An Alberta Foundation for The Arts Travelling Exhibition organized by The Art Gallery of Alberta

From the Collection of The Alberta Foundation for The Arts and Government House Collection

Transparent, tasteless, odorless and nearly colourless, water is the main constituent of Earth’s streams, lakes and oceans and the fluids of most living organisms.  Described as ‘the solvent of life’, water is vital for all known forms of life.

Water is also the solvent for one of the oldest art processes known to humankind: watercolour painting. Watercolour painting is a painting method where the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution and bound by a colloid agent, such as gum arabic. Watercolours have been used for manuscript paintings at least since ancient Egyptian times. The continuous use or watercolours as an art medium in western art began in the 1500s and by the 18th century, especially in England, had become an important artistic tool closely tied to the acceptance of the landscape as an appropriate subject for painting.

In the later part of the 19th century the influence of watercolour painting spread from England into North America and watercolours proved to be an excellent medium in capturing the awe-inspiring physicality of this expansive territory.

The travelling exhibition From Water into Sky, featuring art works from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, explores the use of watercolour painting in expressing the landscape and related aspects of the natural world. Expressing various approaches to watercolour painting and modes of artistic representation ranging from high realism to abstraction, the artworks in this exhibition give voice to the countless marvels and moods of the natural world and the ‘magic’ that can be found both within and through water.

The exhibition From Water into Sky was curated by Shane Golby and organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program. The AFA Travelling Exhibition program is supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Saturday, April 27 | Submitting your art: what to include?

Dick Averns, our Calgary-based engagement coordinator, hosts drop-in sessions every few weeks. These vary in location and theme, addressing a topic related to the professional development of an artist.

The general format is to begin the first hour with a welcome and introduction from Dick, followed by a presentation on the afternoon’s topic. The second hour is directed towards addressing any specific concerns or issues, either as a group or one-one. You are welcome to drop by if you’d like to speak with Dick about other art-related matters, but do note that with a limited timeframe, visitors will be seen on a first-come first-served basis.

Saturday, May 11 | How to price your art

Dick Averns, our Calgary-based engagement coordinator, hosts drop-in sessions every few weeks. These vary in location and theme, addressing a topic related to the professional development of an artist.

The general format is to begin the first hour with a welcome and introduction from Dick, followed by a presentation on the afternoon’s topic. The second hour is directed towards addressing any specific concerns or issues, either as a group or one-one. You are welcome to drop by if you’d like to speak with Dick about other art-related matters, but do note that with a limited timeframe, visitors will be seen on a first-come first-served basis.

An Alberta Foundation for The Arts Travelling Exhibition organized by The Art Gallery of Alberta

From the Collection of The Alberta Foundation for The Arts and Government House Collection

Transparent, tasteless, odorless and nearly colourless, water is the main constituent of Earth’s streams, lakes and oceans and the fluids of most living organisms.  Described as ‘the solvent of life’, water is vital for all known forms of life.

Water is also the solvent for one of the oldest art processes known to humankind: watercolour painting. Watercolour painting is a painting method where the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution and bound by a colloid agent, such as gum arabic. Watercolours have been used for manuscript paintings at least since ancient Egyptian times. The continuous use or watercolours as an art medium in western art began in the 1500s and by the 18th century, especially in England, had become an important artistic tool closely tied to the acceptance of the landscape as an appropriate subject for painting.

In the later part of the 19th century the influence of watercolour painting spread from England into North America and watercolours proved to be an excellent medium in capturing the awe-inspiring physicality of this expansive territory.

The travelling exhibition From Water into Sky, featuring art works from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, explores the use of watercolour painting in expressing the landscape and related aspects of the natural world. Expressing various approaches to watercolour painting and modes of artistic representation ranging from high realism to abstraction, the artworks in this exhibition give voice to the countless marvels and moods of the natural world and the ‘magic’ that can be found both within and through water.

The exhibition From Water into Sky was curated by Shane Golby and organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program. The AFA Travelling Exhibition program is supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

An Alberta Foundation for The Arts Travelling Exhibition organized by The Art Gallery of Alberta

From the Collection of The Alberta Foundation for The Arts and Government House Collection

Transparent, tasteless, odorless and nearly colourless, water is the main constituent of Earth’s streams, lakes and oceans and the fluids of most living organisms.  Described as ‘the solvent of life’, water is vital for all known forms of life.

Water is also the solvent for one of the oldest art processes known to humankind: watercolour painting. Watercolour painting is a painting method where the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution and bound by a colloid agent, such as gum arabic. Watercolours have been used for manuscript paintings at least since ancient Egyptian times. The continuous use or watercolours as an art medium in western art began in the 1500s and by the 18th century, especially in England, had become an important artistic tool closely tied to the acceptance of the landscape as an appropriate subject for painting.

In the later part of the 19th century the influence of watercolour painting spread from England into North America and watercolours proved to be an excellent medium in capturing the awe-inspiring physicality of this expansive territory.

The travelling exhibition From Water into Sky, featuring art works from the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, explores the use of watercolour painting in expressing the landscape and related aspects of the natural world. Expressing various approaches to watercolour painting and modes of artistic representation ranging from high realism to abstraction, the artworks in this exhibition give voice to the countless marvels and moods of the natural world and the ‘magic’ that can be found both within and through water.

The exhibition From Water into Sky was curated by Shane Golby and organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program. The AFA Travelling Exhibition program is supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.