Darlene Kulig’s paintings are bold and joyous, whimsical and eye-catching. Her work is described as semi-abstracted spirited landscape and each painting is dotted with her signature, effervescent champagne bubbles. Darlene’s artwork focuses on landmarks and landscapes from around the world, each containing her signature style. The paintings featuring her home country, Canada, are reminiscent of a time spent at a lakeside cottage, a hike through an Ontario woodland, the majesty of the mountains in the west, and the beauty of the red sand dunes in the east. They are organic and semi-abstract, but unmistakeable as the Canadian landscape. Her love of the beauty available in the Canadian landscape is clear. What is especially impressive is that she has developed a unique very personal approach that “feels” Canadian.
Revealing the lifeforce of my subjects
The designer in me loves simple shape and bold colour while the painter in me explores light, rhythm, and personal connection.
The Cover Story: An Arts Etobicoke exhibition and Online Auction.
I’m excited to be part of The Cover Story: An Exhibition and Auction of 50 Original Artworks, presented by Arts Etobicoke.
Check out my design – which will be donated with an opportunity to collaborate in my studio in the final stages of creating a painting.
To see this sketchbook along with 49 others, get to Arts Etobicoke’s Storefront Gallery at 4893a Dundas St W, Etobicoke, M9A 1B2 between June 12-24
Bid on your favourites in an online auction from June 12-24.
Visit Arts Etobicoke’s website to learn more and support their mission to provide equitable and inclusive access to the arts and culture in West Toronto.”
Studio Series with Darlene Kulig
Looking for weekend fun? Join us in Creemore on a magical farm on July 8th, 10am-4pm. Over 30 vendors, food trucks, and green acres to picnic. With a $20 donation to My Friend’s House, you have a chance to win a gift basket valued at over $600.
Location:
678612 Centre Rd, Honeywood, Mulmur, ON, L9V 0E7
Note: GPS might bring you 1 km north of the farm. The property is south of 30th sideroad.
2024 Wall Calendars
My new 2024 Calendars from Pomegranate Publishing have arrived!
Eager to put 2023 behind you and move on to the new year? Drop by the studio to pick one up and say hello.
Spring Adult Workshops
S23APRE Painting: From Reference to Essence
This course explores design elements and colour theory to build the artist’s toolbox and offers insights to open the heart of an artist to discover their “essence”.
Participants will work with drawing tools, thumbnail sketches and acrylic paints.
Each week, class will start with a short lecture to better understand design and colour. Learn directly from me through examples of my step-by-step process.
Open House
Winter can always do with a splash of colour!
To brighten up your December I will be hosting an open-house on Saturday December 16th, 2023 and would love to see you.
Please pop in to say hello and feel free to bring along a friend….
I would love to see you!
Arts Etobicoke Studio Series with Darlene Kulig
Acrylic Painting: From Reference to Essence!
This course led by Darlene Kulig explores design elements and colour theory to build the artist’s tool box and offers insights to open the heart of an artist to discover their “essence”.
Students will work with drawing tools, thumbnail sketches and acrylic paints. Participants will reconnect with the divergent thinking of a child. Finding the courage to be in the moment and make personal art is a liberating and life changing thing!
Each week, class will start with a short lecture to better understand design and colour. The instructor will bring personal works to better communicate her something step by step process.
Each student will have open studio time to work on a painting of their choice.
References will be available for student inspiration if they are not ready to start something original. Students are welcome to bring their own reference or paint in the style of the instructor
Adult Workshop
W24AFRE Painting: From Reference to Essence
This class focuses on person and painter. Ideas of letting go, radical acceptance and a teaching process of breaking things down into beginner steps makes it ideal for those who are looking to develop their skills.
Students learn how to look at a subject, understand spatial relationships and individual interpretations. Supplied references and exercises in technique will refresh skills while design element and colour theory are introduced to strengthen thumbnail sketches and colour mixing with acrylics.
Each week, class will start with a short lecture followed by supported active studio time.
Fall Adult Workshops
S23APRE Painting: Landscape Process
This course led by Darlene Kulig explores design elements and colour theory to build the artist’s tool box and offers insights to open the heart of an artist to discover their “essence”.
Students will work with drawing tools, thumbnail sketches and acrylic paints. Participants will reconnect with the divergent thinking of a child. Finding the courage to be in the moment and make personal art is a liberating and life changing thing!
Each week, class will start with a short lecture to better understand design and colour. The instructor will bring personal works to better communicate her something step by step process.
Each student will have open studio time to work on a painting of their choice.
References will be available for student inspiration if they are not ready to start something original. Students are welcome to bring their own reference or paint in the style of the instructor
Virtual Gallery
Find my art in one of the isles of the Art Gallery of Hamilton!
Contest
WIN the proof prints of my 2023 Wall Calendar by entering on Instagram.
Collections
“It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw.” – Emily Carr
The majestic mountains of Canada’s west coast are an artist’s dream. From the awe-inspiring snow caps of the Rocky Mountains to the icy clear turquoise lakes in beautiful Banff National Park, this scenery is a joy to paint. I have been fortunate to have spent time amongst these rugged soaring peaks painting my interpretation, or what I call Spirited Landscapes, of the astonishing beauty that is Canada’s Rocky Mountains.
I spent some time on Prince Edward Island, and its beauty and charm definitely had an effect on me. I was drawn to the wind-sculpted dunes along the coastal bays, the loveliness of the sunset skies, and the allure of the red soil and sand. The farmhouses dotted across the countryside were the perfect subjects to paint.
My style of painting, along with the way I see and use colour, pair perfectly with the gold and jewel-like hues of autumn. I love trying to capture the prism of colour produced by the changing of the leaves in our Ontario woodlands and lakes.
Winter is my favourite season to paint. Living in Canada, I get to paint a lot of it! I love painting the way the snow blankets the ground like its own thick layer of paint, and how it hangs in perfectly-sculpted mounds amongst the trees. Moonlight reflecting off snow and creating night light is a magical experience.
I love Newfoundland and Labrador and I was lucky to spend time in this beautiful province painting and studying the landscape. In this series of paintings, I tried to capture the joyous spirit of the folk who live there and their deep connection to the land.
I am drawn to the architectural charm of old buildings and homes in small towns. It could be a country lane in Scotland, a little pub row in England, an alleyway in Elora, or a view from the bridge in Dorset. I love to try and capture the essence of place and time in these magical places.
Tondo short for rotundo is simply a round painting. Circles are among the oldest of geometric symbols, and commonly represent unity, wholeness, and infinity. Pythagoras called the circle “monad,” the most perfect of creative forms, without beginning or end, without sides or corners.
Night skies and Northern Lights have always held a fascination for me. The vastness, and beauty, and endless possibilities of all that they represent is present in most of my work. There are endless colours to be found in the sky.
I travelled to Vienna in 2013. My puzzles with Pomegranate Publishing, Gustav’s Cat and Outside Vienna, were inspired by works created during this trip.
I am lucky to have travelled both here in Canada and abroad, and I’m always exploring through an artist’s lens. Here, my spirited landscapes meet the European countryside. New vistas and views – same big, beautiful sky.
Canoes on small lakes, tugboats heading inland to oceanside towns, or sailboats out for a leisure tour, I can’t resist the siren call to paint boats on the water.
Wide open skies, hay bales at rest in golden fields, and gumweed dancing along the roadsides. Meadows dotted with wildflowers. This the Canadian Prairies.
This Paddle allows you to go on a journey. When you feel the need to just “be” turn your paddle inward and focus on the energy of the ascending champagne bubble…
Year-round views from breathtaking vistas, snowy mountain peaks, and gorgeous lakes and slopes. It’s like painting from the top of the world.
Did you know that stacking small artwork vertically can lengthen the height of a wall? Or a small piece can display beautifully almost anywhere. Tuck it into an alcove for a surprising dash of colour or nestle it amongst your books on a shelf or side table.
I have been visiting Barbados for over 30 years. I love painting the palms and sandy beaches, the breezy homes and buildings, and the beautiful people who call this small island paradise ‘home’.
Original Commissioned Paintings
Capture the spirit of your special place to bring joy and colour to your every day space.
Craig Kulig Memorial Foundation
Darlene's nephew, Craig Kulig, passed away in 2016 at the age of 23 after a brave battle with cancer. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she teamed up with Bring Your Own Mask (BYOM) to feature her artwork on a series of face masks in support of the Foundation Craig's father, Bruce established in his name.
Puzzles & More
Pop into the shop to pick up a puzzle or a pillowcase! You'll also find calendars, note cards and face masks, all featuring Darlene's bold and colourful art!
Studio Tours
Individual and small groups are welcome by appointment. Come by to see some of Darlene's new work and talk about all things art. Colour Close Up!
Darlene Kulig
Char
Ron
Ava
Lindy
Steve
Media & Press
Studio Series with Darlene Kulig – Acrylic Painting: From Reference to Essence
Finding courage to be in the moment and making personal art is a liberating and life changing thing. Each week class will start with a short lecture to better understand design and colour.
Adult Workshop with Darlene Kulig – Painting: From Reference to Essence
This class focuses on person and painter. Ideas of letting go, radical acceptance and a teaching process of breaking things down into beginner steps makes it ideal for those who are looking to develop their skills. Students learn how to look at a subject, understand spatial relationships and individual interpretations.
Open House – December 16th, 2023
Let me brighten up your winter! I will be holding an Open-house on December 16th 2023 and would love for you to pop over.
Capture the spirit of your special place to bring joy and colour to your every day space.
Sign up here to see what I’m working on and to get updates on new items in my collections.