C. J. CLARE ARTWORKS
About Me
I am a visual artist currently living in Dufferin County, Ontario. I was born in Britain and came to Toronto while still an infant. As a teenager in Toronto I began work as a graphic designer in the print industry and later as in-house graphic artist for an insurance company. I went to Calgary for a short stint, then I spent three years in Buffalo, NY where I worked as a freelance artist, and created backdrops for local theatre productions. I was also hired to create a huge wall mural for an indoor swimming pool in the home of the late singer, Rick James. I eventually returned to Toronto. It wasn't until after my first child was born, 27 years ago, that I started taking painting courses at the AGO, and discovered my true passion in painting on canvas, wood panel or paper, in oil, acrylic or pastel.
Many modern-day, contemporary, renaissance and impressionist artists intrigue me. I have studied at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto School of Art, ArteMbassy, and Avenue Road Art School, Maggiolly Art, and more recently Alton Mill, taking a variety of classes and workshops in Egg Tempera, Encaustic, Acrylic and Oil Painting, as well as courses in Mixed Media, Sculpture, Life Drawing and Portraiture.
I was the artistic director on the AIDSbeat committee benefiting CANFAR for five years where I created themes for this extraordinary 'Battle of the Bands' concert event, including print and web design, vignette installations for photo booths for the Summer of Love, Las Vegas and MOD eras including wall and floor graphics, and interactive circus portraits for our Circus theme.
In 2015 with my husband and children we relocated from Toronto to Orangeville where I am fortunate to have a small studio in an old Victorian house. My gallery walls display work focusing on the “face” in a series of Icons from Jazz and Rock Stars, past and present. I have done commission work including Albert Einstein, Freddie Mercury, Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Nicks, Amy Winehouse, Gord Downie, The Traveling Wilburys and many others including local people and pets. I have the honour of being selected as one of the artists whose work is permanently installed on quite a few Utility Boxes around Orangeville. I was nominated by Orangeville Arts & Culture for Established Artist of the Year in 2022, and nominee for Community Art Volunteer in 2021. I created a village of Trolls and Bergens, helped with a giant wooden Gingerbread House and a Toy Workshop display for the Optimist Club Christmas in The Park event. I am very much involved with the club and am currently President-Elect (2023/2024).
I have small boutique set up in my studio in Orangeville showing my paintings and fashions.
I am available for commissions. For more information please free to contact me at 416-804-6831 or through the email address and the social media icons below.