Open Studio Classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:30 am-2:00 pm
Evening Classes on Thursdays 6:30-10 pm
Seasonal Week-end Workshops
Please call 587-228-1553 to make an appointment to visit the studio
at any other time
MidLake Art Studio is owned and operated by professional artist Tracy Gardner. Tracy was born in Edmonton Alberta, Canada. With no formal education, Tracy has been drawing since childhood. In high school, she began to use color, eventually experimenting with paint. After a 10-year career in cartography, a renewed interest and energy came into Tracy’s painting. She does most of her work in oil on masonite and by painting several thin layers is able to achieve a smooth, translucent look.
Tracy finds portraits to be her true passion. She says "It's my way of connecting with people. To try to capture the mood behind the expression is one of my primary goals. A painting is something physical that makes us really look at things and contemplate, unlike an image in a book or on a computer screen; an original work of art can move a person to tears.”
Tracy taught in Edmonton briefly and then moved to Calgary and opened up Midlake Art Studio in 2004 at the urging of friends Don and Veronica Sinclair, who were the owners of the Shadowbox Gallery in Midnapore. In January 2019, the studio relocated to its current location.
Self study and experimentation are ongoing and always keep Tracy in a state of learning. She has attended workshops and lectures in the U.S. and abroad and has had the privilege of studying with some of the great artists of today - Daniel Sprick, David Kassan, Gregory Mortenson, Scott Christensen and others. In 2017, Tracy spent the summer in the village of Argenton, France; where she studied at Studio Escalier, under the guidance of Timothy Stots and Michelle Tully, along with M Tobias Hall. The greatest influence in her work as of late is from friend and Mentor Anthony Waichulis, whom Tracy admires greatly. His work is arguably some of the greatest Trompe l’oeil paintings ever produced.
Tracy's students benefit greatly from her ongoing knowledge and generosity as they constantly learn to hone their craft alongside her. “In the age of constant change and uncertainty, we need something in life to help ground us and give us purpose; and the artistic endeavor helps us with that. “
Meet the Greeters
Born in San Antonio, Texas in February of 2006; Cleo did the San Antonio stroll, then eventually went on down to Chapala, Mexico. Being forced into a Mexican ‘Purrsion’ for a few lonely months when her owner surrendered her as she could no longer look after her, I met Cleo and she came with me all the way up north to Canada in 2018, where she spent the remaining time of her life catching mice and getting treats and catnip. Cleo was the mascot and main greeter of the studio, but she said goodbye to us July 10, 2023. She is greatly missed by all, especially her sister Henri, who now has the full responsibility of the greeting task. We will always love our ‘little Kee’.
Henri became Cleo’s sister in May of 2020 at the age of 2 1/2. Cleo taught her how to hunt mice, although Henri prefers the catch and release program where she can play with them and then let them go, to play another day. Henri loved car rides with her sister, although the backseat wasn’t always where she wanted to be and would occasionally have a hissing-fit if her sister was up in the front without her. Henri is learning to be the greeter at the studio, having little big paws to fill, and she’s doing a great job as she learns to adjust without her sister.
THAT TIME WHEN WE GOT INTO THE CATNIP…
AND HENRI HAD TOO MUCH!!!!