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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 29, 2008 - 19 Artscene · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008 By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE Making waves in the art world with circles Local artist Amanda Reeves takes home honourable mention in national painting competition Winning an honourable mention in a renowned, national painting competition was exactly the type of motivation Amanda Reeves was looking for. The 34-year-old professional artist, who graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2005, was recently awarded the honour for the 2008 RBC Canadian Painting Competition. She said it is the recognition that every young artist dreams about. "It means a lot to me to have other people interested in my painting and to have that recognized on a major level," she said during an interview in her spacious studio behind her Oakville home. "It is an important time for me, as a young artist, to have a nudge to keep going. I was thrilled to be a semifinalist, so to get an honourable mention is icing on the cake." Reeves submitted digital photos of three works, along with images of three auxiliary works to lend context, for the competition this summer. She kept her fingers crossed and hoped for the best after failing to place in the 2006 competition. "I picked the three strongest recent paintings I had available," she said. "I'm always more interested in recent work and I think they would be more appealing for the viewer." Reeves was named one of 15 semifinalists in July for her painting, Untitled 03 2008. A newer piece, Untitled 03 2008 is acrylic on board. Upon a backdrop of mustard yellow, small circles in a variety of colors appear to float throughout the work. "It was finished very shortly before the deadline, so I didn't have a lot of time to think about the work," she said. "I like the matte quality of the acrylics I use, as well as the drying time that lends itself to layering. I've worked on canvas, but I didn't like the spring on it, so that is why I prefer to work on board." The circles were created by brushstroke, with Reeves rotating the board to ensure they were as perfectly round as she could make them. A handful of basic colours were combined to create the many different hues of circles that stand out from the base colour. "I paint one circle at a time and they develop in a response to each other," she said. "I start with one circle, and the next one's colour and position is chosen in response to that one. It builds from there and it takes awhile." Reeves was required to submit the original work for final judging at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa in late "It is an important time for me, as a young artist, to have a nudge to keep going." Amanda Reeves Local artist a creative sense wandering around for a day in a place like The National Gallery in England," she said. "When something moves me, it could be six months or two years later that suddenly things bubble to the surface and you realize that everything impacts your work." While Reeves said that the money is nice, the recognition is priceless. Her painting, along with the works of the 14 other semifinalists, is currently in a travelling exhibit being presented in important Canadian galleries. It will be in Toronto at The Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W., from Nov. 11 to 23. "It's huge in terms of the exposure in the galleries," she said. "I've been in a show at the National Gallery, that's incredible. These are major public institutions. To have your work where people can see it is amazing." Following the national exhibitions, the painting will remain in RBC's collection. Reeves has a miniature version to remind DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER her of the original Reeves said she is continuing to explore ONE TO WATCH: Oakville artist Amanda Reeves was recently awarded an honourable mention for her work, Untitled 03 2008, pictured below, in the 2008 RBC Canadian Painting Competition. The her current fixation of acrylic circles of varhonour comes with $15,000, being featured in a nationwide travelling art exhibition and substantial ious sizes and hues on wood, usually 48 inches by 48 inches in size. A short-term recognition. Reeves, 34, said it is an award every young artist dreams about. goal she has is showing internationally. September. The announcement at the gala that her "In one respect, winning means I can All 15 semifinalists were guaranteed painting had received an honourable men- continue spending the same amount of $7,500, with two honourable mentions tion was surprising for Reeves. time to the practice," she said. "This is like each receiving $15,000 and the winner tak"The other works were all very strong," a job for me, where I work Monday to ing home she said. "I'd Friday, and when I have time on week$25,000. only seen the ends." Reeves travother works She said she is not inspired by one elled to the on my com- thing, but rather by everything she sees. nation's capital puter screen, "People will ask me where my work fits for the so it was in the cannon, but there aren't defined announcement, amazing to lines to me," she said. "My work is influkeeping an open see it on dis- enced by graphic design, modernism, but mind. play. I felt so also by many other things. You look at how The Oakville privileged to everything in our world has been flattened artist said she be part of that to screens and data print. Information is was overgroup. There processed in a different way than it used to whelmed by the were some be and this all impacts the way I think visustunning work of pretty serious ally." the other semificontenders Reeves, who is mom to 15-month-old nalists. Despite and I was not twins, as well as a wife, said she realizes the calibre of the e x p e c t i n g how lucky she is to be able to work fullcontest, the that I was time as a professional artist. atmosphere going to do so "I think about what I've got going for between the well." me right now, and I'm blown away," she artists was friendly, she said. Reeves said the money will go towards said. "I've got a family, a supportive extend"We all went out for dinner and one of supplies, as well as travelling. She said she ed family, a career and an acknowledgethe artists said it was like summer camp for would like to visit other galleries and stu- ment in my career and I know I'm incredipainters," she said. "There was no sense of dios. bly lucky. I don't forget about that for an competition." "It is amazing how it can refresh you in instant."