Biography
Canadian artist, Carla Miedema, was born in the Netherlands, and after growing up in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, has spent the last 47 years living in the Cloyne area, near Bon Echo Provincial Park on the edge of the Canadian Shield. She recently moved to Kingston. Over the years she has taken numerous art interest courses, and in 1991 graduated from Queen’s University, Kingston, with a degree in Fine Art.
Carla’s love of nature and the environment is reflected in her art work. Bon Echo Park is a primary subject in many of her paintings, especially the Rock. Bark, seeds, flowers, grasses, and other bits of material found in nature become part of her paintings using acrylic and mixed media on canvas. These elements create a sculptural relief effect. The layering and glazing of the paints and other materials reflects the constant changes and the cycle of life in nature. By allowing different layers of paint to show through, an extra dimension is achieved. Over the past few years her paintings have become more expressionistic as she experiments with different art & collage materials on various mediums such as canvas, yupo and watercolour papers.
In her pursuit to create a local awareness of art, Carla initiated and chaired the Mazinaw Country Studio Tour and the Bon Echo Art Exhibition & Sale, and was on the board of Cloyne Showcase, all in the Cloyne area. Carla is a member of numerous art organizations, and her work was published in the Organization of Kingston Women Artists Datebook, Country Connections, and the Salmon River Watershed. She illustrated the book titled “Seven Sisters”, and was the featured artist in the 2018 Celestial Calendar, and various other printed materials. Reviews of her work have appeared in many local newspapers. Her art has received numerous awards and prizes. Her art work can be found in collections in Canada, Europe, and the United States.