About Carmen

Carmen (Bourassa) Gonzalez was born and raised (by her French Canadian parents) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada which is where she continues to live and create today. She is married with three grown children with her Chilean born husband.

As a teenager, Carmen began learning her art skills from her artist mother. After completing high school, she worked as an administrative assistant for many years. She then went to college and graduated in the Engineer Design & Drafting program in 1996.

Becoming a full time artist was not the career path she intended. Sadly, her life changed in an instant with an unfortunate car accident. However, life’s unforeseen circumstances incredibly ended up pushing her toward an art career.

After eight years of struggling with serious injuries from a car accident, Carmen entered into a five week long rehabilitation program. Upon returning home from rehab, she immediately began taking watercolour classes as part of her recovery therapy. One year later, she began selling her paintings while being a full time mother of three young children.

In 2009, Carmen enrolled in the Visual Fine Arts program at the Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta and graduated in April 2013. Her fun modern contemporary style leans mostly towards realism while also having elements of illustration, pop, and pattern art. Her compositions are happy, playful, and nostalgic with the use of bold colours and patterns.

ARTIST STATEMENT

“I love creating joyful paintings of simple everyday objects. I am intrigued with history which explains why I am drawn to paint nostalgic objects. It is fascinating how vintage objects can transport us back in time and trigger sentimental memories.

I enjoy creating my patterned backgrounds to complement and contract the still life objects. The combination of the two adds more personality and ambience to each composition. I feel my painting’s story would be incomplete or silent without my patterns. I have Dyslexia. Perhaps this is why my patterns have become a part of my artistic language.

As well, I enjoy creating bold paintings which helps to stimulate your senses like taste, smell, or touch at the same time evoke emotions. My paintings are a visual feast causing my viewers to “taste with their eyes”.

Primarily, my intent is to create fun, meaningful, uplifting art that makes people smile inside and out!!.”

MEMBERSHIPS & ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

• Mural Mosaic – Artist-in-residence – Part of a duo team teaching art to children and staff in schools. (2019 to current)
• Night of the Artists (NOA) – member (2013 to current) nightofartist.com
  
• Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA)– Active Level member ( Sept. 2019 to 2023)
• FCA Edmonton Chapter – Affiliate member (April 2020 to 2023), Executive Board -Treasurer (April 2020 to May 2022)
• Mondial Art Academia (MAA) – member (2016 to 2020) mondialartacademia.com
• Society of Western Canadian Artists (SWCA) – member (2009 to 2019), achieved Signature Level, and Chair for Standards Committee (2013 to 2015) www.swcartist.ca

EDUCATION

• Sept 2009 to April 2013 – Visual Fine Arts, University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension
• Sept 1993 to April 1996 – Engineer Design and Drafting Program, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

EXHIBITS/SHOWS

• July 2023 – 62nd Toronto Outdoor Art Fair – Juried art fair, Nathan Phillips Square downtown Toronto
• May 2023 – Garden with Jill Charuk & Friends – Square Foot Show, on-line group show
• Mar 2022 – In-Bloom with Debbie Miller & Friends – Square Foot Show, on-line group show
• Mar 2021 – Chapter Spring Show, on-line group show, Federation of Canadian Artists – Edmonton Chapter, juried show by FCA head office
• Nov 2020 – “Square Foot”, gallery group show, Paula White Diamond Gallery, Waterloo, ON
• Oct 2020 – “Big Ideas”, gallery group show, Paula White Diamond Gallery, Waterloo, ON
• Sept 2020 – “Julia Veenstra Square Foot show”, on-line group show
• Nov 2020 – Chapter Inaugural Fall Show, on-line group show, Federation of Canadian Artists – Edmonton Chapter, juried show by FCA Head office
• April 2020 – “Social Distancing”, international group show, Federation of Canadian Artists Vancouver, juried show by FCA head office Vancouver
• Sept 2019 – “Julia Veenstra Square Foot show”, gallery group show, Hamilton, ON
• Sept 2019 to Aug 2021 “Lure” – TREX Program (traveling exhibition to all over Alberta) a program coordinated by the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) and government sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA).
• Dec 2018 – “Julia Veenstra Square Foot show”, gallery group show, Hamilton, ON
• Dec 2017 to Jan 2018 – Highlevel Diner, Solo Show in diner
• June 2016 – Scotia Place Gallery, juried group exhibit for SWCA members
• Oct 2014 – Tasting with Your Eyes – Daffodil Gallery, Solo Exhibition
• Jun 2014 – Colourful Candy Memories – Garden Cafe Gallery, Misericordia Hospital
• Nov 2013 – Curiosity Show, VASA Gallery, SWCA exhibition
• Nov 2013 – Mixed Media, CAVA, group exhibition
• April 2013 – Lure of Colourful Candy, Graduate Solo Exhibition, UofA Extension Gallery
• April 2011 – Femmes en Or, CAVA, group exhibition
• Sept 2010 – Fourteen, Scotia Place Gallery, juried group exhibit for SWCA members
• Mar 2010 – Celebration of Colours, CAVA, group exhibit
• Dec 2009 – Miniatures, CAVA, group exhibition
• Oct 2009 – Two Doze, Scotia Place Gallery, juried group exhibit for SWCA members
• Mar 2009 – Variety of Life, CAVA, group exhibition
• Dec 2008 – Miniatures, Centre d’arts visuels de l’Alberta (CAVA), group exhibit

PUBLICATIONS

• Niji Magazine – On-line UK magazine, artist feature article, Jan 2023
• The World of Interiors – “Artistic Impressions”, Conte Nast, London, England – Oct 2019, Nov 2019, and Dec 2019 Issues
• House & Garden – “Art Edit”, Conte Nast, London, England – Sept 2019, Oct 2019, and Nov 2019 Issues
• NOA Magazine, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, Yearly magazine, issues 2013 to 2020

ARTWALKS & FESTIVALS

• Mar 2023 – Night of Artists Artwalk, Edmonton
• Mar 2022 – Night of Artists Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Nov 2021 – VICA Show, Sherwood Park
• Sept 2021 – Strathearn ArtWalk, Edmonton
• June & July 2021 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• July 2019 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• Mar 2019 – Night of Artists Art Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Sept 2018 – Strathearn ArtWalk, Edmonton
• July 2018 – KDays, The Village, Edmonton
• July 2018 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• Mar 2018 – Night of Artists Art Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Sept 2017 – Strathearn ArtWalk, Edmonton
• July 2017 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• June 2017 – The Works Art & Design Festival, Edmonton
• Mar 2017 – Night of Artists Art Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Dec 2016 – Pop-Up heART Market, 124 Street, Edmonton
• Sept 2016 – Strathearn ArtWalk, Edmonton
• Sept 2016 – Riverbend “Art in the Park”, Edmonton
• July 2016 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• Mar 2016 – Night of Artists Art Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Sept 2015 – Griesbach Art in the Park, Edmonton
• Sept 2015 – Riverbend “Art in the Park”, Edmonton
• July 2015 – Taste of Edmonton
• July 2015 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• Mar 2015 – Night of Artists Art Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Nov 2014 – NOA Christmas Art Show/Sale, Edmonton
• Nov 2014 – Make It: Handmade Revolution Art/Craft Fair, St. Albert
• Sept 2014 – Riverbend “Art in the Park”, Edmonton
• Sept 2014 – Annual Kaleido Family Festival, Edmonton
• July 2014 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• May 2014 – Butterdome Spring Craft Show, Edmonton
• May 2014 – EEK Pop Cuture Festival, St. Albert
• Mar 2014 – Night of Artists Art Festival (NOA), St. Albert
• Nov 2013 – Make It: Handmade Revolution Art/Craft Fair, St. Albert
• Sept 2013 – Annual Kaleido Family Festival, Edmonton
• July 2013 – Taste of Edmonton, Edmonton
• July 2013 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton
• Nov 2012 – Make It: Handmade Revolution Art/Craft Fair, St. Albert
• Oct 2012 – Urban Mommy Expo, Craft Fair, Edmonton
• Sept 2012 – Annual Kaleido Family Festival, Edmonton
• July 2012 – Whyte Ave ArtWalk, Edmonton