Statement

I trained in the figurative discipline at the Ontario College of Art and Design, where I was fortunate enough to study in Toronto and Italy. While in Italy I focused on the theme of the door, which has become a constant in my work. After graduating in 1994, I had the opportunity of living in Aruba for several years where I had my first solo show. In the Caribbean I continued to focus on doors as well as ancient Indian rock drawings for inspiration. Now my work is strongly influenced by nature, animals as well as textural surfaces.

My paintings investigate perception. Color, light and texture are my tools for examining how the observed world and the painted surface can shift. They are an integration of the objective - the visual images and the subjective - the manipulated surface of the canvas. Developing intuitively in a process that involves layering and collaging elements and subsequently painting over them. Through the layers, some parts become obscured while others bleed through reveling the process

Resume

Education
· 1993-94 Ontario College of Art, Florence, Italy
· 1991-93 Ontario College of Art, Toronto, Ontario Honors Graduate
Solo Exhibitions
· 2006 Recent Paintings Silver Bridge, Canada
· 2005 Recent Paintings, Harmony Hall, Antigua
· 2004 The Red Door, Silver Bridge Gallery, Canada·
· 2002 Veni Vidi Gallery, Port Perry, Ontario
· 2001 Ontario Power Generation, Pickering, Ontario
· 1998 Central Bank of Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
· 1996 Artishock Art Gallery, "Doorways and Passages", Oranjestad, Aruba
· 1995 Aritshock Art Gallery, "Recent paintings", Oranjestad, Aruba
Group Exhibitions
· 2002 Art and Soul Gallery, Pickering, Ontario
· 2002 Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts Juried Show, Uxbridge, Ontario
· 2002 Muskoka Arts Spring Members Show, Bracebridge, Ontario
· 2002 The Lindsay Gallery, Annual Juried Show
· 2001 PineRidge Art Council, Ajax Juried Show, Ajax, Ontario
· 2001 Veni Vidi Art Gallery, "Horse Power", Port Perry, Ontario
· 2001 Muskoka Arts Annual Summer Show, Bracebridge, Ontario
· 2001 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario
· 2001 Oshawa Art Association, Annual Juried Art Show, Robert MaLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
· 2001 Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts Juried Show, Uxbridge, Ontario
· 2001 Muskoka Arts and Crafts Spring Members Show, Bracebridge, Ontario
· 2001 Veni Vidi Art Gallery, "Doors and Windows", Port Perry, Ontario
· 2001 Scarborough Arts Council, Annual Juried Show, Scarborough, Ontario
· 2000 Veni Vidi Art Gallery, "The Red Show", Port Perry, Ontario
· 2000 PineRidge Art Council, Ajax Juried Show, Ajax, Ontario
· 1998 Eterno Gallery, Group Show, Oranjestad, Aruba
· 1997 Artishock Art Gallery, Collective Works, Oranjestad, Aruba
· 1996 Harmonia Art Gallery, Juried Show, San Nicholas, Aruba
· 1996 Eterno Gallery, Group Show, Oranjestad, Aruba
· 1992-1995 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario
· 1994 Sheridan Hotel, "Tribute to Impressionism", Toronto, Ontario
· 1994 Ontario College of Art, "Arte Firenze", Toronto, Ontario
· 1994 Ontario Collage of Art, "Arte Firenze", Florence, Italy
Awards
· 2002 "Members choice Award for Best in Show", Muskoka Arts Spring Members Show, Bracebridge
· 2002 Juror's Choice Award, The Lindsay Gallery, Annual Juried Show
· 2001 "Best in Show" Oshawa Art Association, Annual Juried Show
· 2001 "Best Mixed Media" Oshawa Art Association, Annual Juried Show
· 2001 "Award of Merit for Oil and Wax Painting" Muskoka Arts Members Show, Bracebridge
· 2000 "Honorable Mention" PineRidge Art Council, Annual Juried Show, Ajax
· 1994 "Proficiency in painting, Mrs. W.O. Forsyth Award", OCA, Toronto
· 1994 "Proficiency in figure draftsmanship, Eric Freifeld Award", OCA, Toronto
· 1993 "Excellence in Fine Art, Grafix Scholarship Award", Toronto, Ontario
· 1992 "Proficiency in Fine Art, Carol and Morton Rapp Foundation Award", OCA, Toronto

Naydene Gonnella