Kelly McNeil
Wildlife Artist

Personal | Education | Post Graduate Studies | Workshops | Galleries | Media | Collections
Associations | Mediums | Employment

PERSONAL
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Everywhere I go, I am visiting Zoos, Wildlife Reserves, Wildlife Refuges, or National Parks. I’m dragging my family around while I sketch the lazy animals, and photograph the active ones.

To me, a painting has to capture the drama and personality of the subject. I have learned so much about our natural world since I have begun studying wildlife. I have also discovered the abundance of wildlife I hadn’t ever noticed in my own backyard: Deer, Blue and Night Herons, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Red Tailed Hawks, and Owls are just some of the few.

On my parent’s Cape Breton  property I have discovered the Bald Eagle, Herons, Deer, hawks and owls, along with King Fishers, Loons, Seals, Osprey, Bob Cats, Coyotes, and Whales.

My current passion is painting animals in water. I love the abstract quality of reflections, shadows and the pulse of the sea.

To some, art may be a hobby, a passion or even a career, for me art is my life. I take pride in every piece I produce and strive to learn and perfect my technique as I continue to explore the natural world around me.  

EDUCATION
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2011 – Ontario College of Art and Design University-  Bachelor of Art in Design, Toronto, Ontario
  1984 – Ontario College of Art -Communication and Design,  Editorial Illustration, Toronto, Ontario
 1989 – Humber College – 3 courses in Photography, Etobicoke, Ontario
1987 – Humber College – Three courses  Early Childhood Education, Etobicoke, Ontario
1978 –  Secondary School Honors Diploma, Holy Name of Mary High School, Mississauga, Ontario

POST GRADUATE STUDIES:
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                          1993, 1994 – Portrait painting classes, Ontario College of Art
1992, 1991 – Portrait painting Classes, Sheridan College of Art, Oakville, Ontario

WORKSHOPS:
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2009 – Derek Wicks – Wildlife Art Workshop, Brampton, Ontario
2005 – Dan Everett Thompson, Drawing Workshop, Arts and Letters Club, Toronto, Ontario
2004 – Dan Everett Thompson, Ruth Abernethy, and Yuqi Wang. Portrait Society of Canada Art Festival, Art Gallery of Ontario
2004 – Barry Coombs, Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Watercolor Workshop
2003 - Dan Everett Thompson, Ruth Abernethy, David Bernstein, and Yuqi Wang. Portrait Society of Canada Art Festival, Art Gallery of Ontario
2004, 2003 – Derek Wicks – Wildlife Art Workshops, Brampton, Ontario
2004,2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 - Barry Coombs, These outdoor workshops were carried out in the areas of Toronto, Elora, Haliburton Ontario, Canso Nova Scotia, Grand Manan New Brunswick, and Ellicottville New York.
2003 – David Kabuuka, Batik Workshop, Beaux-Arts Brampton
2003 – Mary Ellen Farrow, Sculpture Class, Beaux-Arts Brampton
2000 – Jack Reid, Watercolor workshop, Mississauga
1988 – John Bennet, outdoor watercolor, Caledon Hills, Ontario

GALLERIES:
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2010-2009-2008-2007-2006-2005-2004-2003-2002 – Beaux-Arts Brampton, 70 Main Street, N., Brampton, ON
2010-2009 – Ward Street Gallery, 858 Ward St., Bridge North, ON
2010-2009-2008-2007-2006-2005-2004– Dragon Fly Gallery, Orangeville, ON
2010-2009-2008-2007-2006- Gallery B, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A.
2010-2009-2008-2007-2006-2005- Morrison Art Gallery, 700 Michigan Avenue, N., Chicago, ILL, 60611 2005, U.S.A.

GROUP, SOLO, AND JURIED EXHIBITIONS:
2011-2010-2009-2008-2007-2007-2005– August, Buckhorn Fine Art Festival, Buckhorn, ON
2011-2010-2009 – July, Art in the Woods, Jamestown, NY
2011-2010-2009-2008-2007-2006 – February, South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, SC, U.S.A.
2010- November, Frosty Lights Arts Wildlife Show, Bridge North, ON.
 2010-2008-2006-2004 – May, Colour & Form Society, Tod Morden Mills, Toronto, ON. “Best in Show” ”Honorable Mention”
2010- May, Open Juried Photography Show, Beaux-Arts, Brampton, Brampton, ON
2010-2009 – January – April 2009, Bridge North Art Gallery, ON
2010-2009 – May/July, The Corporate Collection, Beaux-Arts Brampton Gallery, Brampton, ON
2009 – June, Art 2009, Toronto, ON
2009 – August, Gallery 1313, The colour and Form Society, Toronto ON
2009 – September, Impressions Art Gallery, 102 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, ON
2010-2009-2008-2007-2006-2005-2004-2003-2002 - December, Christmas Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON, “Muriel Davis Essence of Water Award” Peoples Choice” “Peoples Choice”
2008 – November, Natural History Art Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON
2008-2007-2006-2005-2004-2001– November, Colour and Form Society Juried Art Show, Etobicoke, ON, “Best Portrait” “Honorable Mention”
2010-2009-2008-2007-2006-2005-2004-2003- September, Group Show, North Brampton Watercolor Society, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON
2008 – August, The Propeller Gallery, Colour and Form Society, Toronto, ON
2008-2007-2006 – June, Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington Centre for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont, U.S.A.
2010-2009-2008-2007-2006-2005-2004-2003 – July, Beaux-Arts Brampton, 6th Anniversary Show,  “Peoples Choice Award” “Valerie MacDonald Memorial Award” “Loomis Award”,Brampton, ON
2008 – April, “Beaux-Arts Brampton, Open Juried Show”, People Choice Award”, Brampton ON
2008 – April, Featured Artist, Call of the Wild, Tay River Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2008 – March, A Portrait: The Face we Present to the World, Portrait Society of Canada,
John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007, 2008 – Florida Gallery, Ormond Beach, Florida, U.S.A.,
2006 – November, Plantation Wildlife Festival, Thomasville, Georgia, U.S.A.
2006-2005 – March, Wildlife Art Show, Spring Lake, Michigan, U.S.A.
2006 – February/March, Art Show, Mississauga Art Gallery, Mississauga, ON
2006 – January, “These Friends of Mine”, Group Art Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON
2006, 2009 – Sept.… starting at the Columbus Centre, Colour and Form Society, 2 X 2 Traveling Art Show, Toronto, ON
2005 – November, Wildlife Show, A Brush with Nature, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON
2005 – September/Oct., Solo Show, Spirits of the Islands Wildlife Show, Whitney Gallery, Peel Heritage Complex, Brampton, ON
2005 – September, Beaux-Arts Brampton Sands of Time Show, Brampton, ON
2005- July, Nature Art Festival, Jamestown, New York, U.S.A.
2004- November, Wings and Wildlife Art Show, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
2004 - October/November, Wildlife Solo Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, Brampton, ON
2004 - Distillery District, Toronto, ON
2004 - July, Batik, Group Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON
2004 – June, Juried Show, Human Animal Bond, Received the “Sponsors Award”, Beaux-Arts Brampton ON
2004 - June, Juried Show, Mississauga Art Group, Mississauga, ON
2004 – February, Color and Form Society, Humming Bird Center, Toronto, ON
2004 - January, Wildlife Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, ON
2004, 2003 – November/January, Group Show, Rodman Hall, St. Catherine’s, ON
2003 - November, Members Show, Portrait Society of Canada, Steam Whistle Brewery Gallery, Toronto, ON
2003 - July, Juried Show, Water Show, “Honorable Mention”, Beaux-Arts Brampton Gallery
2003 - June, Wildlife Solo Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton, Brampton, ON
2003 – May, Juried Art Show, Jackmon Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario,   Portrait Society of Canada Honorable Mention, Toronto, ON, “one of twelve International Finalists”
2002 - November, Mississauga Living Arts Center, Miss., ON
2002 - July, Group Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton
 2002 – June, Wildlife Solo Show, Beaux-Arts Brampton
2002 - April, Group Show, Grand Opening, Beaux-Arts Brampton
2002 – January, Group Show, North Brampton Watercolor Society, Brampton City Hall
2002, 2001 - November – January, Group Show, Whitney Gallery, Peel Heritage Complex, Brampton, ON
2001 – 2002 - May – October – Juried Art Show, Images of the Humber, Black Creek Pioneer Village, ON
2001 - October, Solo Show, Brampton City Hall
2000 - October, Solo Show, Brampton City Hall
1999 - April/May, 26th Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts, Art Gallery of Peel, Peel Heritage Complex, Brampton, ON
1995, 1994, and 1993 – Solo Shows, Café des Arts, 80 Spadina, Toronto, ON
1977– Ontario High School Art Exhibition, Tour of Canada

  

TELEVISION, PUBLICATIONS, ART RENTAL, and MISCELLANEOUS:
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2005 – Buckhorn Fine Art Festival Magazine
2004 - Wildlife Art Magazine, U.S.A.
2005, 2004, 2003 – Painting on loan in the Toronto Parliament Building
2004, 2003, 2002 – Mississauga Art Gallery, Art Rental Program, Exhibiting Artwork in the Mississauga Living Arts Center, Mississauga City Hall, Mississauga, Ontario
2002 - November 27th – Sue Warden’s Craftscapes, Television, 15 min, spot “ Oils on Canvas, Pack of Wolves” Channel 46
2002 - June, Parkhurst Exchange, Physicians Magazine, Canadian Art Section, Pages 80 – 81

COLLECTIONS
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Region of Peel,   John Sleeman / Sleeman Brewery,   Barry Coombs, Derek C. Wicks,
John Cutruzzola,  

 

ASSOCIATIONS:
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Association of Ontario College of Artist, Portrait Society of Canada,  Beaux-Arts Brampton, Brampton Arts Council
Color and Form Society, Etobicoke, Ontario, North Brampton Watercolor Society

MEDIUMS:
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Oil, Watercolor, Scratch Board, Batik

EMPLOYMENT:
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Artist – Kelly McNeil, Artist
Director of Operations - 4 years – Beaux-Arts Brampton
Gallery Chair – 4 years Beaux-Arts Brampton
Studio Chair – 9 years – Beaux-Arts Brampton
Exhibition Coordinator – 10 years, North Brampton Watercolor Society
Exhibition Coordinator – 4 years - Colour and Form Society
Oil Painting Art Teacher, Franklin Carmichael Art Centre
Oil Portrait Painting/Drawing Teacher, Curry’s Art Store
Oil Portrait Painting/Drawing/Batik/Multi Media Teacher, Beaux-Arts Brampton
Art Teacher, (grade 7) Peel School Board, “Artists in the Classroom Program”