Can you imagine the horror they must have felt

There is something truly magical about hanami (flower viewing) season in Japan. Weeks beforehand they will have ‘sakura’ trackers on the news, it’s like the weather predictions, they show a map of the country and exact dates when they expect the sakura to start to bloom and when they will be at their peak, in each part of the country. 

And then, as soon as those first cherry blossoms start to show their faces, people will go out in the middle of the night to spread out their tarp to reserve their picnic spot under their favorite tree. When you go out during this time of year you will see people sitting on tarps eating together, even if there’s only a single tree!

Especially in the larger parks hundreds of people will gather, there will be food stalls and the alcohol often flows freely, especially at night, when the trees are all lit up. What I love most about this is how neat and tidy it all is. These amazing people will always bring a blanket or tarp to sit, they will always take off their shoes before stepping onto said tarp and they will never, ever leave any trash behind! 

Can you imagine the horror these wonderful tidy people must have felt at seeing me and my original artworks just sitting there like that, on the dirty ground! 

Learning these quirky cultural rules can really enhance your appreciation and make the beauty of Japan feel even more meaningful. Don’t you just want to step into one of my paintings to experience this beauty for yourself? 

What is ONE thing you learned that gave you a new appreciation for a foreign country?

Join the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful day!
Denise

A truly magical moment.

 

One of my favorite memories from my time in Japan is the time we got to see a live calligraphy performance. This event was held at a local temple, we climbed a narrow mountain path lined with huge cedar trees and when we reached the top we were rewarded with the most beautiful temple building surrounded by Sakura (cherry blossom) trees in full bloom.

Underneath the trees we saw a group of children of all ages, they were all dressed in traditional clothing and they were laying out this enormous sheet of paper. Then two of them came around the corner carrying this huge bucket of black ink and a brush the size of a broom! When everything was set they all lined up and started their performance. It was absolutely mesmerizing to see them using their entire body to create the Kanji characters on that scale.

Seeing this was a once in a lifetime experience but to see it in the spring, surrounded by the abundance of blooming Sakura trees and delicate floating flower petals made the experience truly magical. It has been such an inspiration to me, ‘Performance’ and ‘Balance’ are pieces that are directly inspired by it.

What is your FAVORITE memory of spring?

Join the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful day!
Denise

No pain no gain

While I was in Japan I thought it would be really nice to take some pictures with my paintings in quintessential Japanese settings and what’s more quintessential than cherry blossoms in full bloom? So I made a plan, picked out some of my favorite pieces, closely followed the national ‘Sakura’ tracker and waited for that magical moment to arrive in Nagoya.

When the time finally arrived I shoved my paintings into their carry bags and drove to my favorite Sakura spot, a beautiful river with huge overhanging trees on both sides. It was a gorgeous day, blue skies, no wind, absolutely perfect. I had walked the path by the river before but I hadn’t quite anticipated how much more intense it would be to navigate the narrow streets and crowds of people lugging two heavy and unwieldy art bags, a field easel and a camera around.  

I spent a good three hours walking up and down the river bank, looking for the perfect places to take those glamour shots, I was sweating and my shoulders were so sore from carrying all that stuff but the results were absolutely stunning.

These are by far my favorite artwork shots I have ever done and I am looking forward to expanding this idea and finding some local Canadian beauty for my next glamour shot series. 

One of my favorite shots from this trip is this picture of ‘Sakura’.
 

What is your number ONE favorite spring spot?

Join the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful day!
Denise

Bringing Spring into your home

While the world outside my studio is still covered in snow I am letting my mind drift back to those early spring days in Japan. In the spring the Ume (plum blossoms) are the first to bloom in Japan, they are less flamboyant then the Sakura (cherry blossoms) and the trees are usually not as tall but they are my absolute favorite! I fondly remember walking through gorgeous Japanese gardens surrounded by hundreds of weeping ume trees in full bloom, the smell is intoxicating! Oh how I miss those days! I know that right now, in Japan, people are walking these same pathways, smelling those smells and every time I think of this I feel a pang of longing. 

But spring is around the corner here in Canada as well and it will come with it’s own beauty and it’s own set of wonderful smells! I already brought some Hyacinths to get a little sneak peek of spring into the house and I have been including plum blossoms in my paintings as a way to bring the memories of spring into my studio.

What is ONE way you like to bring Spring into your home?

Take part in the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

New giclee prints are available now!

 

Did you know I sell giclee prints of all of my paintings? You can even order a giclee print of a painting that has already been sold! Giclee prints are an affordable way to add some beautiful art to your space and right now it is even easier, you can order your print right from my website! When you're browsing my artworks you can just click the 'Buy a Giclee Print' link on the artwork page (see bellow). This will bring you to the order page where you can fill out the order form to get a giclee print of your favorite artwork. All giclee prints are made to order, once your order has been received, we will calculate shipping based on your location and the size and type of print you ordered. After payment a beautiful print will be created just for you!

What is a giclee print you ask well let me explain. A Giclee print is a high quality reproduction on an original artwork, using archival inks and papers. These prints are created on large format inkjet printers that use small spraying devices that can both match color and apply ink precisely, resulting in a high-quality print of the original artwork. In the fine art world, giclee reproductions have to meet strict expectations regarding precision, color matching and longevity, standards usually not expected of, or met by, inkjet prints on canvas.

All of my giclee prints are limited edition, they are signed by the artist and come with a little certificate of authenticity. Limited edition giclee prints on paper start at $35 CAD for a small sized, unframed print, image size of these prints is approximately 5”x7” (6’x6” for square pieces), all prints have a 2” white border all around. Of course, if you would like something a little larger you can also order a custom sized print.

My giclee prints are printed on a gorgeous, high quality, archival, textured fine art paper with archival OEM inks that, with the proper care and conditions, are rated to last over 100 years. The prints are made in Quebec, Canada. It is also possible to order a custom sized print on beautiful, archival, poly cotton canvas. Prints on canvas can be ordered either stretched or un-stretched, un-stretched canvases will be shipped rolled, therefore the shipping costs for framed canvases will be higher. Prints on stretched canvas have 1 3/4”, black borders.

So what are you waiting for? Find your favorite piece on my website and order a beautiful print and as always, if you have any questions don't hesitate. You can leave a comment below or shoot me an email, I'm always happy to help!

How to buy Art during a pandemic

We're all spending most of our time at home these days so maybe you're in need of some new art to brighten up your space. Unfortunately there are no upcoming shows at the moment, most things have been cancelled and many galleries are closed. Luckily I have a wonderful selection of pieces available and there are several ways to get your hands on one right now. 

Art Galleries

Here in Canada I am working with two wonderful art galleries, although they are closed for physical visits at the moment they both have websites and online stores and you can contact them directly for some personal advice, they are always happy to help you find the perfect piece for your space, they offer curbside pickup as well as local delivery and international shipping. If you are looking for a special piece for your collection buying through one of these galleries helps support not just the artist but a wonderful local business as well.

• Viva Vida Art Gallery (Montréal)

• Latitude 44 Gallery (Toronto)

Online Galleries

If you are more comfortable shopping online I am affiliated with three reputable online galleries that offer an amazing and safe shopping experience and worldwide shipping.

• Singulart

• Saatchi Art

• BBuzzArt

Artist Website

Of course you can always visit my website and contact me directly, I am always happy to help you find your ideal piece. If you have trouble finding something that fits I can always create a commissioned piece that is completely customized to your specifications. You decide the subject matter, color palette and size and we would work together on the composition to create a one of a kind personal artwork. I always enjoy working with my collectors in this way, it is a wonderful experience and makes the final piece extra special.

• ArtistAbroad.com

Giclee Prints

If you have a tight budget I also have Giclee prints available for al of my pieces, they start as low as $35 CAD for a small 5"x7" print (unframed) but if you are looking for something larger ordering a custom size is always possible. My prints are created by an amazing printing company right here in Quebec, they are very high quality and always come out looking gorgeous. Most of my prints are done on high quality, textured, watercolor paper but prints on canvas are also possible. Giclee prints are made to order so you can get a print of any artwork you choose no matter if it has already been sold or not, just shoot me an email (info@denisebuismanpilger.com) with the title or image of the piece you would like to order a print of and the size you would like and I'd be happy to make that happen for you. 

• info@denisebuismanpilger.com

New works

We're still in lockdown with curfew here in Quebec so days start to bleed together a bit luckily I have a wonderful home based studio space where I spend most of my days. This means I'm getting stuff done :) I have a nice bunch of new pieces to show you! They're already up on the website so don't hesitate if there's something that catches you eye! Just click the title link underneath the image and it will bring you right to the artwork page on my website, where you can find all the information and if you have any questions you can always email me at info@denisebuismanpilger.com I'm always happy to answer your questions. 

Sakura (桜) 48"x24"

Family Fun 36"x24"

Seoul Streets 48"x24"

Wedding Walk 48"x24"

Happy Holidays!

 

It has been quite a year, even without the pandemic we knew 2020 was going to be a big year for us. Way back in February I was very lucky to be able to travel to Toronto for the Artist Project, where I introduced my wonderful new series 'World on Washi' to my collectors in Canada. 

In June I was able to have a wonderful solo exhibition at Esplanade Gallery, a gorgeous little gallery in Nagoya, with a mandatory mask policy and visits by appointment we were able to have a beautiful, safe and very successful exhibition. 

And then in July it was time to say goodbye to beautiful Japan and move back to Montréal, Canada. Of course traveling in the midst of a pandemic was a little challenging and we had a 2 week quarantine to deal with after we arrived but we made it. 

In September I had a wonderful, safe and social distanced solo exhibition at Viva Vida Art Gallery in Montréal, it was so lovely to reconnect with my collectors here in Montréal.

In October we moved into our new home in Saint Jerome, about 45 minutes north of Montréal, all our boxes arrived safely from Japan and we're mostly settled now. I have an awesome new studio space where I have been spending a lot of time these last few weeks!

If the pandemic allows I have some wonderful things lined up for 2021. Although it has been moved to April the Artist Project is still being planned so if all goes well I'll be traveling back to Toronto in April to present some wonderful new works. I am also still working with the amazing Latitude 44 Gallery in Toronto and Viva Vida Art Gallery in Montréal. I have a few other things in the works so keep an eye on my news page!

In the mean time I would like to wish you all a wonderful Holiday season and an awesome 2021!

New works!

 

I know, it's been a while since my last update, I've been spending some quality time in my new studio. It usually takes my at least a couple of months to get back into the swing of things after moving so I really needed to take some time to be in my new space without any distractions. Luckily I was able to prep a good number of pieces before I left Japan so I had about 12-15 pieces that were all ready for painting. Having these meant I didn't have to spend any brain space deciding what needed to be done, I could just grab a painting get to work. 

The result of this is that I now have a nice bunch of new pieces to share, I haven't finished all of them, there are still quite a few waiting for me while I type this. But I thought I'd share with you some of the pieces that have kept me busy these past few weeks. If there's anything that catches your eye you can always contact me at info@denisebuismanpilger.com for more information about pricing and shipping. And of course, as always, giclee prints are available as well. 

Time Travelers

Tropical Traffic

Itchy (一つ-ichi)

Sakura Selfie

Seoul Mates

Educated Excursion

Perfect Post

Focus

Hello from my new studio!

 

Gosh, it's already November, it feels like I lost a month there! On October 2nd we received the keys to our new home here in Saint Jerome, Quebec and on the 5th the movers arrived with our shipment from Japan, a total of 426 boxes! So things were a bit hectic for a while, but we have emerged from our mountain of cardboard and bubble wrap, almost all of the boxes have been unpacked and we are ready to return to a sense of normalcy. 

My new studio space is absolutely awesome, it is a converted garage that offers a huge amount of storage, access to hot and cold water, a nice high ceiling and plenty of natural light. With plenty of wall space I was able to surround myself with art and memories from around the world. I really love my new space and I am excited to start working again!

I was able to finish a couple of pieces while we were staying at our AirBnB so they are waiting to be varnished. I also have quite a few pieces that I was working on before leaving Japan so I am eager to get them on the easel for their final layers of paint. Keep an eye on my Instagram account (@TheArtistAbroad)  where I will be posting some pictures of new works soon. 

Curbside: Exhibiting Art in the time of Covid

 

Two weeks ago my work was on display at Viva Vida Art Gallery as part of their series of 'Curbside' exhibitions, a series of outdoor exhibitions throughout August and September. In this inventive series Viva Viva Vida Art Gallery owner Nedia El Khouri decided to bring their exhibitions outside on the sidewalk so people can experience art in in a safe environment during these difficult times. 

We had an absolute blast! It was so much fun to connect with people both on Friday night's vernissage event as well as over the weekend when I spent time painting outside. So many old and new friends and collectors came by to see the work and have a chat, it was wonderful to see people having a drink one the terrace across the street and wandering over afterwards because seeing me work peeked their interest.  

I even got to catch up with some dear friends from Japan! Seeing them warmed my heart and made the country that I miss dearly feel just a little closer. 

Last week the lovely Christine Long from CTV visited the gallery to do a story on this most recent series of exhibitions at Viva Vida Art Gallery. We chatted about this brilliant opportunity to share my work in an environment where people feel safe. You can view the full tv article here or by clicking on the image below. 

Plenty of New things to enjoy in good old Montréal!

 

Moving to a different country always brings lots of new things and even though Montréal is a familiar place for us, there are still plenty of new things to enjoy. I will be moving into my new studio space in early October and we just acquired our very own Art Bus! From now on we can deliver Artwork in style!

And, of course there is my new solo exhibition at Viva Vida Art Gallery, 'Curbside' will be running until this upcoming Thursday (August 27, 2020). 

We had a wonderful opening night event on Friday and over the weekend the beautiful weather allowed me to paint outside the gallery both days. I had a blast meeting new collectors and catching up with friends from both Canada and Japan!

The exhibition is still running until the end of the week so if you would like to go see some beautiful new pieces from Japan you can visit Viva Vida Art Gallery in Pointe Claire village and don't worry, if the rain comes, the pieces will still be on display inside!

Curbside: featuring the Artist Abroad

From August 21-27 Viva Vida Art Gallery will feature artworks by international artist Denise Buisman Pilger, who recently returned from three years of living in Japan. This wonderful exhibition offers a great opportunity to catch up with the artist herself who will be working at the gallery over the weekend. She has brought some very special new works all the way from Japan so don’t miss this awesome opportunity to get out and see some amazing art in a safe environment.

Curbside is a series of outdoor exhibitions throughout August and September, featuring a new artist each week. Drop or drive by each weekend to take a peek at Viva Vida Art Gallery’s outdoor installations and meet the featured artists! Denise will be painting at the gallery both Saturday and Sunday!

The exhibition will be held from August 21-27 with a vernissage where you can meet the artist on Friday August 21 from 18H00 - 20H00. Viva Vida Art Gallery is located on 278 Lakeshore Road in the Pointe Claire Village.

Goodbye Nagoya. Hello Montréal!

I know, I know, it has been forever and a world away since I posted my last update, it has been a crazy few months! We started packing up our stuff for the big move waaaaayyy back in May, I had my final solo exhibition in Japan early June and we spent a wonderful week vacationing in paradise before the big flight back to Canada. 

Despite the extra safety measures and limited allowed visitors due to the pandemic, my solo exhibition was very successful. It was held at this gorgeous art gallery in downtown Nagoya located in a beautifully renovated, traditional Japanese building. I had a blast catching up with friends and collectors, at a safe distance of course! So many paintings found wonderful new forever homes, some staying behind in Japan and some going on new adventures all around the world. We even had a real Maiko san (Geisha in training) who came to visit the gallery!

After 6 weeks of being surrounded by boxes and all the craziness and paperwork of an international move we were very lucky to spend some time on gorgeous Ishigaki, a small tropical island in the Okinawa peninsula, close to Taiwan. We spent a week scuba diving, exploring rainforests, beaches and waterfalls, subbing and canoeing and eating amazing food. 

So now, after a truly amazing and transformative three years in Nagoya Japan, we are back in Montréal, Canada. We survived our two weeks of full quarantine and are slowly getting reacquainted with the city. All of our stuff still has to make its way over from Japan, it will take at least another two months before it arrives here in Canada so we're living in limbo at the moment. Hopping airbnb's with just our 4 suitcases and 11 boxes of air freight. Luckily I brought my computer and some paints so I will be able to get back to work soon, I may not be as productive in this one bedroom apartment but we'll make it work :)

If all goes well I should be able to move into my new studio space by the time our boxes arrive so I should be back creating at full speed by the end of the year, right in time to ramp up production for Artist Project 2021 which has been rescheduled for April 2021. 

But, even though we're in the middle of this pandemic, there are still some exciting events coming up! This weekend the Viva Vida Art Gallery here in Montréal will start a wonderful series of curbside exhibitions that will be held throughout August and September, giving everyone a chance to experience exciting new artworks while staying safe. Drop or drive by each weekend to take a peek at the outdoor installations and meet the featured artists. My work will be featured from August 21-27, I am excited to have this wonderful opportunity to catch up with all my wonderful collectors here in Montréal. I will be bringing some gorgeous Japanese hanging scrolls to the gallery for the occasion so mark your calendars!

またね (Matane) a final solo exhibition in Japan

After almost 3 years in Japan it will be time for us to say またね (Matane) (see you later), if everything goes as planned we will move back to Montréal in July. I will be very sad leaving this beautiful country that has given me so much inspiration and there are many good friends that I will miss dearly, that's why I will not say 'sayonara' (goodbye), I will say 'Matane' (see you later).  I really hope to be able to travel back to Japan to visit my friends in this wonderful country in the future.

Many of you have been asking me for this so before the big move I am organizing one last solo exhibition right here in Nagoya! The exhibition is titled ‘またね (Matane)’ and will be held at the gorgeous Esplanade Gallery which is located in a beautiful, traditional Japanese building close to Endoji  Shotengai shopping street and about a 5 minute walk from Nagoya International Center. The exhibition will run from June 2-7 (Tuesday-Sunday) and I will be there every day during opening hours (Tue.-Fri. 13:00-18:00 Sat. 12:00-18:00 Sun. 12:00-16:00).

On display will be a series of Japan inspired pieces both on wood panels and traditional Japanese washi paper as well as a series of prints and cards from previous bodies of work. For Japan based collectors this will be a wonderful opportunity to add one of my gorgeous pieces to your collection without having to deal with complicated and expensive shipping arrangements.

I am looking forward to spending some quality time with all of you please mark your calendars and come say hi at Esplanade Gallery in June!

Thank you for visiting Artist Project 2020!

I would like to thank everyone who visited booth 831 at Artist Project 2020 last week! It was wonderful to be back at the show after two years of absence, I was thrilled to see so many familiar faces. My new, Japan inspired, body of work 'World on Washi' received so much love, congratulations to all my collectors who added one of these beauties to their collections. I am so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity to re-connect with all my wonderful collectors and fellow artists in the Toronto area, I am already looking forward to Artist Project 2021!

Did you fall in love with a piece in booth 831 but didn't get a chance to come back for it? Or were you unable to visit the exhibition? Good news! Some of these gorgeous pieces stayed behind in Canada and you can go visit them at Latitude 44 Gallery in Toronto or Viva Vida Art Gallery in Montréal. For those of you here in Japan, you are always welcome to make an appointment to visit my studio for a private viewing and of course all available works can be found on my website. Please scroll down for an overview of the pieces that are still available, for any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Available at Latitude 44 Gallery

2900 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Available at Viva Vida Art Gallery

278 Lakeshore Road, suite 2, Pointe Claire

Available at ArtistAbroad.com

Artist Project 2020!

I am so excited! It is almost time for the Artist Project 2020. Next week I'll fly to Toronto with all my paintings to set up my booth (#831) at the Better Living Centre. I have been in crazy preparation mode for the past couple of months but all the hard work has paid off, I have some awesome new pieces to show in my booth!

I will be presenting my new, Japan inspired, body of work 'World on Washi' and am excited to be able to bring along 7 beautiful 'Kakejiku' (Japanese style hanging scrolls). For a little sneak peek at the work that will be presented you can visit my website.

The Artist Project will be held from February 20-23, you can buy your tickets here, for a nice discount you can use the following discount codes:

•Adult Admission: $12 (regular price is $16) with code EXH2020
•Opening Night: $30 (regular price is $35) with code EXHON2020

I'm giving away 2 sets of tickets via Instagram and Facebook. (giveaway ends on Friday February 14).

Artist Project 2020 Dates & TimesThursday February 20  |  7-11 PM (Opening Night Party, 19+ event)
Friday February 24  |  11 AM - 10 PM
Saturday February 25  |  11 AM - 8 PM
Sunday February 26  |  11 AM - 6 PM

Happy Holidays from the Artist Abroad!

I would like to wish you a very happy Holiday season, let's make 2020 another awesome year filled with beauty, art and adventure! 

Denise Buisman Pilger

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Where did 2019 go? It just flew by! With a solo exhibition in Montréal, Canada and Gifu, Japan, a wonderful collaboration with a local theatre company, 6 group exhibitions and a 2 person showroom exhibition it has been a busy, busy year! I've also had a chance to go back to the Mino Washi museum for another paper making course and had the opportunity to explore some additional new Japanese crafts and techniques. I would like to thank everyone who came out to see my work and of course everyone who added my work to their art collections this year! Also a big Thank You to all the super supportive artists here in Nagoya and of course all my wonderful teachers who add tools to my toolbox with every class. You are all top quality humans! 

While 2019 in winding down things are in full swing in my studio in preparation for my return to the Artist Project next February 20-23 at the Better Living Center in Toronto. I last participated in this exhibition in 2017, before leaving for Japan and I am very excited for the opportunity to introduce my brand new, Japan inspired, body of work. 'World on Washi' to my collectors in Canada in person. If you have a chance to attend the show, I will be in booth #831!

For those of you who can't make it to the Better Living Center, I also have work available on my website, Saachi Art and BBuzzArt and if you're looking for something custom I work on commission as well, just send me an email for additional information. If you're in Toronto or Motréal, I am working with two wonderful galleries who would be happy to assist you in finding the perfect piece for your collection. In Toronto you can visit Latitude 44 Gallery located on 2900 Dundas st. West in the Junction area and in Montréal you can find my work at Viva Vida Art Gallery located on 278 Lakeshore drive in Pointe Claire.

Thank you for all your support! I'm so grateful to have such amazing and loyal collectors and fans! I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and an art filled and creative 2020! 

良いお年を! (Happy New Year!)

Special announcement! The Artist Abroad will return to Toronto for the Artist Project 2020!

From February 20-23, 2020 the Artist Abroad, Denise Buisman Pilger, will return to Toronto for the 13th annual Artist Project to be held at the Better Living Center, Exhibition Place in Toronto. The artist will be showing off a brand new body of work inspired by her time living in Japan (Booth number will be announced soon).

The Artist Project is a high end art fair that allows the public to browse and buy artwork directly from the artists. Visitors can explore and discover works of art from over 200 top contemporary artists from Canada and abroad.

Dates & TimesThursday February 20  |  7-11 PM (Opening Night Party, 19+ event)
Friday February 24  |  11 AM - 10 PM
Saturday February 25  |  11 AM - 8 PM
Sunday February 26  |  11 AM - 6 PM

Booth number and location and more information about where to get your tickets and what you can expect to see at the exhibition will follow soon!