Inspired by Local Gallery Shows and My latest Techniques at the 2026 New Hamburg Art Tour
- Ann L Gordon
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
There is a quiet kind of encouragement that comes from seeing your work on a gallery wall. A painting that began as a private conversation in the studio becomes part of a larger exchange. People stop, look, step closer, ask questions, and sometimes share what they see in it before you say a word.
Over the past while, my work has been featured in two local gallery shows - "Florals & Fauna" at Williams Fresh Cafe (corner of University and Phillip) in Waterloo & "Pop of Colour" at Charlie West Condo Front Gallery (60 Charles St. W) in Kitchener. These experiences have given me a clearer sense of what connects with viewers, but it has also pushed me to keep experimenting. A recent course at Dundas Valley School of Art has opened up new directions in my practice, especially through more impressionistic and abstract elements.
That mix of local support, formal study, and fresh technique is now shaping the work I am preparing for the 2026 New Hamburg Art Tour Show and Sale, taking place Sept. 26 and 27, 2026. I am honoured to be one of 24 artists taking part.
Local gallery shows helped me see the work differently
In the gallery, I could see how paintings behave in a shared space. Some pieces invited people to come in close. Others worked better from a few steps back. Certain colours brought you closer. Some quieter passages became more noticeable than I expected. Details I had worried over in the studio softened once the painting became part of a larger collection.
The shows also reminded me that viewers bring their own stories to a piece. One person may respond to the light. Another may notice movement, texture, or colour. Someone else may connect with a mood they cannot quite name. That is one of the best parts of showing art locally. The conversation feels immediate and human.
The Charlie West Gallery in downtown Kitchener is still underway. It is a storefront gallery, so easily visible as you make your way along Gaukle St from Charles St. towards Kitchener City Hall. See some amazing local art. Then, let me know..... What does my art bring out in you?
A course at Dundas Valley School of Art opened up new possibilities
Taking a recent course at Dundas Valley School of Art with instructor Lee Munn has been especially energizing. There is something valuable about stepping into a learning space after developing your own habits. It can shake loose assumptions you did not know you were carrying. The course encouraged me to try different techniques, especially approaches that lean into impressionistic and abstract elements. That means paying closer attention to feeling, movement, and structure rather than trying to be so detailed.
This has affected my process in practical ways.
I have been experimenting with looser brushwork, allowing marks to stay visible instead of smoothing everything out. I have been testing stronger contrasts between soft passages and more defined edges. It also reminded me that the first layers of a painting are not always areas to cover up, but something that can remain alive beneath the surface.
Introducing abstract elements into my work has been interesting. While I dabbled a little bit with this a few years ago, this course provided a reconnection. Your brain has to think differently to bring the painting to life. Rather than replicating actual references, it is about large shapes, repeated lines, areas of tension, and quiet spaces that guide the eye. It is about simplification, exaggeration and movement to create a mood, memory or feeling.
Preparing for the 2026 New Hamburg Art Tour
The next major focus is the 2026 New Hamburg Art Tour show and sale on Sept. 26 and 27, 2026 at the New Hamburg Community Centre, 251 Jacob St. New Hamburg, Ontario. Being selected as one of 24 artists for the tour is a great opportunity. It offers a chance to share both finished work and the direction my practice is taking.
Art tours have a different energy from a gallery show. They invite conversation in a more direct way. People can often see a wider range of work, ask about materials, learn about process, and understand what connects a group of pieces. It is a way to build relationships with those interested in your art.
I am thinking carefully about the artwork I want to present. There will of course be new paintings - some may lean more toward impressionistic light and movement. Others will contribute to my "Kitchen Collection" . And again, there will be pieces available for sale from my "Art in Fashion Line", which now includes some new accessories such as earrings, purses and wallets. This year I am also featuring some limited edition prints and original cards that would be great to purchase for a special event or occasion.
Together, I hope they show a real period of growth in my art practice.
The show and sale format also adds a personal dimension. A painting can find its way into someone’s home, where it becomes part of daily life. Art does not end when it leaves the studio. In many ways, that is when its second life begins.
Growth in my art practice
Every artist has periods where the work shifts. Sometimes the change is subtle. Sometimes it is more visible. This stage in my art practice feels important because it brings together experience and exploration.
The local gallery shows gave me encouragement and perspective. They helped me see the work beyond the studio and understand how others respond to it. The course at Dundas Valley School of Art gave me new tools and permission to take more risks. Preparing for the New Hamburg Art Tour gives me a purpose and timeline for bringing those lessons into finished pieces. And along this journey has been my longtime art coach, Ana Vatres, a talented practicing artist here in Canada for over 20 years. https://www.anavatres.com She is an inspiration and her reassurance and motivation have been very important to developing my practice. I am grateful for all of these opportunities this year.
Growth in art is rarely a straight path. It often comes through trying something that feels awkward at first, then noticing one small part that works. A colour combination. A looser line. A shape that says more than a detailed passage could.
Those small discoveries add up. They become part of my style.
As Sept. 26 and 27, 2026 approach, I am looking forward to sharing this new work in person at the New Hamburg Art Tour Show and Sale. More than anything, I hope the artwork carries the energy of this moment: the confidence that comes from being seen, the curiosity that comes from learning, and the excitement of a growing style.
Be sure to keep checking as my style continues to develop @algartnook or www.algartnook.com
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