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
Langley Arts Council langleyarts.ca
North Vancouver Community Arts Council
West Vancouver Community Arts Council
Arts Connection - Networking Salon for Artists (Ferry Building)
Exhibitions
2020 AIMIAE, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2020 Florals, Langley Arts Council, AIFS On Line Gallery, Langley, BC
2020 Canvas Unbound, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2020 Distant Together Virtual Art Exhibition, West Vancouver Community Arts Council, West Vancouver, BC
2020 Abstracted, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2020 Postcard Competition, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2020 'Chiaroscuro', Langley Arts Council, Aldergrove Community Centre, Aldergrove, BC
2020 Works on Paper Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2020 Active Member Exhibition, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2020 Winter Scenes, Langley Arts Council, Timms Community Center, Langley, BC
2019 10 Squared Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2019 Spotlight Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2019 Anonymous Show, NV Arts Council, City Scape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2019 Incognito Show, Langley Arts Council, Langley Civic Facility, Langley, BC
2019 Emerging Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2019 Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, Evergreen House, North Vancouver, BC
2019 'ArtSpacific', Langley Arts Council, Aldergrove Community Centre, Aldergrove, BC
2019 Canada Day Celebration, Langley Arts Council, Centennial Museum, Fort Langley,BC
2018 10 Squared Show, Federation Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2018 Incognito Show, Langley Arts Council, Langley Civic Facility, Langley, BC
2018 'Where Country & City Meet' ,Langley Arts Council, Langley Civic Facility, Langley, BC
2018 'Art Beat', Harmony Arts Festival, 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 'Art Beat',Harmony Arts Festival, Peake & Richmond Insurance, West Vancouver, BC
2017 Art Party, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2017 Art in the Garden, North Vancouver, BC
Education
2019
Lalita Studio, Weekly Atelier Classes, Lalita Hamill
The KUBE Gallery, West Coast Landscapes, Janice Robertson
2018
Federation Canadian Artists, Dare to Paint Abstract, Barry Rafuse
Dene Croft Studios, Landscapes in Oil, Maria Josenhans
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
Opus Artist Series, Mark Making – Marlene Lowden
2016 Whistler Arts Council, Abstract Inspiration – Suzanne Northcott
2016 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