Biography
As a prairie native who grew up in Manitoba, Connie O’Connor’s roots are expressed through big blue skies and large loose florals inspired from her family farm. Her interest in and love for the arts began early through sewing and continued at the University of Manitoba where she studied Fashion Illustration and Design. Following her retirement from an inspiring 34-year career teaching students to create and express themselves in fashion design, Connie began working to establish herself as a painter in North Vancouver. She loves bright colours and bold brush strokes. Her subjects vary from landscapes to floral to textural mixed media.
Connie is deeply influenced by the vast pure blue skies and expansive prairie vistas of her youth in Manitoba, where beautiful fields stretch seemingly forever to the horizon and large intricate gardens dominated by roses inspire happiness, freedom, and meditation, and drive her new-found passion for acrylic painting.
Affiliations
Federation of Canadian Artists - Active Member
North Vancouver Community Arts Council
North Shore Artists Guild
West Vancouver Community Arts Council
Langley Arts Council
Arts Connection - Networking Salon for Artists (Ferry Building)
Exhibitions
2018 Langley Arts Council,'Where Country & City Meet' ,Langley Civic Facility, Langley, BC
2018 Harmony Arts Festival 'Art Beat', Peake & Richmond Insurance, West Vancouver, BC
2018 Anonymous Show, Whistler Arts Council, Maury Young Arts Gallery, Whistler, BC
2018 Art Rental Program, NV Arts Council, City Scape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Anonymous Show, NV Arts Council, City Scape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Scenes from Western Canada, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2017 10 Squared Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2017 Harmony Arts Festival 'Art Beat', Peake & Richmond Insurance, West Vancouver, BC
2017 Art Party, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Art in the Garden, North Vancouver, BC
2016 10x10 Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2013 Canyon Heights Elementary School Fundraiser, North Vancouver, BC
Education
2017
Naramata Art Mentorship Retreat – Suzanne Northcott
Federation of Canadian Artists,The Foundations Program
North Vancouver Arts Council, Navigating the Art Industry – Pennylane Shen
North Vancouver Arts Council, Photographing your Artwork – Scott Massey
North Vancouver Arts Council, Networking Advice – Lori Bagneres
Opus Artist Series, Mark Making – Marlene Lowden
2016
Whistler Arts Council, Abstract Inspiration – Suzanne Northcott
Federation of Canadian Artists,The Art of Business – David Langevin
2015
West Vancouver Recreation, Abstract Acrylics – Sara Morison
2009
Emily Carr University, Brushstroke Boot Camp – Lisa Birke
2008
West Vancouver Recreation, Landscapes with Acrylics – Janice Robertson
2007
Emily Carr University, Illustration and Portfolio Design – Michael Pope
2005
Kwantlan University, Portfolio Development – S Lee
1981
University of Edmonton, Secondary Education After Degree
1979
University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Home Economics
As a prairie native who grew up in Manitoba, Connie O’Connor’s roots are expressed through big blue skies and large loose florals inspired from her family farm. Her interest in and love for the arts began early through sewing and continued at the University of Manitoba where she studied Fashion Illustration and Design. Following her retirement from an inspiring 34-year career teaching students to create and express themselves in fashion design, Connie began working to establish herself as a painter in North Vancouver. She loves bright colours and bold brush strokes. Her subjects vary from landscapes to floral to textural mixed media.
Connie is deeply influenced by the vast pure blue skies and expansive prairie vistas of her youth in Manitoba, where beautiful fields stretch seemingly forever to the horizon and large intricate gardens dominated by roses inspire happiness, freedom, and meditation, and drive her new-found passion for acrylic painting.
Affiliations
Federation of Canadian Artists - Active Member
North Vancouver Community Arts Council
North Shore Artists Guild
West Vancouver Community Arts Council
Langley Arts Council
Arts Connection - Networking Salon for Artists (Ferry Building)
Exhibitions
2018 Langley Arts Council,'Where Country & City Meet' ,Langley Civic Facility, Langley, BC
2018 Harmony Arts Festival 'Art Beat', Peake & Richmond Insurance, West Vancouver, BC
2018 Anonymous Show, Whistler Arts Council, Maury Young Arts Gallery, Whistler, BC
2018 Art Rental Program, NV Arts Council, City Scape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Anonymous Show, NV Arts Council, City Scape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Scenes from Western Canada, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2017 10 Squared Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2017 Harmony Arts Festival 'Art Beat', Peake & Richmond Insurance, West Vancouver, BC
2017 Art Party, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Art in the Garden, North Vancouver, BC
2016 10x10 Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2013 Canyon Heights Elementary School Fundraiser, North Vancouver, BC
Education
2017
Naramata Art Mentorship Retreat – Suzanne Northcott
Federation of Canadian Artists,The Foundations Program
North Vancouver Arts Council, Navigating the Art Industry – Pennylane Shen
North Vancouver Arts Council, Photographing your Artwork – Scott Massey
North Vancouver Arts Council, Networking Advice – Lori Bagneres
Opus Artist Series, Mark Making – Marlene Lowden
2016
Whistler Arts Council, Abstract Inspiration – Suzanne Northcott
Federation of Canadian Artists,The Art of Business – David Langevin
2015
West Vancouver Recreation, Abstract Acrylics – Sara Morison
2009
Emily Carr University, Brushstroke Boot Camp – Lisa Birke
2008
West Vancouver Recreation, Landscapes with Acrylics – Janice Robertson
2007
Emily Carr University, Illustration and Portfolio Design – Michael Pope
2005
Kwantlan University, Portfolio Development – S Lee
1981
University of Edmonton, Secondary Education After Degree
1979
University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Home Economics