Hi everyone,

I am a watercolour artist from Springwater Ontario, Canada. I am a realist painter, finding many subjects of interest to me from portraits to flowers and landscapes to still life. I have recently moved from Thunder Bay where I lived for 36 years. I am married to Ron, a retired dermatologist, and I helped run the practice.  We have 3 children and 5 grandchildren and they are my life. Painting is what I do when not visiting with them. 

I received a degree in Education at McGill University in Montreal and spent the early part of my life instilling the love of reading and art in the children I taught and then to my children and grandchildren.  I was trained for years by a wonderful artist named Greg Zelinski, who taught me the wonders of watercolour and then nurtured my talent until I felt comfortable to work on my own.  He was trained at the University of Manitoba and was a recipient of multiple awards for his realist and naturalist paintings.

My Favourite photographer is Steve McCurry, who is known especially for his photograph of the Afghan Girl on the front cover of the National Geographic. I have received permission to paint and sell my renditions of his photographs on condition my renditions of his work are archived in his studios. His portraits are what drew me to his work and to painting portraits, and I have a few I am very fond of.  I have  a fascination with the expressiveness of faces and work to achieve  the essence of the person I am painting. I love to paint details in a painting and so I look to paint subjects that have rust or cracks or simply subjects that are up close. I work on Ampersand Aquabord as it allows me the richness of detail and texture that brings life and joy to my work. I try to find beauty in the everyday, the items we pass by and never notice. After all, we are surrounded by things we love and hold dear. 
 

I am approachable, and please don't feel shy about sending me an email if you have questions or if you are interested in my work. Sylvie.mahlerstudio@gmail.com

I have an upcoming gallery exhibition in Anton Mills Ontario from April 1st to May 30th, 2025.  Please check the gallery website for exact hours.

I am very pleased to announce that I have received representation at the Golden Gallery, Tobermory, Ontario.   Most paintings can be purchased through the gallery.
Golden Gallery Tobermory, Ontario
 

Stay safe, 

Sylvie