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www.insidehalton.com | O A K V ILLE B E A V E R | Friday, October 6, 2 0 1 7 |1 6 Marta Marychuk Reporter mmarychuk@oakvillebeaver.com Aitscene `Connected to your Community " Local artist to exhibit a t Sovereign House for 3 days by Marta Marychuk Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville artist Laurel McBrine will be hold ing her first solo show at Sovereign House on Oct. 11, 14 and 15, from 1-4 p.m. all three days. There will also be an opening party on Fri day, Oct. 13 from 7 :3 0 -9 :3 0 p.m. McBrine specializes in oil portraiture, but also paints other subjects in a brushy realist style. She has studied intensely to gain knowl edge of color and to meld the ability to draw with the art and science of painting. McBrine says she loves to capture the unique appearance and character of her sub jects. As a child, McBrine began drawing pre cise copies of masterpieces by famous artists of the past, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Hans Holbein. McBrine studied art at Sheridan College, graduating with a fine art degree in 2003. Since then, she has studied extensively with many artists including: Cedric Egeli for a month-long, atelier figurative training; Rob ert Genn, heli-painting in the Bugaboos in McBrine specializes in oil portraiture, but also paints other subjects in a brushy realist style. | Laurel McBrine photos British Columbia; Everett Raymond Kinstler, at The Art Students League of New York; and, Marvin at The School of Visual Arts New York City -- to name just a few. Although McBrine is also a certifi ed nutritional practitioner, she has been an artist all her life. "I was pulled in two directions," she says, adding that she studied the human body as both an artist and a nutritional practitioner. While working the booth for the Academy of Realist Art during Junction Street Fair in west Toronto this past summer, McBrine started doing charcoal sketches. Recently, McBrine also started teaching oil painting classes at The Oakville Art Society, using a non-toxic method of painting with traditional oils and focusing on small sizes. Some of her exhibits include: Galleria 8 1 4 and Academy of Realist Art in Toronto; the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ont.; The John B. Aird Gallery in Toronto; Canada House Gallery in Banff, Alta., and Steam Whistle Brewery in Toron to. McBrine is also available for commis sioned artwork. For information, visit http://art.laurelmcbrine.com . During the Sovereign House show, she will be giving away a prize for a charcoal sketch, worth $ 1 0 0 , to people who are visit ing her exhibit. Sovereign House is located at 7 West River St. in Oakville.