The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

46 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Get away to Tuscany via Bronte By Paloma Migone SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Bella Tuscany artists (clockwise from left) Dawn Angela Seeley, Jan Davidson, Roxana Sato and Sandra Iafrate. If time won't allow a 7,000-km trip to explore the ancient architecture and charming countryside of Tuscany, Italy, head to CJ's Café in Bronte and contemplate Tuscan sceneries at the Bella Tuscany fine arts show. Painters Jan Davidson, Roxana Sato, Sandra Iafrate and Dawn Angela Seeley have put together a seven-stop show, showcasing Tuscany through four distinctive artistic styles in Oakville, Stratford, Niagara Falls, Beamsville and Toronto. The paintings of the four artists will take spectators on a journey through the picturesque landscapes of the unique Italian region. "We are representing the beauty that we have discovered in Tuscany and we want to share that with art lovers, Tuscany lovers and people that may want to travel to Tuscany," said Iafrate, who was a journalist before picking-up the brush. The Bella Tuscany concept was formed when CJ Martin, owner of CJ's Café in Bronte, 2416 Lakeshore Rd., invited Seeley to present her Tuscany paintings at the Café. Martin was familiar with the artist's work since she had joined Seeley on an Artist's Get-Aways--an expedition Seeley has been organizing since 2001. The artist later invited her three friends to join the show, compiling a five medium collection: watercolours, acrylic, gilding, oils, and mixed media. Seeley knew Richardson and Sato from a Get-Aways in 2005 and met Iafrate at her book launch, An Adventure In Tuscany, last October. "We had all painted quite a bit in Tuscany. We had quite a prolific portfolio between us of different mediums showing all our Tuscany experiences. It's unusual to see a show with a theme that's not limited to one medium," said Seeley, a full-time artist and former graphic designer. Their Tuscany experiences began in the summer of 1986, when Iafrate visited the Italian region and gathered photographs and studies that would later turn into paintings. Sato first visited with family in 2002 and "just fell in love with the place." "Tuscany is about the light, the colours, the country style. It's a paradise for an impressionist artist, the way the light changes and the colours. You can use a limited palette and it can give you so much," said Sato, who studied chemical engineering before discovering her artistic talents. Seeley first traveled to Tuscany with friends; it was one of the many destinations she visited to paint plein air (on-site), an experience that led to the inauguration of Artist's Get-Aways. In 2007, Davidson joined Seeley and a group of artists on a trip to Anghiari, Tuscany making it her first time in the region. "It was very exciting and rewarding. You have to experience Italy. You can read about it in a book, but you have to go there. The smell, the light is different and it's really wonderful to try and capture that on canvas," said Davidson, who used to be a nurse. All four friends plan to expand their collection at a fall trip to Tuscany. They will meet at a later date, since Seeley is going on her annual get-away and the rest are visiting with family and friends. While the artists enjoy the Tuscan sun, Bella Tuscany will continue it's southern Ontario tour, which lasts until January 2009. For Bella Tuscany's itinerary visit www.sandraiafrate.com/Bella.html. For information on Artist's Get-Aways visit www.dawnangela.com. PA S S I O N PROGRESSION C R E AT I V I T Y Promotional Offer $ 30 for Wash, Cut & Style (Reg. $57)or FREE Wash, Cut & Style with any Colour or Highlight Service Limited Time Offer. Call Today. Valid For New Clients. Redeemable with this Ad. 338 Church Street 905-337-1713 Discover Downtown oakville! DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE FASHION WEEK APRIL 10-17, 2008 Gift with purchase over $250 209 L AKESHORE ROAD EAST Downtown Oakville (905)845-2031 www.barringtons.ca Monday-Friday 9-6 · Saturday 9-5 · Sunday 12-5 Downtown Oakville is one of the foremost dining and shopping areas in the Province of Ontario. With its unique blend of more than 450 affordable yet diverse shops, fine eateries and personal and business to business services available at your fingertips, Downtown Oakville is the place to be, day or night, working, entertaining, shopping or relaxing. People enjoy our clean, safe streets and vibrant atmosphere. Downtown Oakville isn't just about shopping. It's about lifestyle, meeting friends, and pampering yourself and your family. It's about leisure, fun, and discovery. It's going about your routine tasks in a relaxed atmosphere. Downtown Oakville is home to many well known events including Midnight Madness, Oakville's biggest social and shopping event of the year, sidewalk sale, Christmas in Downtown, and the Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival. Whether you are new to our downtown, or here on a regular basis, we welcome the opportunity to pamper you with the best in affordable, unique, quality products and services. We're sure you'll agree that once you have visited us "Do It Downtown" will be a recurring thought. To place an ad in DOWNTOWN THIS WEEK call 905-845-3824