The Thompson Nicola Shuswap Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists has over 50 members from the region. The Chapter provides opportunities for artistic growth, development and accreditation to visual artists of various skill levels. 

The TNSC welcomes aspiring, emerging and career artists through four levels of membership.

Prominent activities of the TNSC are workshops with qualified professional artists, juried shows, meetings to participate in the planning of Chapter activities, critiques to help you grow artistically, demonstrations in various mediums and techniques, guest speakers from near and far, and fellowship with other artists.

NOT A MEMBER YET? Click here for Membership Information

TNSC Fall Regional Art Show and Sale! "Falling for Art"

The Thompson Nicola Shuswap Chapter (TNSC) of the Federation of Canadian Artists proudly presents its 20th Annual Juried Regional Fine Art Show. This prestigious event, held at the Old Courthouse Gallery, showcases the finest artists from Kamloops, Shuswap, and the Okanagan, offering an immersive experience in a diverse array of artworks, genres, mediums, and subject matter.

Date:   October 22 – November 2

Time:  Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm

Location:  The Old Courthouse Gallery, 7 Seymour St W, Kamloops

SUBMISSIONS DUE:  SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2O24 @ 11:59PM

SUMBIT HERE:  TNSCFALLSHOW2024

RULES HERE:  TNSCFALLSHOW2024RULES

For more information, contact Patricia House, TNSC Show Chair
Email:  showchair@tnsc.ca  Website:  https://tnsc.ca/

Date:  Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Time:  6:30 pm
Via:  Zoom ( A link will be sent to you by email prior to the Demo Day)
Cost:  Members - Free; Non-Members $5.00 Register Here:  https://tnsc.ca/courses/view/id/2569

Linda Lovisa will be our demo artist. Kelowna artist, Linda Lovisa, paints “Alla Prima” (direct approach).  This type of painting keeps the colours fresh and vibrant while mixing colours directly on the canvas. Linda’s genres include impressionism, symbolism, and abstraction. Although she works primarily in acrylic, she continues to explore a wide range of media including pastel, mixed media, and watercolour.

Linda’s paintings have appeared in exhibits across Canada and the United States and can be found in private and public collections nationally and internationally. Over the years, Linda has been presented a Gold Award, an Award of Excellence, a 3rd place, and two Honorable Mentions by The Federation of Canadian Artists.

Linda’s creativity and beautiful artwork can also be found in two children’s books that she has written and illustrated in watercolour. She is looking forward to sharing more stories in her series, “The Adventures of Gordon the Canada Goose”.

In this class, I will demonstrate double and triple loading your brushes; the importance of a tonal wash and using a good quality canvas. Depositing and mixing directly on your canvas is so freeing in the early stages of a painting. Turn off that detail button. Save that for much later. By using more paint while working in acrylics it allows you to have more blending time. I do not use any gel mediums to aid in the blending. I will elaborate on that during class.

This photo was taken just as the sun went down behind me, being summer in northwestern Ontario the sky still has the bluish feel as the light slowly falls. Low light references can sometimes be a challenge. I will show you what I look for in my reference. Editing and creating new compositions with the same reference is always fun to explore. These are just some of the things I will demonstrate in this class. I look forward to sharing some of my techniques with you.  

My palette of colour and brands – Liquitex and Tri Art - heavy body. Ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, manganese blue; Cadmium red light, medium and deep, Pyrrole crimson; Cadmium yellow light, medium, and deep, yellow orange azo, arylide yellow deep ;Titanium white, warm white, parchment white, unbleached white. Optional colours I sometimes use -  violet deep, dioxazine violet, burnt crimson, veridian green, prussian blue 

VINEYARD VISTA - A Day of Plein Air in the Vineyard Series

Beautiful Monte Creek Winery	The Vineyards

You are invited to our first inaugural plein air "Vineyard Vista" event at Monte Creek Winery.  Join us for a unique celebration of creativity and nature as we capture the stunning beauty of the vineyards in real-time. We have collaborated with Monte Creek winery to bring you this unique plein air event. Don't miss this unique fusion of art and viticulture. Paintings can be sold at the event with a 20% commission to Monte Creek winery. Bring your paint gear and pick a beautiful spot to paint, there are plenty! Connection, Creativity, Nature and Wine! And of course, Fun! 

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024         
• Time: 11am - 2pm, Followed by Lunch and Wine (optional)
• Place: Monte Creek Winery, 2420 Miners Bluff Rd, Monte Creek, On the #1 Trans Can Hwy, just past Vernon turn off. 
• Members : Free - Please RSVP to membershipchair@tnsc.ca
• Non-Members $5.00 Register Here: MONTECREEKPLEINAIR

Following the Plein Air Event, stay for lunch and a glass of wine!  The Winery has generously offered us a 10% discount on food in the Terrace and wine in the Tasting Room!  Thank you Monte Creek Winery!

SUMMER PLEIN AIR DAZE - What Fun!

The TNSC held three Summer Plein Air paint-outs this summer.  What a great event it was!  Our enthusiastic artists met at Riverside Park Rose Gardens, the Columbia Street Look-out and Stake Lake.  We were fortunate to have fabulous weather for each day and we were also fortunate to have a great turn-out of artists who shared their knowledge of plein air and support for each other.  To top it off, some really great artwork was produced.  Join in on the fun next summer!

Patricia House - Riverside Rose Garden	Cathy Tetarenko - Riverside Rose Garden	Elaine Burns - Riverside Rose Garden
Barb Klie - Columbia Lookout	Darryl Nelson - Columbia Lookout	Kathleen Feschuk - Columbia Lookout
Debbie Lively - Stake Lake	Elaine Burns - Stake Lake	Darryl Nelson - Stake Lake

Lalita Hamill Workshop - October 5/6, 2024

We are bringing Lalita to you in October to further our very popular Foundation Skills Program. This weekend workshop will be all about "Working from Photographs”.  Artists use reference photos in many different ways depending on their practice.  It is an essential tool for any artist serving as a reference to fill in the gaps where our memory or imagination may need a little inspiration.  Lalita will expand on the use of photos in your artistic practice and show you how to get the most out of your pictures.

More details to follow in the next couple of months!  If you are already interested and know what Lalita brings to the easel, secure your spot here: LALITAHAMILL

ABOUT LALITA

Lalita Hamill is a professional fine artist living in Langley, BC, Canada.  She discovered her artistic abilities as a young adult during the final year of her Philosophy degree at the University of Victoria. Subsequent years of drawing led to four years of study at the Vancouver Academy of Art, where she received instruction by classically trained painters.

Lalita specializes in oil and is also skilled at acrylics, watercolours, and drawing media. She is most well known for her award-winning figures, portraits, and still lifes. By exploring the human condition through emotive figures and narratives, Lalita's artwork inspires viewers to reflect on who they are, how they relate to their environment and others, and what really matters.  With over thirty years teaching experience, Lalita is a well respected teacher, mentor, and art assessor. On account of the success of her contemporary atelier program at her studio in Walnut Grove, Lalita was asked to design the Foundations Program for the Federation of Canadian Artists. 

ART IN THE PARK - TNSC MEMBERSHIP BOOTH

The TNSC hosted a membership booth at Art in the Park this year.  Art in the Park is Kamloops biggest and most attended art fair and 2024 did not disappoint!  The weather was perfect and over 4,000 people came out to celebrate both Canada Day and the vibrant art community we have in Kamloops.  We were thrilled to have so many people drop by our booth to talk "art" and the benefits of becoming a member with the Federation of Canadian Artists and the TNSC!  It was a very encouraging day and we hope to see some new faces join our group in the very near future.  All in all the day was a success!  A big shout out of thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and the Kamloops Arts Council for a great event!

AT ART IN THE PARK, OUR THREE ARTIST VOLUNTEERS COLLABORATED ON ONE PAINTING!
The results are spectacular and some lucky person will be the receipient of this fine painting!

Looking to join the TNSC and be part of our vibrant artistic community?  Please contact Cathy Tetarenko @membershipchair@tnsc.ca

TNSC 2024 SPRING SHOW WINNERS ANNOUNCED

What a show it was!  First off, a big shout out of thanks to everyone who volunteered to install the show, do a gallery sit or two, perform painting demos and help take down.  Many hands really make the job eaiser and the best part is the camaraderie.  Thank you to all the artists who entered the show and took the opportunity to showcase their work. Here are your top awards!

Three top placement awards:

First Place Kit Bell, AFCA  Nothing More

Second Place Christine Sherwood  Moment in Time.

Third Place Jetta Williams Deep Blue Hunger

Three Honourable Mentions:

Honourable Mention Nancy Allison Sparkling Winter Day

Honourable Mention Claire Burnham The Storm Rolling In

Honourable Mention Cheryl Potter Hollyhock

First People's Choice Shannon Dana - Rock Song

Second People's Choice Claire Burnham - The Storm Rolling In

Third People's Choice Mairi Budreau - Last Light in the Grasslands

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARTISTS and to all the artists who had their works juried into our Spring Show!  It was a stellar collection of artwork.