom portrait series he would be giving to his wife for Christmas. With little time on my hands, having already decided I needed to skip my holidays with my family to work on my new "True Beauty" series (made especially for the exhibition), I offered to create these little mixed media pieces using watercolour and pencil. Bryan expressed that he liked the look of old black and white photos and wanted the artworks to match his wive's black picture frames. So I decided to use washes of black, grey, sepia, and brown watercolour and varying tones of pencil to capture their beautiful baby girls. I also finished off the sides with black paint so that the 8" x 10" canvases would match the frames already up in their home. I've since heard from Bryan and he tells me his wife really loved them! Creating cherished custom artworks such as these makes my work so rewarding. :)

This style is very affordable! Contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com for a quote on your own custom mixed media portraits! :)

I have been anticipating and working towards this night since Ben Navaee Gallery approached me in June 2014 and I can't believe the big night is almost upon us!

If you haven't heard the news, this Friday from 6-9pm I'll be hosting the opening reception of my very FIRST Solo Art Exhibition "True Beauty" at Toronto's Ben Navaee Gallery on Queen St. East! There will be complimentary wine and snacks to enjoy while you check out all of my gorgeous portrait paintings and eye paintings. But the most exciting aspect of the night is that I will be revealing my new 16 piece series (also titled) "True Beauty".

I have been working long days, nights, and weekends for almost 6 months attempting to create this brand new series of 16 portraits which express the unique beauty of 16 Canadian women. The style of these pieces is what I call "pop meets renaissance" because they combine bright colours and iconic detailing in the background with smooth realistic portraits. The purpose of the series is to express that all women; regardless of age, size, ethnicity, or personal style; are beautiful in their own unique way. I currently have 14 pieces completed and hanging in my home, one that is on the verge of being completed, and another that should be done within the next few days! I cannot wait to see the whole collection up in the gallery! I know it will be breathtaking. :)

Over the weekend Darren and I went on a little adventure to purchase a few boxes of wine (woohoo) and put up posters along Queen St., especially around the area of the gallery (Leslieville). If you happen to be out and see one please take a photo and post it on social media using the hashtags #TrueBeauty #MalindaArt to help spread the word!


I have to admit I've never worked so hard towards something. I am one really darn hard working gal and always have been my entire life but THIS is something special! This will be one of the biggest moments in my life! I'm sure I will be bursting with emotions! If you can make it out it would truly mean the world to me! If you can't make it, then just know that I appreciate any support you've shown me and I hope you continue to enjoy my beautiful artwork. :)

I was very fortunate to meet Neil Shelton, the publisher of HOLR Magazine, over the summer. He was really impressed with my work and appreciated my goal of making all women feel beautiful. He offered to include some of my artwork in the premier issue back in August and, although it seemed too good to be true, I was soon holding a beautiful crisp national magazine with my work in it. As if that wasn't amazing to begin with, he remained in contact with me and was determined to keep my lovely female portraiture in the magazine throughout the year. To that affect, my beautiful "Preeti Ruby Indian Bride" has been included in the second issue which is now available at Chapters/Indigo stores across Canada. It is so surreal walking into a store and picking up a magazine with my work in it! I could not be more thankful to Neil and the whole HOLR team! Be sure to pick up your copy at your local Chapters/Indigo! :)

On November 30th 2014 I awoke and found a lovely post waiting for me from one of my most supportive fans, Lindsay-Ann Hodder. She was very excited to tell me that my artwork "She Connects And Strengthens Us" had been chosen to advertise Plan Canada's 2015 Gifts Of Hope Calendar in their catalog (see images below). I was so excited! I was soon contacted by Plan Canada and told that my work was not only used to advertise the calendar but was actually given the entire October page! I was over the moon happy! I couldn't wait to get my copy! When I did .... I couldn't believe it ... they had used my image as the COVER of the calendar as well! What an incredible honour! It really means so much to me that my artwork will help raise funds for children in developing countries. :)

Want a copy? You can get your 2015 Gifts Of Hope Calendar for $20.00 at the Plan Canada Website HERE.

In November 2014 I very happily joined the Trillium Gallery community and was thrilled to be a part of their newest publication; the 8th edition of their magazine. The incredible owner/operator of Trillium Gallery, Maureen Maliha, decided to host a Cover Page Contest! Being a very new member I wasn't expecting my entry to gain much momentum but thanks to the very supportive members of the group, as well as ALL OF YOU, who voted for me, I was awarded the cover! What a beautiful sight!

Also included in this issue is a "How to Create a Realistic Portrait Using Oil Paint" tutorial I wrote which is accompanied by progress photos and official photos of my pieces "Beauty And Her Butterfly" and "A Love Filled Project". I hope my advice can help novice painters feel more at ease with the concept of portrait painting. :)

If you'd like to buy a copy of the 8th issue of Trillium Gallery Magazine click HERE to securely purchase it through Lulu! Thank you all so much for your support.

See the Feature
HERE


I'm very excited to say I've been honoured with a lovely feature on Toronto Is Awesome.com! Joel Levy was looking for interesting artists to feature as Proof that Toronto is one great city! How could I pass up that opportunity? The feature includes 8 snapshots from my life (shown above) along with descriptions. It also contains a biography and introduction written by Shawn M. Soles, as well as some where, what, why questions. Give it a look-see by clicking the link provided above! :)

Picture taken by Patrick Demarchelier for Interview Magazine


Last Friday, November 7th 2014, I came across a Gawker link that discussed actress Keira Knightley's photo shoot with photographer Patrick Demarchelier taken for Interview Magazine. When asked if she would pose topless she agreed on one condition: that they wouldn't alter her body. She explained that photographers always add volume to her breasts in post-production using programs like Photoshop and this had been bothering her for years. It's common knowledge that the media portrays "perfect" breasts as large, plump, non-sagging, and symmetrical; yet this isn't the reality for the majority of the women in our world. So, being an artist that promotes self-love and celebrates natural beauty, I felt it would be an inspiring story to share with my fans. I happily posted the link with a message of, "I think it's really wonderful that actresses and models are starting to demand their images are published unaltered. Keira Knightley's small asymmetrical breasts are beautiful just the way they are! :)". I had no idea the post would be seen by over 1 million people and I certainly did not expect the wide variety of comments I received. In the end I think it proved to be an unexpected social experiment of which I learned a lot.

The nearly 400 comments can be classified into seven distinct categories, each saying something different about how our society perceives and reacts to female beauty and the female body.

1) The Supportive and Inspired
Many people, both men and women, commented with words of praise for Keira. They agreed her body was beautiful, applauded her bravery in showing her body wasn't what the media claims is "perfect", and were supportive of the move towards admiring natural beauty and natural bodies. Some women even responded with deep gratitude saying the post inspired them to see their body more clearly and see beauty in the things the media tells them isn't up to par. Too all of these people, thank you! It's great to see there are so many of you with open minds and open hearts! To the women who are inspired to love themselves more deeply; I am so glad! This is something I hope to achieve with my artwork so it is great to hear it was also achieved with this link. :)

2) Pinning One Against The Other
A lot of women still feel the need to defend their beauty against other types of beauty. I received a lot of comments about Keira's slender frame. "Great, another image to make us fat women feel ugly" and others along those lines. We have to stop thinking of beauty as either thin or thick. Bodies can be attractive at any size and it's time large women stop being offended by the sight of slender women. Instead of shaming one group let's encourage the media to portray a wider variety of women. I also received a lot of comments that would celebrate Keira's small breasts by mocking large breasts. "Good for her, big tits are gross" ... "Who wants big saggy boobs anyways" ... and the likes of that. While I know I can't control people's thoughts or avoid what comes out of people's mouths I would like to encourage people to give all body types the same beauty inclusion they would like for their own body. Big, small, and in between; breasts are beautiful.

3) Affronted By The Description
There were quite a few people who were rather upset with me for writing "small asymmetrical breasts" in my description. They felt that by pointing out the size and shape of her breasts I was somehow "adding to the problem". Because these are "negative" descriptive words I was apparently being unkind in using them. To this I say, WHAT? Who claimed "small" and "asymmetrical" were negative words? These people were proving my point. It is the fact that we see these words as insulting that is the problem. I have to say that the vast majority of women have asymmetrical breasts, some more so than others, but typically one is always a little bigger. This is natural. This is normal. This is beautiful. I specifically pointed out these attributes because they go against what the media says is "beautiful" and by saying they are beautiful I was implying that the media is wrong. Still insulted? Sheesh ... I hope not.

4) The Skeptics
I won't waste much breath on these comments. These folks felt the photo had still been altered using lighting and other camera tricks. To these people I say, "So what?". It wasn't about the complete lack of editing. It was about creating an artistic portrait of a women without changing the natural shape of her body. Some people also thought it was all part of Keira's plan for added publicity. To these people I say, "So?". If her publicity stunt includes making women feel better about their natural bodies then why be so upset? Celebrities are publicized whether they want it or not. At least this is helping to move our society forward in the realm of imagined v.s. natural beauty.

5) Those With "Shame"
Sadly when it comes to nudity there are still far too many people who are behind the times. I received quite a few angry messages from folks demanding I remove the link as well as messages warning me of my downward path to hell. All rather amusing to me. There were many comments exclaiming how undignified the women is. Some used vulgar language which was immediately deleted. I couldn't help but find it hypocritical that someone would claim female breasts being exposed was blasphemous one moment and then use such hate filled language the next. My thoughts on female nudity, especially with regards to breasts, is that the age of body shame needs to end. Women's breasts are much the same as men's except, for some, they are filled with more fat, and when the time is right, they feed our children. Women's breasts have been sexualized to a point where they are only seen as sex objects. Our body parts, including breasts, are so much more than things to be enjoyed during sex. If we all became accustomed to seeing naked bodies they would simply become a part of us and not immediately associated with sex. Moreover, we would be forced to realize that bodies naturally come in a variety of shapes and sizes and not only one type of body is visually attractive. Now I'm not saying we should be naked all the time; let's not get carried away. I'm just saying we should stop being so ashamed of naked bodies and that journey should most definitely begin with female breasts.

6) The Unkind
While I hate to say it, a huge chunk of the comments belong to this category. Some of the commenters were female and I suspect a lot of these comments are a defense mechanism against their own insecurities. When a person is content with who they are they don't feel the need to make others unhappy. Unhappiness seeks unhappiness, that's what I believe. But the most troubling of "the unkind" commenters were male. A large amount of men felt they had a right to critique every part of Keira's body. Her breasts were too small, she's too masculine, she pouts her lips, her nipples seem unproportionate, and others found she was too thin. I don't understand who convinced these men that they were the ultimate judges of beauty. That their idea of beauty is the only one that matters or, quite frankly, the only one that exists. THIS is the biggest problem in our society's beauty issue. We've been brainwashed by the media into thinking a certain stereotype is the only form of beauty to the point that each person thinks they're an expert! What people MUST start to understand is that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I know, cliche, but if you think about it it's so incredibly true. We all have different preferences when it comes to beauty. What one person finds to be extremely beautiful another might find ugly. You might not find someone particularly attractive, that's your prerogative, but remember that everyone is beautiful to someone.

7) The Sex Crazed
These comments were difficult to bare. It's one thing to admire someones beauty, compliment their image in a respectful way, or even feel an attraction. But it simply isn't acceptable for someone to describe what they would like to do to a woman's body or what they are currently doing with their body while viewing the woman's body. Not one of these comments were made by a woman. Why is it that many of today's men believe women's bodies belong to them for their sexual pleasure? I attribute some of it to the constant sexual imagery in the media; usually portraying women as submissive or something to be used, not valued. Bad parenting must also play a role I suppose. But the amount of men who felt it was completely appropriate to make these comments still baffles me. Having the thought is normal human nature, but why feel the need to voice it? No one wants to know that. Keep your vulgar thoughts to yourself.

So what have I learned from sharing this link? Well, although there were lots of lovely people who appreciated Keira Knightley's gesture and admired her body in a respectful way, there were far too many negative and objectifying comments to make me feel hopeful about how our society views the female body. I can only encourage those who see beauty in all different forms, and in themselves, to continue to encourage others to do the same. Happy confident people spread kindness, so folks, it's up to us. :)

1ST PLACE ~ TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
Emerging Toronto Artists Awards
November 04 2014

It's time to announce some of the biggest news of my career! I'm so very excited and honoured to tell you that I was awarded the Technical Excellence Award yesterday evening at the Emerging Toronto Artists Awards! I can barely type this without crying ... I could not be more thrilled! I've been chasing what some might think is an unrealistic dream for a few years now but this reassures me that I am on the right track and doing what I was meant to do. :)

Special thanks, with all my heart, goes out to ...

- My incredibly loving and supportive fiance Darren Edward. Without him this wonderful career of mine would not exist. :)

- All of YOU! My supportive and encouraging fans! Your kind words fuel my soul and make me excited to create, Your "shares" and word of mouth mentions have helped me gain paid work which is the only way this career of mine will fully take off. :D

- The incredibly talented judges for seeing the attention to detail I like to think makes my work so special. :)

- And last, but not least, Alexandria Karakis and all those involved in making the Emerging Toronto Artists Awards such a fun evening; one I will never forget. :)

Back in July I announced my First Solo Exhibition which will be taking place at Ben Navaee Gallery on Queen East in Toronto, opening evening - January 30th 2015 - 6 to 9, show runs until Feb 05 2015. At that time I also expressed my interest in creating a whole new body of work which would feature a variety of "everyday" Canadian women in order to show how each woman; no matter their size, age, ethnicity, or personal style; is uniquely beautiful in her own way. A call for beauty went out and I was overwhelmed with the response. In the end I found it would only be fair if I chose my beautiful muses at random and so 16 names were pulled from a hat. I'm so pleased to say I will be depicting Vivian Bro, Nici Shipway, Lisa Boros, Doris Cai, Trish Lubbe, Sheba Devonish, Katrina Schaman, Delena Providence, Tia Brazda, Severin Stargher, Jerica Wentzell, Dana McCool, Tasha Rissling, Natashia Heald, Jenny Blackbird, and Alisha Gauvreau. As it is my hope that this series will be the focal point of my upcoming Solo Show I have begun the process and have already completed the underpainting sketches and backgrounds on all 16 pieces. If you're a fan of my work or simply a caring friend/family member please share any posts (Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc) that pertain to my new series and Solo Show. You'll be helping me ensure the show and art series is a great success. :D

It has been a dream of mine to participate in the Queen West Art Crawl since I moved to Toronto in 2010. Since I live off of Queen West, the QWAC was the first outdoor art show I attended before becoming a full-time artist. I finally realized my dream this past weekend, September 13-14 2014. Though I was a tad put-off by the organizational hiccups and the bit of rain we had on Saturday (it has rained during EVERY show I had this season .... ugh) I still enjoyed myself and tried to focus on the positives. For example, having lost the spot I paid for, I was given a really spectacular spot, front and center, at the end of the main path through the gates. I also had the pleasure of meeting some incredibly kind people who really appreciated my talent, techniques, and detail. It is sometimes very hard to take part in these shows as abstract or more decorative artists tend to make far more sales, but I never tire of hearing how impressed people are with my ability to capture realism in a more vibrant and defined way. When someone enters my tent and really "gets it" it makes my day! So thank you very much to the folks who were blown away by my pieces! You've charged my creative juices and now I cannot wait to get working again! :)

Many months ago when I was contacted by my wonderful client, asking if I would be able to create a HUGE 5 foot x 7 foot Indian Bride Portrait Painting, it seemed too good to be true. I had always felt I was meant to create epic beauty artworks of this magnitude and now someone would be paying me to do it! Truly a dream come true. :)

The three months of long days, nights, and weekends, more than 300 hours, went by in a flash. I had never felt more excited and ambitious about a piece. I would be so excited to wake up and start painting that I'd have a hard time sleeping. I was like a child during the night before Christmas. Every stroke, every gem applied, was done with the utmost care. It was a journey I will never forget.


To commission your own portrait please contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

I am VERY excited to announce that my artwork was showcased on three full pages in the premiere issue of HOLR Magazine! While exhibiting at the Riverdale Art Walk this summer I had the pleasure of meeting Neil Shelton who showed a real interest in my work and my concept of beauty. He mentioned his upcoming magazine and that he might like to showcase my artwork. I was touched but, as I'm sure many artists can relate, I wasn't going to count my chickens until they hatched. Well, I certainly was not disappointed! The premier issue of HOLR Magazine, Canada's newest lifestyle magazine, hit the shelves at Chapters and Indigo's across Canada on August 18th 2014! Be sure to check your location and take a pic with your copy!

Yesterday evening, after seeing that the HOLR website had gone live, I decided to visit the iconic Toronto Eaton's Center in search of a copy. I was over the moon excited when I came across this ...

This past weekend, August 15 & 16 2014, I exhibited my beauty artworks at the Artists' Networks' ART WALK NORTH in North York, Toronto. I had taken part last year, the show's first year, and really enjoyed myself. I discussed my work at length with many admirers and even sold a small piece. This year was just as enjoyable despite the terrible rain on Saturday. The crowd was very appreciative of my work and showed lots of interest. I'm also excited to say I SOLD my beautiful "Viridian Indian Beauty" acrylic portrait painting! Another incredible year! I will certainly be applying again next year! Thank you so much to everyone I met over the weekend! I hope you keep in touch either on my Facebook Page, Twitter, or Website!

Don't Forget!
My First Solo Exhibition will take place at Ben Navaee Gallery!
January 30th to February 05th 2015
Opening Night:
January 30th 2015
6 pm to 9pm

This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in Toronto's Big On Bloor Fesitval! I look forward to this event every year as it tends to get a spectacular turn out, not to mention the experience in itself is so unique and fun. Bloor, one of Toronto's most popular streets, is shut down for the weekend, completely car free, and all of the local businesses, musicians, artists, and restaurants take over. Even though it rained throughout the day on Saturday a huge crowd still made it out and I had the pleasure of meeting many great people who appreciated my work. Unfortunately on Sunday I was not feeling well and after a lot of thought I decided not to participate. The weather network was calling for thunderstorms and I just could not imagine dealing with all of that while feeling ill. The weather ended up being nice which made it even more sad that I couldn't make it. I can only hope that I'll be invited back next year to participate again. If you did come out just to see me on Sunday please accept my apologies. I have two more outdoor art shows scheduled for this summer so hopefully you can make it to one of those. My upcoming shows are ALWAYS posted on my "News" website page HERE.

"Big Bright Beach Beauty"
July 2014
Watercolour Paint and
Pencil on Paper
1.75" x 8.25"
FREE GIVEAWAY


I had been working with watercolour paper a lot and initially I had thrown out this little piece as a clipping. But then the thought occurred that this size might be beautiful for a tiny figurative piece. With summer in full force I thought it would be wonderful to depict a larger woman wearing a bright bikini and sporting bright purple hair. She's not afraid to be seen. She isn't insecure about her beautiful voluptuous body, nor should she be! I'm hoping this little piece will inspire other full figured women to be brave and enjoy the summer regardless of the ridiculous societal standard that only thin women should wear a bikini.

YOU CAN WIN IT ON MY FB PAGE!

"Beginning A Life Of Love"
July 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION

This stunningly realistic couple portrait was commissioned by the beautiful woman featured in the oil painting, Melissa Gour. She thought one of my custom artworks would make the perfect birthday gift for her husband-to-be. Rami has received his gift and he absolutely loves it! I'm so glad. They are such a sweet couple and I wish them much happiness in their life together. :)

"Little Caleb"
July 2014
Mixed Media on Paper
(Watercolour Paint and Pencil)
8" x 10"/each
COMMISSION

These beautiful mixed media artworks were commissioned by the loving grandma of Caleb and Sophie. Using watercolour paint and pencil I hoped to capture these babies' personalities in a soft simple style. I can only hope these artworks will make my patron, Line Lachance, smile every time she sees them.

CALL FOR BEAUTY
True Beauty: An Untouched Project

I don’t know about you but I THINK in my sleep. Dreams are rare for me and instead of dreaming I think of the artworks I’m working on, updates I need to make, projects I need to work on, etc. This morning I woke up after a long night of thinking about my First Solo Exhibition which is taking place at Ben Navaee Gallery January 30th to February 5th 2015. I also thought about how I’d been wanting to do a large series featuring a beautiful variety of “everyday” women. Who is an “everyday” woman? A mother, teacher, hair stylist, artist, photographer, office worker, athlete, sister, pet owner, home maker, lab worker, nurse, model, student, absolutely EVERY woman is an “everyday” woman and I’m hoping to capture a diverse group. The key is that I will only be using untouched photos (not professionally edited) to capture the true beauty of each women. It may be a selfie or a photo someone took. It could even be an unedited photo that a photographer took. Using these beautiful untouched photos of women I will capture their true natural beauty using expressive colour and an emphasis on each woman’s unique facial features. This series will express the beauty of all women and in so doing allow any woman viewing the series to see the beauty in herself. It is my hope that this new series will be the focal point of my First Solo Exhibition.

Are you interested in submitting your beautiful face for this project?
Any woman from anywhere in the world, 14 years or older, can submit their images!
It does not matter what your profession, nationality, age, or size is.
YOU are beautiful and I would love to see your photos!
If you’d like your untouched/unedited images to be considered for this project please e-mail as many as you’d like to …

Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

"Pretty Pascale"
July 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
6" x 8"
COMMISSION

This beautiful black and white oil portrait painting was created as a custom work for a client and represents his stunning special friend, Pascale. Her unique beauty kept me passionate about the project throughout its creation. Her deep dark eyes and full lips allude to her beautiful character. From what I've heard from my client, her inner beauty, seen in her personality and love, is equal to that of her beautiful exterior.

YOU can commission your own for $150 CAD (Worldwide Shipping Included) ---> Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

I've decided to take part in the 1 Minute Memory (#1MinMem) fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Society. I'm going to be creating a one minute portrait of anyone willing to donate £1 (or more) to the Alzheimer's Society via this link www.justgiving.com/1MinuteMemory. Here's how it works!

1) You make a donation under your name (do not make is anonymous or I won't know if you paid)
2) E-mail me the photo you'd like me to use
3) I will do the sketch in 1 minute
4) I will post the results to social media
5) I will send you an official unmarked photo of the sketch via e-mail
6) If you want the original sketch you'd have to pay shipping charges

I hope you'll consider taking part in order to help this worthy cause. :)

More info about this charitable project can be found HERE.

"Little Loves"
June 2014
Mixed Media on
Watercolour Paper
(Watercolour Paint and Pencil)
5" x 7"/each
GIFTS

This beautiful series of mixed media artworks was created as gifts for some of my dearest relations. The first portrait is of my niece Harper, daughter of my cousin Morgan Loos. The next two little boys are my nephews Jeremy and Simon, sons of my cousin Christiane Colard. And last but not least the final four, Easton, Ava, Ian, and Libby are my nieces and nephews on my husbands side and were created as a 60th Birthday gift for my amazing mother-in-law Sally. I hope my "Little Loves" bring joy to my relations whenever they look at them. :)

Commission your own 5" x 7" mixed media portrait for $100 CAD (World Wide Shipping Included) ---> Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

Really REALLY excited to share this news with you! Ben Navaee Gallery, located on Queen East in Toronto, has offered me my very first SOLO EXHIBITION! The contract has been signed and fees have been paid, everything is official, and I could not be more thrilled! This is something that I have been dreaming about for years and years and I just can't wait! The exhibition will run from January 30 to February 05 2015 and Ben has kindly allowed me to plan for an Opening Night reception which I am currently thinking will be held on the Friday evening. I hope all of you can make it out to see my work in person and to celebrate this very exciting event in my life and career! More details will come as time progresses but please keep these dates in mind!

On Saturday June 07 and Sunday June 08 2014 I exhibited my artwork at the Riverdale Art Walk on Queen East in Toronto. The wonderful event, put on by the Artists' Network, was very well organized and, despite some gloomy weather on Sunday, was well attended. This was my first time exhibiting my new Custom Artwork section and it was really well received. I'm definitely looking forward to creating some lasting memories for future clients. It is always a pleasure discussing my work and hearing positive comments about the detail and realism I can achieve. Some folks who attend these shows really do not understand how much a simple "you're work is lovely" comment can mean to the artist. To all those who made me smile over the weekend, thank you! Hoping to see everyone again next year! :D

"Viridian Indian Beauty"
June 2014
Acrylic Paint and
Gems on Canvas
16" x 20"


Original Artwork:
$850.00 CAD
HERE

8"x10" Prints:
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE


This acrylic painting of a beautiful Indian Bride was created as a study for a large scale commission. The artist was intending to test the blending limits of acrylic paint as well as test the process of adhering acrylic gems to a painting. In order to make the piece unique the artist added a pop of colour by pulling the gold and mauve colours from the background into the stones in the jewelry. The artist hopes the piece gives the viewer a sense of calm and elegant beauty.

Please continue scrolling for a pre-jewel image as well as close up photos!

"A Love For Living Past Lives"
May 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
11" x 14"
COMMISSION


This beautiful figurative oil painting was commissioned by the subjects wife to be his 60th birthday present. It was such a pleasure capturing this moment of the subject before one of his beloved war re-enactments. I myself am a fan of history and vintage images so it was easy for me to stay inspired throughout the painting process. I hope the happy couple enjoys their portrait!

Want to commission your own? Contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com.

Continue for a comparison image and close ups!

Read the Interview
HERE


I became familiar with the Canadian feminist website, Elle Beaver, when they did a piece on "The Malala Effect" art exhibition I had the pleasure of being a part of. I really enjoyed the site, as I too hope to empower women in my way, so I was thrilled when I was contacted for an interview. I felt as though the questions were some of the most thought provoking I had encountered thus far in my career. I'm really happy about it and I hope you enjoy it too! :D

"A Love That Knows No Boundaries"
September 2013
Acrylic and Oil Paint on Canvas
12" x 16"
COMMISSION


I was contacted last summer by a patron hoping to commission an original artwork for her friend who was getting married. The beautiful couple had had an exciting life together thus far and had lived and traveled in multiple locations around the world. The client wanted to incorporate the couple in a surrealistic or abstracted way so I designed this composition that camouflages a basic portrait of the couple amongst skylines of the most memorable cities of their life together. The first skyline starting from the bottom depicts Holyhead, UK which is near the husbands birthplace. The dark red skyline depicts Toronto which is where the bride was originally from. At this point their journey together begins. The dark blue skyline depicts Melbourne, Australia where the couple met and lived together for many years. The yellow skyline represent Brussels, Belgium where the couple spent more happy years together. The light blue skyline depicts Morocco where the gentleman proposed at sunset, hence the sunset colours. The light red skyline depicts Zug, Switzerland where they would be making their new home. And the light green skyline depicts Bodelwyddan Castle where they would be getting married. Lastly, the final strip features a lightly cloudy bright blue sky alluding to the beginning of their life together as a married couple. So much thought and many many weeks went into creating this beautiful piece. I hope the couple truly loves it! :)

"Mykonos Sunset"
April 2014
Mixed Media on Canvas
(Watercolour, Chalk Pastel,
Coloured Pencils, Charcoal)
8" x 10"
YOU COULD WIN!


Original Artwork:
YOU COULD WIN ON
Facebook or Twitter

8" x 10" Art Prints:
$20.00 CAD
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE


This mixed media artwork was inspired by the Mykonos sunset my fiance Darren and I watched while visiting the Greek Islands. We had seen the famous Oia sunset the night before, and it was amazing, but this one felt more romantic and the colours were moving. I hope that the piece gives the viewers a sense of calm and comfort and that the beauty of the Greek Islands shines through the depiction.

Continue for close up photos ...

Tattoo Sound + Music
482 Eastern
Toronto, ON
(416) 461-3915


Recently I was contacted by Caela Maher, the Media and Culture Liaison at TA2 Sound + Music. She had discovered my website, loved my work, and wanted to showcase it at the award winning production company. I was really impressed with the quality and professionalism of their sites and establishment so I was thrilled to agree. Caela had free range to choose from all of my available artwork and she really did a beautiful job of choosing and curating the show. The collection will be hung for around a month so please stop by and see it in person! You will love the stylish yet comfy atmosphere at TA2!

I hope you enjoy my photos from my visit the other day! I was really thrilled with the installment!

Check out TA2 Sound +Music here:
Website - www.ta2music.com
Instagram - www.Instagram.com/TattooSoundandMusic
Facebook - www.Facebook.com/TattooSoundandMusic
Twitter - www.Twitter.com/TA2ink

"Inner Goddess Of Burlesque Beauty"
April 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
24" x 30"
COMMISSION


I am one lucky artist! I truly have the best fans and supporters out there. One such fan discovered my work through Etsy and, liking what he saw, decided to offer me a commission I will never forget! He was fond of 1930-40's Pin-Up art as well as the burlesque style and asked if I could combine these ideas into a representation of his beautiful wife. He said he wanted her to look at it and "see her as her inner burlesque queen". I truly believe this project was destined for me. I was made to create it. Not only was it a piece that featured a naturally beautiful woman but one that would celebrate her beauty and make her feel special. How many husbands are this adoring? I was touched.

My lovely patron sent me many photos of his beautiful wife so that I could gain an understanding of her facial features and shape. Using a variety of resources I created this luxurious composition. He absolutely loved it and we decided it would look amazing in a sepia palette. I'm so thrilled with the results and I'm excited to share close up photos of the details! Keep scrolling to see them!

When LD Henriquez contacted me to take part in her new masterpiece "Wanderlustful" I was thrilled. She explained her project beautifully and sent me a copy of her poem. I connected with it instantly. To me it expressed my inner desire for travel. For seeing new places, experiencing new cultures, and learning new histories. Travel is something I literally crave and I felt like LD's poem reflected that feeling perfectly and beautifully. Make sure to hit play! The music pics up at 1:20 and really adds to the emotion of the piece. Incredible work LD! You are such a talented woman! :)

Check out LD Henriquez' blog feature about me ---> HERE
Check out LD Henriquez' tumbler of all the featured artwork ---> HERE

"Grigia"
April 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
12" x 12"
COMMISSION

It had been too long since I'd created a pet portrait. In fact the only other animal portraits I had ever done was another oil painting (one of my very first portraits) back in 2009 and a charcoal drawing in 2010. I knew my skills had grown quite a bit since then so I was excited to see what I could do with beautiful Grigia. When Grigia passed away her human parents decided they would like a painting to commemorate her life. Being a fellow cat mama I completely understood and was delighted to capture Grigia; which means "grey" in Italian. Her plush fur took days to layer in but the final results are better than I could have imagined. I'm so thrilled with the results of this piece and am glad that the couple will be happy, remembering their adorable Grigia, when they look at my painting.

For an estimate on your own pet portrait contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

Continue scrolling to see a comparison photo as well as close ups ....

"Nan And Pop"
March 2014
Pencil on Stonehenge Paper
5" x 7"/each
COMMISSION

Back in March I received a call from a lovely woman wondering if I could create some simple pencil portraits of her husbands grandparents. She had already had her grandparents drawn by another artist but that artist wasn't doing portraits any longer. I was happy to do this little project for her, it was a treat. The couple loved their portraits and bought prints to give to their family members. What a lovely keep sake, don't you think?

If you're interested in a little custom piece such as this I would charge $100 CAD/each + Shipping. Feel free to contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com should you be interested. :)

Keep scrolling for comparison photos and close ups .....

I cannot believe I'm typing these words but .... I've been featured in Missy/Ink Magazine's "Art Issue" as their 'Missy Of The Moment'!!! The feature has been in the works since September 2013 when Missy/Ink's editor-in-chief Bella Rouge asked me to submit my work. I generally stay very positive about my art career and all that comes with that but sometimes my mind gets a bit anxious and pessimistic. So over the months, from September to now, I often battled with extreme excitement and then extreme wariness. I didn't want to get my hopes up. Being published in a magazine sold at Chapters and Indigo stores across Canada was a big dream of mine and it just seemed too good to be true. Well folks ... it is good and it is TRUE! I am so excited and full of emotions, I can't even describe it. I could not wait to walk into my favourite Chapters location (Richmond and John - Toronto - Shown above) and pick up a magazine with MY ARTWORK IN IT! With my heart all a flutter I did just that yesterday and I am still in awe. I love this magazine so much as they too focus on portraying a wide variety of beautiful women. It is truly an honour to have any association with this team and being featured by them is beyond an honour. Thank you so much Missy/Ink! The feature is AWESOME!

I thought you might like to see my emotional experience so I had my love Darren take some photos of it going down! I hope you like them! :D

On Thursday March 06, 2014 Plan Canada's Because I Am A Girl initiative launched their new children's book "Everyday Is Malala Day". In order to promote the book and celebrate International Women's Day Plan Canada decided to hold an art exhibition entitled "The Malala Effect". 24 local artists were given a page from the book to draw inspiration in order to create an original artwork for the show. I felt so honored to be a part of such an amazing event dedicated to a cause that is very close to my heart; equal rights for girls around the world.

Want to see my completed artwork "She Connects And Strengthens Us" in detail?
See this blog post ---> HERE

Want to see my piece come to life? Watch my time lapse videos ---> HERE

Want to learn more about the project, Malala, Because I Am A Girl, or Plan?
See this blog post ---> HERE

The night ran beautifully with delicious h'ordeuvres, an open bar, and truly inspirational speeches from both the author of the book Rosemary McCarney (CEO and President of Plan Canada) and Lisa LaFlamme (Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor at CTV National News). It was truly a night I will never forget.

I hope you enjoy my photos of the event!
(Taken at Walnut Contemporary Gallery)

"Blue Pop Marilyn"
March 2014
Acrylic Paint on Canvas
8" x 10"
COMMISSION


I'm very excited to have had the opportunity to complete my series "Vintage Pop Beauties" for a very special and extra supportive fan. Prior to the end of my latest Facebook Contest Hope Toivonen purchased my mini painting "Yellow Pop Audrey". When Hope to did not win the contest, and therefore would not be able to complete the series, I thought it would be nice to create a new mini pop piece of Marilyn Monroe to go with the other two mini artworks. I chose a classic Marilyn pose with pouted lips and sexy squinted eyes. I'm quite pleased with the results and I hope you are too! :)

"The Malala Effect"
Because I Am A Girl
Plan Canada

Walnut Contemporary Gallery
201 Niagara Street

Open to the Public on
March 7th and 8th 2014
11:00 am to 6:00 pm


For the past couple of weeks I've been discussing and updating you on my art piece for Plan Canada's 'Because I Am A Girl' art exhibition "The Malala Effect". Though the opening night on March 6th will be a private viewing, Plan Canada has allotted two days for the public to come in and admire the show. It is going to be spectacular so if you have the time it would be worth a visit. :)

Want more info on the project?

A month ago I was asked to take part in a project being put on by Plan Canada as part of the "Because I Am A Girl" initiative. If you're not aware, "Because I Am A Girl" is a global project to end gender inequality, promote girls' rights, and lift millions of girls - and everyone around them - out of poverty. As the majority of my artwork focuses on female inner beauty and strength, you can imagine how excited I was to have been chosen for this project. :)

"Because I Am A Girl" will soon be launching a new book entitled "Everyday Is Malala Day". The book is inspired by Malala Yousafzai who is a young Pakistani girl that was shot in 2012 by the Taliban for openly fighting for girls rights to education. Thankfully she survived the terrible incident and has since been a symbol to girls all over the world who believe in the power of being educated.

To celebrate the book launch, as well as National Women's Day, Plan Canada has decided to hold an art exhibition, "The Malala Effect", that is inspired by the book and by Malala's strength. They have chosen a group of artists and have assigned each of us a page of the book to pull our inspiration and create an original artwork for the show. Once the show is complete each piece will be donated to a school in order to inspire students to engage in their education.

"She Connects and Strengthens Us"
Inspired by Malala Yousafzai
February 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
16" x 16"
COMMISSION


This beautiful portrait painting was requested by Plan Canada's 'Because I Am A Girl' campaign to be exhibited in their "The Malala Effect" exhibition.

'Because I Am A Girl' is a global project to end gender inequality, promote girl' rights, and lift millions of girls - and everyone around them - out of poverty. As the majority of my artwork focuses on female inner beauty and strength, I felt very connected to the project.

As part of the campaign Plan Canada will be launching a new book entitled "Everyday is Malala Day". The book is inspired by Malala Yousafzai who is a young Pakistani girl that was shot in 2012 by the Taliban for openly fighting for girls' rights to education. Thankfully she survived the terrible incident and has since been a symbol to girls all over the world who believe in the power of being educated.

To celebrate the book launch, as well as National Women's Day, Plan Canada has decided to hold an art exhibition, "The Malala Effect", that is inspired by the book and Malala's strength. I was one of 24 artists to be chosen to create a piece inspired by one of the pages of the book. Once the exhibition is complete the painting will be donated to a school in order to inspire students to engage in their education.

I chose to depict Malala's message with two young girls from different cultural backgrounds. Though they come from different countries they are connected by Malala's strength which is represented in their braided hair. Because of Malala, girls from around the world are inspired to have the strength to speak up for themselves and fight for equal rights and opportunities.

To see detailed images of my painting please continue ....

I'm so excited to share photos of my current show "Exhibit Here - Artists" on until March 02 2014 in Harrow, UK. The group exhibition features really incredible and diverse artwork. I'm not only impressed with the quality and diversity of the work but also the incredible installation of the art and professionalism of the entire event. Leila Bibizadeh, the founder of Exhibit Here, has helped me throughout this entire process and has been incredibly kind, patient, and professional. I feel so honoured to be a part of this event and even more excited to be exhibiting my work in a country other than Canada for the first time EVER!

If you've yet to visit the show and are in the area please stop by!
If you're not in the UK and would like to see more photos of the artwork on display visit either my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme or Exhibit Here's Facebook Page HERE.

See more photos ....

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to take part in a project being put on by Plan Canada as part of the "Because I Am A Girl" initiative. If you're not aware, "Because I Am A Girl" is a global project to end gender inequality, promote girls' rights, and lift millions of girls - and everyone around them - out of poverty. As the majority of my artwork focuses on female inner beauty and strength, you can imagine how excited I am to have been chosen for this project. :)

"Because I Am A Girl" will soon be launching a new book entitled "Everyday Is Malala Day". The book is inspired by Malala Yousafzai who is a young Pakistani girl that was shot in 2012 by the Taliban for openly fighting for girls rights to education. Thankfully she survived the terrible incident and has since been a symbol to girls all over the world who believe in the power of being educated.

To celebrate the book launch, as well as National Women's Day, Plan Canada has decided to hold an art exhibition, "The Malala Effect", that is inspired by the book and by Malala's strength. They have chosen a group of artists and have assigned each of us a page of the book to pull our inspiration and create an original artwork for the show. Once the show is complete each piece will be donated to a school in order to inspire students to engage in their education.

I will be excitedly creating this piece over the next few weeks and would love it if you joined me. Your encouragement and support, as well and your help in spreading the word, will make this project truly worth while. :)

See the piece come to life on ....

Facebook:
www.FB.com/MalindaPrudhomme

Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/MalindaArt

"Eyes Of Ice"
February 2014
Acrylic Paint and Oil Paint
on Canvas
8" x 10"
COMMISSION

This custom mixed media eye painting was commissioned by Patricia Kerr. She wanted me to portray her friend Molly's beautiful blue eyes. The variety of colour in Molly's skin tone is absolutely stunning; not too mention her striking light blue "ice" eyes add a pop of bright colour. It was such a pleasure to create and I hope the piece adds beauty to the home it will be hanging in.

Please continue to see CLOSE UP detailed images of this painting. :)

"Eyes Of Earth And Water"
February 2014
Acrylic Paint and Oil Paint
on Canvas
8" x 10"
COMMISSION


I was thrilled when my friend and fellow artisan Nici Shipway asked me to create a custom eye painting of her daughter Amelie's stunning blue eyes featuring a light dusting of her beautiful freckles. She plans on giving the painting to Amelie as a gift on Valentines Day. Nici explained to me that her family always celebrates Valentines Day since Amelie had heart surgery on this day. I think that is such an amazing thing to celebrate and I am really touched that she felt my artwork would be a lovely gift on such an important day.

During the painting process I really became inspired by the contrast of Amelie's earthy skin tones and bright water blue eyes. It is because of this that I decided to title the piece "Eyes Of Earth and Water". I hope the piece brings happiness to Nici, Amelie, and the whole family. :)

Please continue to see close up photos of this beautiful mixed media painting.

"Simon"
February 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION


During my short time back in my hometown, when I went to help my father set up his social media sites, I was able to spare a bit of time to visit my cousin Christiane and her family. Christiane and I have been close my entire life. She was four years old when I was born and she just fell in love with me. She would drag me around everywhere and we've been best cousins ever since. Nowadays, with me living in Toronto, we barely get to see each other. It was so nice to see her, her husband Calvin, and OF COURSE my two nephews Simon and Jeremy! The cost of travel is too high so this was my first time meeting Jeremy; what a treat! They are such a beautiful family. :)

You can imagine how excited I was when Christiane and Calvin commissioned me to paint a portrait of my nephew Simon! He is such an adorable "little man"; as I like to call him. So smart and mature. Absolutely adorable. I believe originally Christiane hoped to have a series painted of all her children to be put up in the bedroom and I think that is such a lovely idea. I hope they love their portrait!

"Vintage Pop Beauties"
January 2014
Acrylic Paint on Canvas
18" x 24"
8" x 10" minis
YOU COULD WIN!

After doing a survey over Facebook and Twitter I decided to hold a contest where my fans could win an original artwork. Truth be told I had a canvas board I was dying to cover up and create something incredible with. So when there was an interest for original work I jumped at the opportunity. If you'd like to win "Blue Pop Marilyn" (18"x24") please take part in my Facebook contest HERE.

The pop art movement has always been one of my favourite era's to study and continues to inspire me. This series was created using acrylic paint in a bright colour and contrasting black giving it a "pop" style. To further the concept of "pop" art I chose to depict the popular vintage beauties Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, and Audrey Hepburn. I felt the blue background mirrored Marilyn's sultry beauty, the red background corresponds with Bettie's wild and sexy character, while the yellow background emphasizes Audrey's sweet and soft nature. I hope these artworks exude beauty and fun.

Continue for more photos and information regarding these artworks. :)

Last Thursday January 30th 2014 I exhibited five of my artworks in Moniker Gallery's "Spitting Image" show which was dedicated to portrait and figurative art. I was thrilled to not only exhibit in Toronto's Moniker Gallery but also to be a part of a show dedicated to my passion. The opening reception was a huge success; it was packed! What an incredible night. HUGE thank yous and props go out to Michelle and Daniel for putting together an awesome show. :)

I hope you enjoy my photos from the opening night!

On January 17th 2014 North Bay's White Water Gallery opened their annual show "Black Water Art" during the community art walk. I was thrilled to become a gallery member for the second year in row and take part in this incredible collective show. I chose to display the four remaining pieces of my "Seeing Into The Soul" series and decided to offer it at a show special of $400 (reg. $600). So far the series has not sold so if you are interested in taking up the offer (ends Feb 8th 2014) please let me know. It is always a pleasure for me to exhibit my work in North Bay where I attended the fine arts program at Nipissing University. I feel a have such an emotional connection to the community so it is important to me that I remain at least a small part of the art world there. I hope you enjoy the photos of the show! :)

Sometime during the hustle and bustle of creating holiday custom artwork and going away to Costa Rica I forgot to post about "The Collective Show" I took part in at the Artscape Triangle Gallery! It was a great little show that ran for about a week and though I didn't make any sales I'm glad to have had the exposure. I hope you enjoy the photos! :)

OPENING RECEPTION:
Thursday January 30th 2014
7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
FREE entry!

Show Runs From:
January 31st 2014 - February 5th 2014
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Over the weekend I received some GREAT news! My artwork "Colour Inspired Beauty" and my series "A Mark Of Beauty" were accepted into Moniker Gallery's portrait exhibition "Spitting Image". Some of you might remember that Moniker Gallery is the first gallery I exhibited at in Toronto which was also my first time exhibiting in Nuit Blanche! It was an incredible experience, a beautiful gallery, and a great crowd! I'm really looking forward to exhibiting at Moniker again and am even more excited about exhibiting in a show inspired by the art of portraiture. I hope you can make it to this awesome exhibition! It would be great to see some familiar faces and meet some of you for the first time. :)

"Living A Life Of Music"
January 2014
Acrylic Paint on Canvas
20" x 30"
COMMISSION

I was thrilled to create this custom abstract painting for my amazing cousin Nickie Beaulieu. She and her entire family have been so incredibly supportive of me throughout my artist journey. Her brother, father, and her mother had already purchased artwork from me before she made her request. Nickie will now have two of my original artworks in her home and it means so much to me that they will bring her happiness. :)

When Nickie contacted me she expressed a desire to capture her passion for music through abstract art. She said, "The reason why I want this painting done is two fold. Art and Music is very important in our family so it always makes me think of them. Also, it represents my journey in trying to hold onto the one instrument I can play, the piano". She explained that she had stopped playing the piano for many years but recently started back up and hoped to never stop again.

In order to create this custom piece I kept Nickie's passion for music in mind and tried to stay true to some guidelines she set out.

- Line work
- Music notes
- Texture
- Dark colours
- Black/Purple
- Hints of white
- A bright colour
- Piano Keys

I know Nickie loves the results! What do you think? I hope you enjoy it. :)

To commission your own custom artwork contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

Black Water Art
White Water Gallery
122 Main Street East
North Bay, ON

Opening Reception: Friday January 17th 2014
January 17th 2014 to February 8th 2014
Tues-Sat 11:00am-4:30pm



I am excited to announce I will be exhibiting my artwork in North Bay again! Some of you may not know that I lived in North Bay for a year while I completed my minor in Visual Arts at Nipissing University. It was one of the happiest times of my life. While there I gained a connection with the community and, now that I've left, the town holds a warm place in my heart.

I've decided to renew my membership with White Water Gallery and exhibit in the "Black Water Art" exhibition. My "Seeing Into The Soul" series will be at the gallery throughout the show should anyone in the area wish to see it up close and personal. The series is for sale, and to celebrate my exhibiting in North Bay again, I've decided to list it at a special price. Attend the show for details!

If you are in the North Bay area please stop by the exhibition. As I'm not in the area I am sad to say I have to miss it. So if you happen to attend please feel free to take photos and share them with me! I would absolutely love that! Hope you can make it. :)

"Beautiful Baby Girl Blues"
January 2014
Acrylic and Oil
Paint on Canvas
8" x 10"
COMMISSION


This stunning custom eye painting was commissioned by Stacey Kerr. The piece features her beautiful little girl Phoebe's blue eyes. Babies tend to have softer and rounder features which is why I chose to utilize shadow to give depth and add realism to the eyes. It was such a pleasure to capture these incredible baby blues! I hope my artwork brings happiness to Stacey's home. :)

To commission your own 8" x 10" custom eye painting for $150.00 please contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com. :)

Continue to see close ups ...

"A Loving Memory"
January 2014
Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION


Here is my first artwork of 2014! A beautiful oil painting commissioned by Sherry Holmes O'Connor to be given to her father as a gift. The piece depicts one of the last photos taken of her father and her brother before her brother passed away. It is truly a beautiful memory. I'm very thrilled with the realism I achieved in this piece as I felt it was a bit of a challenge. The original photo was quite dark and a bit blurry so it required a lot of layers but it was all worth it in the end. I hope that this painting brings joy to Sherry's father.

Do you have a custom artwork in mind? Contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

To see more photos of this father/son portrait please continue ....

"Seeing Unique Beauty"
November 26 2013
Acrylic Paint and Oil Paint
on Canvas
8" x 10"
COMMISSION


This project was really enjoyable and actually quite exciting. During the Liberty Village Art Crawl I was visited by the beautiful sister of the talented (and also beautiful) abstract artist Darlene Swinton. She showed me her stunningly beautiful eyes and expressed her love for her unique brown spot in one of her eyes. As you know I love unique features so I was quite excited about the prospect of painting these incredible eyes.

I was later contacted by Darlene Swinton, a fellow artist, to create this custom eye painting of her sisters eyes to by given as a birthday gift to her sister. I was thrilled. The entire painting process was so enjoyable as Darlene's sister has a wide range of colours in her skin tone. The piece turned out beautifully. Darlene was thrilled with the results which is such a compliment coming from a fellow artist. :)

See Darlene Swinton's artwork HERE.

Continue to see details photos. :)

"Connection"
November 21 2013
Acrylic and Oil Paint
on Canvas
20" x 30"
COMMISSION


This beautiful commissioned mixed media painting was created for Kimberly Paparo to be given as a Christmas gift to her husband Nik Paparo. When she contacted me she asked if I could create something that contained both dragonflies and forget-me-knot flowers as the two have personal meaning to the couple. After toying around with some abstract ideas we decided on a softly abstracted background with a texture that compares to suede (achieved with multiple layers of acrylic paint) and a bright and realistic representation of a loving dragonfly couple (created using oil paint). I am so thrilled with the results and I've been told that Nik loved the piece as well! Creating love filled artworks is my greatest passion. It was such a pleasure. :)

To commission your own custom artwork please contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

Please continue to see detailed photos!

A www.Shutterfly.com book created in order to commemorate the highlights of the first few years of my art career. :)

See The Feature
HERE


I was thrilled to take part in WePoetsShowIt.com's "Gallery Sunday" feature. I thought it might be fun to submit a progress slideshow as well as a time-lapse video. The feature also includes some photos and a short biography. I'm so thankful for the interest WePoetsShowIt has had in my work and I definitely intend to submit again in the future! Please check out this awesome feature! Thank you for commenting! :D

Black Friday Sale!


RED DEAL: Buy One 8” x 10” Art Print and Get One FREE!

Simply purchase one of my 8” x 10” Art Prints on my Etsy Shop and send me a direct message to tell me which FREE print you choose. No added shipping for the FREE print. (Don’t want to use Etsy? Contact me directly at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com to make your order)

http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/MalindaPrudhomme?section_id=11454123


GREEN DEAL: Buy Two Art Pendant Necklaces and Get One FREE!

These beautiful necklaces make great Stocking Stuffers and Secret Santa gifts! Simply purchase two Art Pendant Necklaces on my Etsy shop and send me a direct message to tell me which FREE necklace you choose. No added shipping for the FREE necklace. (Don’t want to use Etsy? Contact me directly at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com to make your order)

http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/MalindaPrudhomme?section_id=11853135


YELLOW DEAL: Buy FIVE Art Bookmarks For $5.00!

Have a book lover to buy for? These art bookmarks add a bit of beauty to any book nook. Simply purchase the listing for FIVE Bookmarks on my Etsy shop and tell me which FIVE artworks you choose. (Don’t want to use Etsy? Contact me directly at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com to make your order)

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/111562750/black-friday-sale-five-art-bookmarks-by


PURPLE DEAL: Choose TWENTY FREE Postcards! A Gift J

Anyone who enjoys my artwork will love my Black Friday gift! You choose twenty of your favourite art postcards and I will mail them to you, anywhere in the world, when you pay $5.00 for shipping. Since Etsy won’t allow a price tag of $0 I have made the 20 Postcards listing $0.22 with a shipping cost of $4.78. I’m so looking forward to sharing my artwork with all of you. (Don’t want to use Etsy? Contact me directly at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com to make your order)


https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/111251888/20-free-art-postcards-affordable-wall


Sale ends on Saturday November 30, 2013 at 12:00pm eastern time. :)

From December 5 to December 16 2013 I will be exhibiting and selling my original artworks in "The Collective Show". Join me at the Opening Reception on Saturday December 7th 2013 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. "The Collective Show" will be my only winter show this year! So, if you were hoping to purchase my artwork after seeing it in person, or are looking for a special gift, please visit this incredible show. :)

The Collective Gallery was also kind enough to feature my portraiture on their blog! They have told me they've had some interest in my portraits due to the post and that is very exciting! Please view the blog post HERE.

I hope to see you on Opening Night! :D

"A Touch Of Travel"
Willow Vine Charcoal
on Stonehenge Paper
November 07 2013
16" x 20"


It was so nice to get these fingers full of charcoal again! Dawn Munro, a fellow teacher I met while getting qualified to teach Visual Arts, contacted me a while back saying she wanted to support my art career by offering me a payed project of my choice. Wow, this was the first time someone gave me full range to create something custom for them. After a bit of discussion, and based on an artwork Dawn had mentioned, "Trinkets From A Culture Unknown", I decided to create her a luscious charcoal still life of items she collected during her travels.

I hoped to showcase each object with a unique shadow in order to express how each trip, location, moment, memory has a unique affect on who we are. I personally find that I learn something new about the world and about myself every time I travel. I hope this resonates in the piece. It was really a pleasure to create and I hope it brings added joy to Dawn's home. :)


Continue scrolling to see close up photos ...

"A Love Filled Project"
Oil Paint on Canvas
November 01 2013
9" x 12" /each

Anita Giesbrecht and I made this project official back in May but due to a very busy summer I wasn't able to complete it until recently. I hope Anita and her husband Dwayne think it was worth the wait. :)

These two custom couples portraits depict Anita and Dwayne's parents using many layers of oil paint. I am so thrilled with the results! The detail, bright colours, and high level of realism really make these two artworks extra special. After meeting the couple and seeing how much these artworks will be appreciated I felt so happy. This is what I was meant to do; create beautiful impressive pieces of artwork that will be treasured for generations.

Thank you Anita and Dwayne Giesbrecht for your business and continued support of my work. :D

Please continue scrolling for more detailed photos ...

Read The Interview
HERE

At the end of October 2013 I was asked, not only to become an Exhibit Here artist, but to be featured with an "In The Studio With ..." interview! What an incredible honour! Every time I am asked to take part in a feature I can't help but get excited; it will never get old!

The interview focuses mainly on my work and artistic process. I always take these interviews as an opportunity to be honest and real. I hope that comes across in my responses. :) The piece also features some great photos of me, my studio, and my great love Maverick.

I would like to sincerely thank Exhibit Here for their support of me and my work. You're shares and posts have really brightened my days this last month. :)

I hope you all have a second to check out this awesome feature and browse through this lovely website.

"Life Is A Wonder"
October 2013
Mixed Media
Acrylic Paint, Oil Paint
and Plasticized Paint
on Canvas
12" x 24"

Original Artwork:
$400.00
BUY

8"x10" Print:
$20.00
BUY

Larger Print:
BUY


“Life Is A Wonder” was created in celebration of my new life as a full time artist. When I first moved to Toronto I was completely in awe of the possibilities this large city might have for me. At that time I was inspired to create “New World Lights” which was an abstract representation of that feeling. Three years later I felt it might be time to express my new emotions through abstract artwork. I decided to create this mixed media painting as an after-work project in order to portray my absolutely bliss. Every day is exciting and passion filled; I am truly blessed. I hope you can feel the happiness and excitement when you view this original artwork.


You can rotate this painting any way you wish!

Read the Feature
HERE

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Ravi Supaul saying that TOinitiative.ca would like to feature me! How incredible is that!? I quickly discovered that TOinitiative.ca is a community based initiative group highlighting Toronto’s leaders, founders and entrepreneurs. I was so honoured and excitedly agreed to take part. The feature includes some lovely photos of my artwork, a short biography, and a great interview including questions like "What is your daily routine?", "What are some of your career highlights?", and "What is your biggest obstacle?". If you want to learn more about me have a look at this awesome feature!

On Thursday October 3, 2013 I attended my very first Toronto art exhibit opening as a participating artist! Wow, did it feel incredible. "Hooked", a group art exhibition, is taking place at Moniker Gallery until this Thursday October 10, 2013. The collection of work being shown is just simply incredible and is definitely worth seeing in person. :)

The "Hooked" exhibition was extra special for me as it was my first time exhibiting during NUIT BLANCHE; a highly attended art festival that takes place throughout Toronto from 7:00pm to 4:00am (Saturday October 5, 2013)! I attended the show on this night as well and had the time of my life listening to incredible music, having a few glasses of wine, and enjoying the beautiful artwork that I honestly could never get sick of. It was a night to remember.

I hope you can make it to "Hooked" before Thursday to see my work in person as well as the work of many other talented artists. :)

-> Click on images to see them larger!

YouTube VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gSad7KdUmk

I hope you enjoy watching my oil painting "Winter Beauty" come to life. The portrait took more than 30 hours and, due to the slow drying time of oil paint, took over a month to complete. Please keep in mind that many layers, details, and techniques had to be edited out of the video due to the immense amount of footage. :)

Questions? Looking to commission? Contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

Want to see more of my artwork? Visit www.FB.com/MalindaPrudhomme or www.MalindaPrudhomme.com

"Blush"
September 2013
Acrylic Paint on
Canvas Board
18" x 24"
COMMISSION

In order to prepare for the speed painting competition ART BATTLE 66 I created a variety of 20 Min speed paintings. They turned out beautifully so I decided to hold an art auction over on my Facebook Page (www.FB.com/MalindaPrudhomme). Julie Lafrance (@one_jewel) from Twitter decided to join the fun and won my speed painting "Sweet Cheeks". She was thrilled but a bit down about not winning the other speed painting "Sangria" that she had wanted to accompany "Sweet Cheeks". She asked if I could create a custom piece for her that was vertical (like "Sweet Cheeks") but with the same colours as "Sangria". This is how "Blush" was born. Julie excitedly picked up her artworks the very next day and was thrilled with the results. It was such a pleasure meeting you Julie! I hope you all enjoy her new artwork. :)

It was suggested that I should auction off my 20 Min Speed Paintings and I think that is a great idea! It gives those who usually can't afford original artwork a chance to have a nice large art piece (18"x24") in their home. Bidding on all artworks start at $1.00. Auction ends Saturday morning at 8am (eastern time). Any purchases are greatly appreciated and will go back into my business.

Note: Please keep in mind that shipping costs will be added to the bidding cost. Please check your desired painting for shipping details.


BIDDING ON FACEBOOK
HERE

Don't have Facebook? E-mail your bid!
Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

I am really excited to announce that I was asked to exhibit in "Hooked", a group art exhibition at Moniker Gallery! I'm thrilled for so many reasons. At the top of the list is that this will be my first gallery exhibition in Toronto AND it will be a part of Nuit Blanche!

I chose three beautiful portraits for this exhibition. One of the pieces, a mixed media creation, will be auctioned throughout the exhibition.

It would be wonderful to meet you during a nice quiet art exhibition. I'd love to get to know you!


Opening Reception:
Thursday October 3, 2013
7:00pm-11:00pm

Nuit Blanche Event:
Saturday October 5, 2013
7:00pm-4:00am

On Tuesday September 24, 2013 I competed in ART BATTLE 66 at the Great Hall in Toronto!!! Just being invited to take part was an incredible honour, being in it was a dream come true.

Some of you may not know that I grew up in a smaller town called Val Caron on the out squirts of the small city of Sudbury in Northern Ontario. Though I'm told they are just now starting to build an art community, growing up in Sudbury was not very inspiring. I always felt that even though I was a talented artist being an artist professionally was not a realistic option. It was as if being an artist was a little girls dream ... something that could never be accomplished. It wasn't until later, when I took a Visual Art minor in North Bay, ON in order to improve my chances at landing a teaching job, that I realized I had something worth sharing and that if I put all of my passion and effort into it I could make an income doing it.

I followed that dream to Toronto, where I had always wanted to live. It was the first few weeks that I had been living there when I noticed fliers for an art battle. I was working as a receptionist at the time and had put my artwork on back burner; doing it only for pleasure or small commissions from family and friends. I still felt being a full time artist was something unachievable. I attended the advertised art battle with an immense amount of excitement. At the end of the night I mentioned to my friend that it would be like living a dream taking part in that. I wondered if I would ever have the skill to be invited to take part in something so exciting with all of those people watching.

So when I say that taking part in ART BATTLE 66 was a dream come true, I truly mean it. I practiced for weeks, a shared my progress with my fans, and though I thought I had built some courage, I was very nervous! But when the timer started I got in the zone and the brushes/knifes just went! Though I did not win the battle I am thrilled with the results of my painting. I hope you like it too!

Please continue scrolling to see photos from the event! (Click on photos to see a larger view)

Watch my 20 MIN Art Battle speed painting come to life in this VIDEO!

This past weekend on September 13th & 14th, 2013, I took part in the Liberty Village Art Crawl for the first time. The weather did not corporate on Friday when I was exhibiting on Jefferson Avenue but luckily Saturday was a nicer day. Though there wasn't much of a crowd I did get to speak with a few people about my artwork and that is always lovely. I also met some really incredible artisans from the Native American community who are not only talented by very kind as well. All in all it was a fun weekend and a great way to end the summer season of outdoor art shows! This summer I did EIGHT shows and, let me tell ya, I am exhausted! I am really looking forward to a nice relaxing winter working on custom and original artwork alike. :)

Please continue to scroll for more photos of the event!

"Magnificent Valour"
September 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
8" x 10"

I am very pleased to share with you my very first book cover! The journey began back in May 2013 when I was approached by author Aubrey Wynne about potentially creating her a custom book cover. Over many months we discussed the storyline and characters and together we created a composition that would represent the novel. "Magnificent Valour" features the four musketeers and a beautiful blond female. We symbolized this by using four swords to represent the musketeers and a beautiful white rose to represent the female role. Once the composition was set I began the painting process. Then when the oil painting was dry I created a variety of book cover designs for Aubrey Wynne to choose from. We then selected four final designs and allowed our fans and followers to vote on their favourite. I am so pleased with the final results and hope to work with Aubrey Wynne again!

To watch this book cover come to life visit my site
HERE

To see the other book cover designs and details visit my site
HERE

If you are interested in commissioning your own custom book cover please contact me at
Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com

See the Magazine
HERE

I was very happy to oblige when Sandra Tyler of "The Woven Tale Press" asked to feature my blog in her magazine. It is always such an honour when someone thinks my work is worth sharing. Yet Sandra went above and beyond by giving the creation of my series "Restless In Wonderment" a two page feature and using one of my artworks from the series as the front and back cover of the magazine. I was absolutely thrilled! I would love it if you would check out this very cool magazine and spread the issue around! Share with your friends who enjoy reading blogs! :)

I have some VERY exciting news!

I have been invited to compete against 15 other Toronto based artists at ART BATTLE 66!
The battle takes place next Tuesday September 24th, 2013 at The Great Hall.
Doors open at 7:30 and painting begins at 8:00!

The Art Battles take place across Canada and gives upcoming artists 20mins to prove their skill and win a bit of cash. The winner is based on audience vote so, needless to say, I would absolutely love your support at this event! If you can't make it, well wishes are great too! :)

Since my work is usually extremely detailed and takes hours upon hours to complete I thought it might be best to practice working within that time limit! See my practice attempts on my Facebook Page www.FB.com/MalindaPrudhomme. There are photos and videos to enjoy!

Hope to see you at the event!

"Seeing Into The Soul"
September 2013
Acrylic Paint & Oil Paint
On Canvas
8"x10" each

Original Artwork:
$150.00/each
HERE

8"x10" Prints:
$20.00/each
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE

I have always been inspired to create portraiture that expresses emotion and character. Yet after numerous portrait paintings I have learned that a large portion of that spirit comes from truly accurate and expressive eyes. Over the years, painting the eyes in my portraits has become my most favourite part of the painting process. It was with this in mind that I decided to create “Seeing Into The Soul”. With this series I hope to portray the emotion and character of each female. The women chosen for this project vary in size, age, ethnicity, and profession and, with no other features present; I hope to capture their “being” with accurate paintings of their eyes. I present to you ‘Seductive’, ‘Sultry’, ‘Secretive’, ‘Serious’, ‘Sweet’, and ‘Sensitive’.

Continue for more photos.

When author Aubrey Wynne asked me if I would be interested in creating a book cover for her I was over the moon excited. This is the first book cover I have ever created and I think it turned out beautifully.

After many months of working on this project, the final four Book Cover Designs are ready to be voted on! You tell us, Aubrey and I, which cover design you prefer. Fun right!? Looking forward to hearing what you think!


More about author Aubrey Wynne ....
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/magnificentvalor
Blog: http://aubreywynneauthor.wordpress.com/

More about artist Malinda Prudhomme ...
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/malindaprudhomme
Website: http://www.MalindaPrudhomme.com

Next weekend I will be exhibiting and selling my artwork and items at the Liberty Village Art Crawl! I am really pumped to be taking part in this show as it will be my first show that is right in my area! It's going to be great to get to know some people from my community. BUT! Even if you're not from the area you are welcome to come over and say hi! I love seeing familiar faces. And it is my LAST SHOW OF THE SUMMER after all. :)


Friday September 13, 2013
Linear Park
11am - 6pm

Saturday September 14, 2013
Liberty Village Park
11am - 7pm

On August 26 2013 I took part in the last Gifts Of My Hands market of the summer! As always it was a pleasure to be amongst such talented vendors and get to know them. Making friends is fun! I also did a bit of live painting during the show, working on my new Eye Series. :)

I have to send out a HUGE thank you to Nici Shipway who puts on these great shows. She is one super hard working maker/artist and mother of two beautiful girls. Her husband Aaron deserves my thanks as well. Since these shows started on Monday afternoons Darren wasn't able to help me and if it weren't for Aaron I would have been struggling like crazy! Truly wonderful people. THANKS!

Keep going to see a few photos from the show. :D

On August 16th & 17th I exhibited my work in the inaugural ART WALK NORTH in Mel Lastman Square. I'll admit, it was quite the expensive trek from my downtown apartment, but it was totally worth it. We had such a great crowd of art enthusiast that, not only looked at the work, but asked questions and connected with the pieces. It was really great!

I had also decided to paint live for the first time and I think it was a really great idea. People weren't as shy to look at my work as I was busy working and had my eyes on my painting. But they also did not hesitate to chat with me which is just the best! I plan to paint at many more of my shows. :)

One highlight of the show was selling my piece "An Ode To Harry Potter" (seen in the middle in the picture above). The young woman who purchased the piece was really connected to it. She told me that she had read all of the books when she was younger and had great memories associated with them. She said she had given the books away when she moved and thought the painting would be a great way to remember them. I am so thrilled that she has this piece and I hope it brings her a lot of joy.

Check out more photos of this incredible event (and beautiful square)!

On Sunday August 11, 2013 I met with Newz4U.net author and poet Pat Connors. I had a lovely time sipping on a nice cold pear cider and discussing, not only my artwork and career, but some personal aspects of my life as well. Pat is such a kind person, I felt totally comfortable speaking with him and felt energized by his interest in my work.

This morning Pat published a lovely article about me and my artwork on Newz4U.net containing many quotes from this weekends interview. I would LOVE it if you would check it out HERE. :)

"Colour Inspired Beauty"
July 2013
Mixed Media on Canvas
Acrylic Paint and Oil Paint
16" x 16"

Original Artwork:
$600.00 CAD
HERE

8"x10" Art Print:
$20.00 CAD
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE

This mixed media portrait painting was created with colour inspiration. One thing that really gets me excited is discounted art supplies. As a full time artist there is often very little budget left for art supplies that are not immediately needed for a project. But when my favourite local art supplies store had a huge sale I thought I would treat myself! I was extremely drawn to three bottles of liquid acrylic paint; one bright lime green, one dark metallic brown, and the other a pearlescent green. As soon as I returned to my studio with these little bottles I just knew I had to create an artwork right away and immediately knew which colourful beauty would complement my new colours. The stunning curvy beauty Christina Hendricks in her bright yellow dress, deep blue eyes, turquoise earrings, and bright red hair was the perfect match. Using many layers and much attention to detail I created a checkered background using my new acrylics and a smooth creamy portrait using oil paints. There is no doubt that colour was the inspiration behind this beautiful piece of artwork.

Please continue scrolling to see close up photos of this beautifully detailed portrait. :)

I could not have been more thrilled when Leisa Greene asked if I would be interested in being featured on Indie It Press! Though I've been featured by sites in the past I was not expecting what Leisa would create for me; she really outdid herself. As well as featuring my article (written specially for Indie It Press) she also gave me a Guest Artist spot on her site AND featured my artwork "Curvy Beauties: Marilyn" in the right column of her site which would direct those interested to my website! WOW, I could not have asked for more. I'm so honoured to have been a part of Indie It Press and to have met Leisa who is just an incredibly kind and passionate person. I hope you take a moment to check it all out!


Malinda Prud'homme Feature:
"Strong Beautiful Women"
READ ARTICLE

Indie It Guest Artist:
"Malinda Prud'homme"
READ BIOGRAPHY

"Art Walk North"
Mel Lastman Square
Willowdale
Toronto, ON
M2N 5V7

Friday August 16 2013 - 11:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday August 17 2013 - 11:00am to 6:00pm

I am thrilled to be taking part in AWN, an outdoor art show taking place in NORTH Toronto, which is a totally new area for me and my artwork! This show is an ARTWORK ONLY show which means I will be exhibiting and selling my Original Artworks and 8"x10" Art Prints only. It would be so nice to see a familiar face! Hope to see you there! :D

I had a lovely evening yesterday, July 29 2013, at the Gifts Of My Hands July Summer Market.

One of the major joys of these types of shows is getting to know your fellow crafters/artists/makers. It's always nice to meet such intelligent and talented people and hear their stories.

I will be taking part in another Gifts Of My Hands show on Monday August 26, 2013. I hope to see you there! For more info on the show visit my website HERE.

This Monday July 29, 2013 I will be exhibiting and selling my artworks and items at the Gifts Of My Hands Summer Market! The show runs from 3:00pm to 7:00pm and is on the second floor of the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse. The craft market is held at the same time as the farmers market, so come on down and support your local artisans and farmers!

On Sunday July 21, 2013 one of my artworks, "Beautiful Ambiguity", was exhibited in the Youth Day Gallery at the YD | Toronto Festival! Since I was already exhibiting in the BIG ON BLOOR Festival I had to send my better half to Yonge & Dundas Square to capture the event. I instructed him to take many pictures so I would feel like I had been there and boy did he ever deliver. This man spends many summer weekends working from dawn to dusk with me doing these shows, I really could not ask for a more loving and supportive partner. :)

When Darren returned from his journey he was excited to share with me that many people had been inquiring about the price of the piece and were interested in buying it. As an artist I try never to get excited about things until there are finalized because so often we are disappointed, but Darren had a feeling I would have an e-mail waiting for me when I got home. Sure enough there was an e-mail from a lovely woman from Edmonton, Alberta who did buy the piece. What an incredible end to an amazing weekend!

For more photos of the event please scroll down ...

This past Saturday and Sunday July 20 & 21, 2013 I took part in the BIG ON BLOOR Festival for the first time! I've lived in Toronto for three years now and every year I wonder whether or not I would be accepted into this event. It was really incredible to take part and feel like a true part of the community. :)

I talked with so many incredible and encouraging people, at the end of the day my face would be soar from smiling. On top of that, it was by far my most successful event as I sold THREE original artworks on Sunday. Both owners were incredible people and I am so glad they will be enjoying my art. It was a truly amazing weekend and I cannot wait to participate next year!

Please continue to see more photos from the event!

"Blake Lupa"
July 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION

I am VERY proud of my newest commissioned piece "Blake Lupa" which took about a full weeks worth of work; time consuming, but more than worth it. Tara Lupa, Blake's mom, had the baby portrait commissioned in order to give it as an anniversary gift to her husband, Patrick Lupa. I hope they both enjoy their portrait of adorable little baby Blake. :)

For detailed photos scroll down. To see the art piece progress visit my website HERE.

"A Modern Classic"
July 2013
Acrylic and Oil
Paint on Canvas
12" x 12"


Original:
$300.00 CAD
BUY

8" x 10" Print:
$20.00 CAD
BUY

Larger Prints:
BUY


This stunning mixed media art portrait blends the thick texture of acrylic paint with the smooth creamy gloss of oil paint. Combining them I express my awe of the classically beautiful woman. I feel as though our current media does not portray classic beauties as the ultimate woman but rather sexy woman as more desirable. I often ponder how things have changed since the days of Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn. All of them sexy in their own right without a doubt, yet their beauty was more than just sex. It was big beautiful doe eyes and luscious lips smiling. Beauty that not only captured the imagination of men but the hearts of women and children, the young and the old. That is true beauty.

It was a modern beauty, Emilia Clarke, who inspired me to create this piece. The background was created using thick strokes of creamy green acrylic paint to give a vintage look. The portrait was painted using an under-painting of acrylic and creamy layers of oil paint on top to truly express the rich classic beauty.

"Of Colour And Beauty"
June 2013
Mixed Media with
Watercolour, Pen,
Pencil, and Acrylic
Paint on Paper
11" x 14" /each


Originals:
$130.00 CAD/each
Blue: BUY
Pink: BUY

8"x 10" Prints:
$20.00 CAD/each
Blue: BUY
Pink: BUY

Larger Prints:
Blue: BUY
Pink: BUY

This mixed media art series expresses the simplicity of female beauty. Often women feel they require makeup, coloured contacts, jewels, etc. in order to feel beautiful. What truly makes a woman beautiful is not purchased products, but unique facial features (and we are all unique) and a colourful and kind spirit. Utilizing simple techniques with pencil and pen I emphasized each woman's facial features and portrayed their vivid spirits with elegant washes of watercolour. I hope that all women will see this series and feel a sense of beauty within themselves regardless of what they are wearing. 

I am over-the-moon excited about being chosen to participate in FS Local's "20 Questions With..." series.

Each week they ask the best & brightest of Toronto to answer 20 questions about themselves and their city. They want Torontonians to learn where local Toronto celebs eat, what their favourite spots are, why they can’t get enough of the city, and more!

I am super thrilled to have been considered a local Toronto "celeb" (hehe :P) and would love it if you would check it out to learn more about me and my love for Toronto. :)

Read the Questionnaire
HERE

"Make Up Brushes"
Art Pendant Necklace
$15.00 CAD
BUY

Over the past year my "Make Up Brushes" Art Pendant Necklace has been a top seller. Though I admire its simple beauty I often wondered why this particular necklace sold more so than my others. It turns out they are being purchased as gifts for wedding make up artists and have been very well received!

They really are a wonderful and inexpensive way to show your wedding make up artist just how much you appreciated their help. No to mention the purchase also helps support a small business/artist. :)

The pendant and chain are gunmetal and are lead free and nickel free to avoid stained skin or allergic reactions. The chain is 24” in length and fastens with a lobster clasp. If you wish to alter the size of the chain just let me know in the "Notes" section of the checkout.

This past Saturday June 15, 2013 I exhibited my artwork and items in the Roncey Flea which was part of the RONCY ROCKS Music and Art Festival! The weather was just beautiful and the crowd was friendly which made for a really great event! I want to thank all those who came out to show their support of me and my career. You brought me so much joy! There is nothing like a fan coming to see your show saying "I'm one of your fans on Facebook" or "I follow you on Twitter". The fact that you have already seen my work but wanted to see it in person, or meet me, truly means the world to me. I say it often, but my fans are THE BEST!

Please continue scrolling to see more photos from the event! :D

On May 31st, June 1st, and June 2nd, I had the pleasure of participating in the Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show and Sale. This was my second year taking part in the event and this year turned out to be even better than 2012. Though my tent was destroyed by a sudden storm on Friday evening I still had a lovely time. Many of my items were beyond repair and I was completely devastated BUT when I think back to this event I am going to remember all of the amazing people I met because of this terrible situation. So many of my fellow artists came to my aid to help save whatever we could of my artwork and items. I must admit I was beyond consoling but so many tried there best and even opened up there tent to me and my ramshackle pile of items. It is that incredible kindness that I will remember.

If you continue you will see some photos I took during the event. I hope you like them :)

Read the Feature
HERE

I am so excited to announce that I have been featured by Virago Magazine! In May 2013 I was approached by Jessica Fisher Willson who is the Arts and Independent Music Editor for Viragomag.com. She loved my work and asked if I would do an interview for the magazine. I was head over heels excited and quite likely went overboard with my answers! If you want to know a little (ok, maybe a lot) more about me, my life, and my artwork please check out this incredible feature!

Find out more about
Virago Magazine
HERE

Follow the link to see all of Malinda Prud'homme's Art Pendant Necklaces!

Read the Feature
HERE

This is quite likely one of the most exciting things to happen to me in my life. In April 2013 Juliette Lord, COO of Maniera Magazine, requested to do a full two page feature on me and my artwork for the May 2013 issue of her magazine. I excitedly went through the interview process but never did I imagine such a beautiful feature written so perfectly and expressing my inner most passions to the tea. I could not be more thankful to Juliette for creating this beautiful feature that I will cherish forever and for seeing something special in my work. It is truly an honour to be a part of such an interesting magazine. I hope you enjoy my feature! Please let me know what you think! :)

For more information about
Maniera Magazine please visit
HERE

"A Mark Of Beauty"
May 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
6" x 8"/each

Originals:
$75.00 CAD/each
HERE

8" x 10" Prints:
$20.00 CAD/each
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE

This black and white beauty portrait series was created in honour of the beauty mark and in celebration of freckles. So often I see women who strenuously cover their beauty marks and freckles, ashamed at not having airbrushed looking skin. And how many women will not feel confident without a layer of makeup? As someone who is passionate about natural female beauty this has always puzzled me. I do not have freckles (as much as I wished for them throughout my life) but I do have many beauty marks and I have always been proud of them. It adds detail and interest, making each and every one of us that much more unique. Every woman in this series has freckles or beauty marks and I can’t help but feel that this only enhances their natural beauty.

Keep scrolling to see more photos including some progress pictures!

"Sophie"
May 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
8" x 10"
COMMISSION

This stunning portrait of adorable little "Sophie" was created as a commissioned piece for Line Lachance, Sophie's grandmother. This cute little girl was painted live over Facebook as part of my Social Media Portrait Promotion for $200 (includes shipping). I could not be more pleased with the results of this portrait. Originally, as part of the promotion, only her face was meant to be realistic but I just could not help pulling out my super fine brushes and getting all the details just right. I hope you enjoy this beautiful little cutie!

To commission your own portrait or original artwork please fill out my form HERE.

Please continue to see the progress pictures. :D

"Graeme"
December 2012
Oil Paint on Gallery Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION

This adorable baby portrait painting was created back in December 2012. It was commissioned by Laura and Neil Edward and was given as a gift to the parents of the cute little Graeme. The gift was not given until recently which is why I had to wait so long to share it with you all! I hope you enjoy him as much as I enjoyed painting him. :)

To commission your own or request a quote please fill out THIS form on my website!

"Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show & Sale"
Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion
1755 Lake Shore Blvd. West
Toronto, ON
M6S 5A3

Friday May 31 2013 - 4:00pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday June 1 2013 - 11:00am to 8:00 pm
Sunday June 2 2013 - 11:00am to 6:00pm



I am excited to announce that I will be taking part in the 2013 Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show & Sale! I've been spending tons of time creating new original artworks, art merchandise (bookmarks, cards, prints), and promotional items. Not to mention I will also be sending out coupons for the show to everyone on my newsletter mailing list! If you're not on there yet be sure to sign up HERE.

As well as new items I have also set up three new promotions to celebrate my participation in this awesome show!

The most exciting deal is my Social Media Portrait Promotion which allows you to have a custom portrait painted and come to life before your eyes. The portrait (man, woman, child, baby) will be photographed throughout the painting process and will be uploaded live to Twitter and/or Facebook (Optional). For $200 (SHIPPING INCLUDED) you can get that special portrait that you and your loved ones will cherish forever. :)

My other promotions include $5.00 OFF your purchase on my Etsy Shop (When you spend $15.00) and $25.00 OFF any sized print on my Online Print Shop. These coupons will be handed out at the Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show and will be valid until September 1st 2013.

Hope you can make it to the show! It would be so nice to see familiar faces and meet some of you for the first time! :D

"Cultured Beauty"
April 26 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
8" x 10"

Original:
SOLD

8"x10" Prints:
$20.00 CAD
BUY

Larger Prints:
BUY


This beauty art portrait painting was created to express the true beauty of Sasha Mallya. I decided to focus on Sasha’s beautiful facial features, her striking dark brown eyes, her cute button nose, and her full lips. I also added a bright yellow background and more colour to her clothing to truly express her vibrant personality. I decided to title this piece “Cultured Beauty” because I know that Sasha is passionate about travel and enjoys the beauty of other cultures. In fact, this particular image was taken during her travels in India. The word “cultured” also means educated, refined, and having good taste and manners, which I also feel relates to the lovely Sasha. I hope you all enjoy this radiant beauty.



Please continue for more images as well as PROGRESS photos!

Something EXTREMELY exciting happened to me on April 4th 2013. I was contacted by Juliette Lord, COO of Maniera Magazine, who wanted to run a feature of me and my artwork in the May issue of her incredible magazine. Needless to say, I was utterly flattered and soon enough I was taking part in an interview and providing images! I'm so incredibly honoured and can't wait to see the feature. The issue is set to be released on May 16th 2013. Stay tuned!

I'm so happy to share with you my "Staircase Showcase" that took place at Aboveground Art Supplies during the entire month of March. I felt so honoured to have my work up in such a well known art supplies store located right beside the Ontario College of Art & Design as well as the Art Gallery of Ontario. It is thrilling to imagine all of the wonderful people who must have seen my work. If you missed it, fear not, I've been told I will have other opportunities to exhibit my work here again! I hope you enjoy my photos of the exhibit. :)

"Beauty And Her Butterfly"
April 22 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
9" x 12"
COMMISSION

HERE IT IS! The commission portrait I've been working on for the past two weeks!I hope you all enjoy my beautiful piece "Beauty And Her Butterfly".

This piece was commissioned by a couple who wanted to give it as a gift to the parents of this beautiful little girl. It was such a pleasure painting lovely Jayme and I hope her parents treasure their new painting. I've been told it was well received. :)

Please continue for more photos of this piece as well as PROGRESS photos!

This beauty portrait painting was created as a result of wanting to paint blissfully. Having recently worked on multiple commissioned pieces I was in need of a truly relaxing painting experience. I went to my trusty “Beautiful Woman” folder on my computer which is where I save photos of friends, family members, fans, models, actresses, etc. who inspire me with their natural female beauty. Here I found the perfect image of my friend and fellow artist Megan McCann. I feel this painting emphasizes her beautiful features and adds a bit of glam with the pearls and gems adhered to the head piece. I hope my viewers will be overcome with a sense of bliss when viewing this gorgeous painting.

NOTE: This painting was updated live on Twitter! Join me on Twitter so you can watch my next painting come to life! Follow @MalindaArt or visit www.Twitter.com/MalindaArt. In the meantime, continue for more images of this piece and the progress images. :)

This is my second original artwork that has been inspired by the incredible work of M.C. Escher. This piece speaks volumes about the importance of inner beauty as opposed to exterior beauty. True beauty is seen in one’s soul (personality, character) where as our exterior beauty or rind is but a shell. We can add all the glamour this world has to offer (portrayed with the diamonds in the background) but no amount of sparkle can hide what is truly in our soul.



Please continue for more photos and to see the M.C. Escher piece that inspired this artwork.

"As The Eagle Soars"
March 2013
Various Charcoal on
Stonehenge Paper
22" x 30"
Commissioned Artwork


I am very happy to share with you my newest commissioned artwork "As The Eagle Soars". The Sudbury patron, Yves Beaulieu, sent me a variety of images that inspired his desire for this piece. Using these images I created this original artwork of an eagle soaring through a beautiful cloudy sky. I hope you all enjoy it. :)

It is very easy to commission an original artwork! Simply visit my website HERE, fill out the form, and I will contact you ASAP with a request for more details (i.e. image) or with a price quote.

To see more images of this incredible charcoal drawing please continue ...

"A Fire In The Soul"
March 2013
Mixed Media On Canvas
(Watercolour Paint, Soft Pastels,
Coloured Pencils, and Acrylic Paint)
12" x 12"

Original:
$200.00 CAD
BUY

8" x 10" Prints:
$20.00 CAD
BUY

Larger Prints:
BUY

This innocent looking beauty has a fire in her soul. I myself have always been “cursed” with an innocent and sweet looking face and this always seemed to bother me. I felt that people misjudged me at first glance because as soon as my rather low voice, loud laugh, and honest nature came shining through thoughts of a sweet and innocent girl were quickly forgotten. We always say “don’t judge a book by its cover” but realistically many people do.

I chose to portray this social phenomenon with this abundantly sweet and innocent LOOKING beauty. She was chosen not only because of her sweet looking face but because, like myself, she is not the sweet little innocent girl one might believe. On her left shoulder we can see a colourful tattoo alluding to her fiery soul. I hope this piece resonates with my fellow “cuties” who have grown to despise that word and wish that their cover truly matched their book.

I officially completed my new website last night! It only took me around 2 weeks to complete which is quite the difference from my first website which took me 3 months! I'm so happy with the way it turned out and I definitely feel it looks professional. I hope you will check it out and let me know what you think! Please feel free to comment and please let me know if you run across any issues. :)



www.MalindaPrudhomme.com

Over the weekend I celebrated my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of becoming a FULL TIME ARTIST!

Last year on March 16 2012 I handed out my last exam to my Grade 12 students, stayed late to finish marking their exams, and with much happiness and hope for the future I placed all of my students marks and assignments on my principals desk and began a new life filled with beauty and colour.

Though the year has flown by, I feel I have achieved so much. Here are only a few of the highlights ...

1) I was accepted into my first exhibition since finishing my art education, "The Mayworks Sudbury Juried Exhibition".
2) I began offering 8" x 10" art prints of my work for $20.00 CAD.
3) I built my very first website all on my own!
4) I began offering Art Pendant Necklaces that feature my artwork and had some sales in the US!
5) I took part in an artist run show called "ARTMUSICCRAFYCOMEDY".
6) I was accepted into a couple of outdoor shows, my very first outdoor show being "The Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show & Sale" which was followed by "Art Squared".
7) I began offering LARGE PRINTS of my artwork via the secure website FAA.
8) I took part in two winter arts/crafts sales, "The EHP Christmas Arts & Crafts Sale" and "Gifts Of My Hands".
9) I created two pieces of Custom Chainmaille Jewelry.
10) I was accepted into a month long Gallery show at "White Water Gallery" called "Black Water Art".
11) I designed and built a whole new website (and after some issues, had to build it again!).
12) I was able to exhibit my work in Aboveground Art Supplies "Staircase Showcase" which is still up until the end of March!
13) I gained over 500 "Likes" on my Facebook Page! (Join the fun HERE)
14) I accumulated more than 4,800 followers on Twitter! (Follow me HERE)
15) I completed SEVEN commissioned art pieces. (Commission your own HERE!)
16) I created FORTY SIX art pieces in one year! Wow ... I can't believe it.
17) And I recently got ENGAGED to the most supportive and loving person I have ever met!

So much has happened but I am confident that there is much more to follow! Here's to an amazing first year and many more to come! CHEERS! :D

Original:
Not Available Until July 2013
$300.00 CAD

8" x 10" Print:
$20.00 CAD
HERE

Larger Prints:
HERE


I am very proud of my latest portrait painting "Winter Beauty". This portrait was created specifically to be entered into the "Kingston Prize" which is a prestigious competition that tours all over Canada. I will be crossing my fingers until June 2013 when they announce the finalists. (Wish me luck!)

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This luxurious oil painting expresses the spirit of the naturally beautiful Ashley Sirianni. The first time I met Ashley was during my very first winter exhibition. Seeing my work for the first time she burst with excitement and awe. Though I had always experienced positivity towards my work I had never met someone who connected so deeply with it and understood its meaning without even asking. It was a moment I will never forget. Her enthusiasm for my beauty art coupled with her incredible natural beauty was something I felt I had to portray in my artwork. 

Ashley filled my cold dark winter days with light and warmth and so it was only a matter of time before she became my "Winter Beauty". The diamond ice crystals falling delicately from her hair allude to the cold of winter. Yet it is the warmth of the candlelight on her face that exudes her personality and emphasizes her naturally beautiful features. This piece strives to comfort the viewer with a sense of warm beauty.

To see close up photos please continue ...

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!!! In celebration of this awesome day I decided to hold my very first CONTEST! You don't need to be a woman to participate, all are welcome!

The WINNER of this contest will receive a FREE 8" x 10" art print! They may choose from any of my artworks that celebrate the beauty, strength, and diversity of women (shown above). Here is what you have to do ...



This contest will help promote my FB Page so if you haven't already "Liked" it please do so now!
www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme



The rules are simple. Every time you do one of the following your name will be put into a draw. You can collect as many ballots as you want, there is no limit! The more ballots you have, the more likely you are to win! The contest will end Friday March 15, 2013 at 5:00pm at which point I will draw a name and announce the winner!

1) "Like" my FB Page.
2) Share my FB Page post about this contest (Will be at the top of feed).
3) Ask Friends to "Like" my FB Page and tell them to message me with your name
4) Share one of my FB Page images on your wall.
5) Share one of my FB Page images with a specific friend.

Remember you can do any of these as many times as you want to gain as many ballots as possible! Good luck and thank you for your support and help. :D

I'm very excited to announce that a large collection of my artwork will be exhibited at Aboveground Art Supplies in Toronto during the entire month of March 2013! After hearing about their "Staircase Showcase" exhibits I thought I would enquire. My quick e-mail was responded by Laura Crowell who had looked at my website and felt that any of my pieces would look stunning in the space. She has left it up to me to choose which pieces to exhibit. The store gets over 3000 visitors a week which is incredible exposure for me. I'm so thankful to Laura and those at Aboveground. I cannot wait to see this exhibit which will go up THIS Monday March 4th, 2013.

In September of 2012 I excitedly took part in my very first outdoor art show having been accepted into the prestigious "Sunnyside Beach Juried Art Show". During the three day event a talented videographer, Mark Totti, set up a large canvas and invited anyone to make their mark on the painting! I thought this was an incredible idea and though I rarely left my tent I knew I would have to make some time to make MY mark. On the last day of the show I spent some time with the painting and Mark captured my brushstrokes beautifully. Please view the video of this stunning painting coming to life. The video in itself is a beautiful piece of art. :)

I though you might enjoy seeing some photos from the opening night of the "Black Water Art" exhibition at the White Water Gallery in North Bay. I myself couldn't make it to the event but am incredibly lucky to have such a loving and supportive friend. Whitney Ruttan, one of my dearest friends and fellow artist, went to the event and truly captured the night. I can't thank her enough. :)

For more photos please visit the provided link. :)

Mixed Media Artist Malinda Prud'homme is currently in the process of creating "How To" and "Time Lapse Painting" videos which are becoming quite the trend. In order to support musicians who are at the beginning of their careers she is putting out a call to all musicians.

She is looking for songs in any genre that may suit her style of artwork. The chosen songs will be used as the music to her artistic videos. These videos will be uploaded onto YouTube and Facebook in order to promote the artist. Yet the videos also give the musicians an opportunity to get there name out there. Malinda will glady apply a slide at the end of the video that is dedicated to the music. On this page the musician's name and song title will be placed as well as a logo if desired, but most importantly, any links (no more than 3) to the musicians sites will be easily seen in hopes that viewers may pay them a visit.

Those interested in submitting their song can e-mail their music file to Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com with the heading "Music Submission".


NOTE: Please do not submit music that has excessive cussing or themes of illegal nature. Though these songs may not offend the artist she realizes that they may offend some of her followers. If you are unsure do not hesitate to contact her. Thank you for understanding. :)

Once again I have been given the opportunity to showcase my artwork in a half page spot in Missy/Ink Magazine! And this issue is there best issue yet .... the SEX issue! Can you guess which pieces I submitted? I was so excited I already purchased my print copy AND digital copy (which became available yesterday February 6th 2013) and it is one STEAMY issue! Filled with sex advice and stunningly sexy women. Buy your own copy and check it out for yourself! ;)

Isn't he simply adorable? This lovely oil painting portrait of baby "Blake" was commissioned by his proud Grandma, Sharon Cushing Dixon. I am so very proud of this portrait painting and love how it turned out. The eyes are indeed my favourite part however I am also happy with the look of his velour outfit and smooth baby skin. I hope Sharon enjoys her new painting of her precious little grandson.

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait please feel free to contact me at Info@MalindaPrudhomme.com or fill out THIS form on my website. :)

I am happy to announce that I will be building a whole new website! I have learned a lot about CSS and HMTL over this past year and feel I am ready to give my website a lovely new makeover! All of my edits and pages will be built live as my existing website seems to be interfering with the new one. BUT this gives us a great opportunity to communicate through the process and see the new pages as they are built! Fun right!? Join me on my Facebook Page to take part in the adventure!



www.Facebook.com/MalindaPrudhomme

"Curvy Beauties"
January 2013
Oil Paint on Canvas
6" x 12"/each
$150.00 CAD/each

I am very happy to announce that I have finished my new series "Curvy Beauties". This series was created in order to celebrate the beauty of curvy women. Unfortunately we live in a time where the media is constantly pushing thin women into the spotlight in hopes of brainwashing us into thinking that only thin women are beautiful and sexy. I believe this is the case because many corporations have a lot to gain from women with low self-esteem. Women who feel poorly about themselves are more likely to buy more makeup, hair dye, gym memberships, weight loss gimmicks, corsetry, and so on. My ideal world would be one in which ALL women of ALL shapes and sizes feel happy and confident about themselves. Thus I took the opportunity to portray just how beautiful and sexy lusciously large women can be.

WHEN:
Exhibition: January 18th – February 16th, 2013
Opening Reception: January 18th @ 7pm

WHERE:
White Water Gallery
143 Main Street West
North Bay, ON
P1B 8K6

I am very excited to announce that I will be exhibiting my piece "Modern Warrior Beauty" at the White Water Gallery in North Bay. I recently became a member of the White Water Gallery and because of this I am able to exhibit my work in the Black Water Art exhibition. The reason I am most excited about being in this show is that it will be the first time exhibiting my work in North Bay since finishing my art education. And not only is this exhibition in North Bay but it is taking place in the White Water Gallery which was the first gallery I ever exhibited in and was the gallery in which I won my first award. Being in this show definitely brings back fond memories and I truly wish I could make it to the opening night in person.

I believe it is going to be an awesome exhibition and I hope that my friends and followers in the North Bay area will drop in to see all of the beautiful creations. :)

In this blog, I share my completed creations, my progress on new pieces, my thoughts, my hopes and dreams, my inspirations, and anything else involving my creative journey

Please join me ...
www.MalindaPrudhomme.Blogspot.com