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CARLA MIEDEMA

1074 Little Pond Road,
P.O. Box 12,
Cloyne, Ont.,
K0H 1K0
tel. (613)336-8860
email: [email protected]


TYPE of ART WORK: Acrylic painting and mixed media on canvas, and pen & ink drawings on bristol paper and handmade paper.
The mixed media in Carla's paintings on canvas include natural elements found in nature: grasses, red pine bark, pine needles, cedar, seeds, lichen, etc. These elements create a sculptural relief effect.
The pen & ink drawings are created with either black or sepia ink on Bristol, Malasian rice, or Italian Lokta paper. Each of these papers has a different texture from smooth to very rough. The texture plays an important part in the presentation of the art work.

CAREER RESUME:
Artist, Carla Miedema, was born in Holland, and after growing up in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, has spent the last 30 years living in the Cloyne area, on the edge of the Canadian Shield. Since graduating from Queen's University with a degree in Fine Art, she has exhibited both solo and group shows of her work extensively since 1972 in Kingston, Napanee, Belleville, Cobourg, Kleinburg Art Gallery, Toronto, Perth, Keswick, Pelham, Fenelon Falls, and Cloyne.

Carla's work is about nature and the land. Bark, pine needles, lichen, grasses, and other bits of material found in nature become part of her paintings in acrylic and mixed media on canvas. The layering and glazing of the paints and other materials reflect the constant changes and the cycle of life in nature. By allowing different layers of paint to show through, an extra dimension is achieved. Her monochromatic pen & ink drawings on handmade paper depict the delicate beauty of wild foliage. The handmade paper enhances the drawings and creates an illusion of depth.

Some themes Carla has explored through her paintings and pen & ink drawings are roadside foliage and mushrooms, reflections, and the ruggedness of the land. The resilience and sheer exuberance demonstrated by roadside weeds and wild flowers, living in their harsh, gravely environment, compelled her to paint brightly coloured depictions, thus elevating them to a level worthy of praise. Maybe because of her Dutch background, she has always been drawn to water. The theme "reflections" in water re-enters her paintings time and again. These paintings depict the intricate patterns of foliage and brush, as reflected in bodies of water, in flamboyant vibrant colours. The rocky, rugged landscape in Mazinaw Country is prominent in her work.

In her pursuit to create a local awareness of art, Carla initiated and chaired the Mazinaw Country Studio Tour and the Bon Echo Art Exhibition & Sale, both in the Cloyne area. Carla is a member of numerous art organizations, and her work was published in the Organization of Kingston Women Artists Datebook. Reviews of her work have appeared in many local newspapers. Her art has received awards and prizes, which include Don Maddock award and the Presqu'ile Art Gallery 2nd place prize. Her art work can be found in collections in Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Explore Carla's website: www.carlamiedema.com

Watershed #1, 24"x36", acrylic & grasses on canvas,
by Carla Miede