Another spotlight for today is the Hamilton-based painter Ellen Irving! From her bio: 

I spent the first four years of my life living on Glenfern Ave, Hamilton, until I was kidnapped by my parents in 1963 and taken to live in Burlington against my will. The suburbs, at that time, were thought to be the place where you wanted to be. 

I’ve always been creative and began painting seriously when I was 11, my mother gave me an easel and set of oil paints for my birthday. Most of my teens were spent drawing, painting and creating sculpture. In grade 13 I won the Art Award Aldershot High. At the age of 19 I moved to Toronto where I attended the Ontario College of Art, graduating with honours in experimental art. I then attended George Brown College studying Furniture Construction and Design.

When I met my husband Martin and we started having children I suggested leaving Toronto, where he was born and raised and moving back to Hamilton. We bought a house in the inner city area and raised our 5 red headed children there. In 2007 after a 30 year journey that started in my late teens I was diagnosed with Aspergers.

Ellen has donated an original oil painting entitled ‘Tivoli’, find more of her work on her Facebook page.  Thank you for your generous support Ellen!

Join us on December 6th, 6:00pm-10:00pm at the Art Gallery of Hamilton for Comfort & Joy, a charity silent art auction in support of The AIDS Network. This fabulous fundraiser featuring amazing drag and musical talent and an incredible silent auction featuring a variety of one of a kind gifts from talented local artists and makers will help us to continue to provide some of our most valued programs and services. 

Advance tickets are available through Bruha.com , tickets will also be sold at the door.