When I first met Morrisseau 

When I first met Morrisseau 

by Matt Steffich

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LeRoy Jensen - Artist Biography

LeRoy Jensen - Artist Biography

by Matt Steffich

LeRoy Jensen (1927-2005) moved to Salt Spring Island with his family in 1982. A figurative painter who excelled at capturing the essence of the spirit of the human female form, he was a member of the important Limners Group (active 1971-2008) of Victoria, British Colombia.

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“THERE ARE NO FAKES” A provocative film by Jamie Kastner

“THERE ARE NO FAKES” A provocative film by Jamie Kastner

by Kaeli Yarwood

Thursday October 24 @ 7PM
Steffich Fine Art 
"The film focuses on what might be the largest art forgery scam in Canada, related to renowned Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau." - CITYNEWS



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Obsolete Objects Find New Life In Shiny Steel by By Elizabeth Nolan

Obsolete Objects Find New Life In Shiny Steel by By Elizabeth Nolan

by Kaeli Yarwood

Nolan writes, "McFarlane’s keen eye for form finds delightful expression in Out Foxed, a collages piece where the layers are cut from old circuit boards rather than paper. A large fleet of yellow hunting dogs races toward the left side of the scene. Meanwhile, the crafty red fox is headed in the opposite direction and just about to leave the right side of the frame."

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How Art Arrived at Jackson Pollock

How Art Arrived at Jackson Pollock

by Kaeli Yarwood

The Nerdwriter is a series of video essays about art, culture, politics, philosophy and more.  At the very least you'll know more than you did when you started the video stream...

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Meeting a Master – Martin Honisch

Meeting a Master – Martin Honisch

by Matt Steffich

Martin’s large canvases feel like a shared memory of human history. The best and worst events are depicted in vivid colour, with their familiar narratives and actors, yet they are bathed in the impossible. They are as seen through a dream.

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Steffich Fine Art gets an Extreme Makeover

Steffich Fine Art gets an Extreme Makeover

by Matt Steffich

This year we decided that it was time for another makeover, and the flooring had become the elephant in the room. Employing our, “Go big or go home” philosophy, we decided that the carpet had to go.

If you ask around the gallery who’s idea it was originally to make
the leap to laminate, you will find it a point of prickly contention. Hint: It was Matt, because he’s the boss.

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When is a work of art finished?

When is a work of art finished?

by Matt Steffich

Finishing a painting is not like finishing a horse race. Usually no one, including the artist, knows for sure if its finished. There are no lords and ladies in fine dress to congratulate you, no big wreaths of flowers, no gold cup. Creating a painting is a lonely pursuit right to the end.

So with all this internalizing and loneliness how does an artist know if they have truly finished a work

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Celebrating the artwork of Peter McFarlane -Upcoming show at the Robert Bateman Center June 29th 2017

Celebrating the artwork of Peter McFarlane -Upcoming show at the Robert Bateman Center June 29th 2017

by Matt Steffich

Early in spring 2107, Steffich Fine Art began filming a short documentary about conceptual artist, Peter McFarlane. A documentary was the finest way we could think of paying tribute to this artist. For many years we had admired McFarlane's work, and now that we proudly represented him, this opportunity was not to be wasted! Before long we had more plans for Peter...

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Master Cinematographer + Curious Genius = Robert Primes "Discoveries"

Master Cinematographer + Curious Genius = Robert Primes "Discoveries"

by Matt Steffich

“Discoveries is about shapes and rhythms, people and places, anything that I thought might make a surprising photograph. My hope is that these discoveries will cause the viewer to pause a moment to contemplate the visual richness of the world around us.

While I freely added filters and textures when I felt they enhanced the mood or created a more painterly experience, all of the images are from actual photographs of real scenes that happened to catch my curious eye."

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Art is good for society, here is why

Art is good for society, here is why

by Matt Steffich

Imagine a world without art. We might as well imagine a world without communication. Because that, in its purest form, is what art comes down to, communication. Art is the most varied and effective means of communication available to humanity. 

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Why is Salt Spring Island a hub for artists of every description?

Why is Salt Spring Island a hub for artists of every description?

by Matt Steffich

These are the secrets behind Salt Spring Island's thriving artistic community. This land has a rich artistic heritage leading back into prehistoric times. Both the land the ancient inhabitants have inspired generations, fostering the creative community that is Salt Spring Island.

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Art Behind The Scenes: The artist’s model

Art Behind The Scenes: The artist’s model

by Matt Steffich

There is a certain stigma around the artist's model, also known as a life model.

Of all the jobs one can do nude it is surprisingly modest. The working relationship is completely dependant on trust. An artists working with a model has their reputation to consider, should their conduct be less than professional it could ruin their chances of ever working with another model, and alienate them from their community.

This responsibility falls on the shoulders of the model as well, their conduct must be equally impeachable.

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ARTISTS SELF-PORTRAIT: Whats that about anyway?

ARTISTS SELF-PORTRAIT: Whats that about anyway?

by Matt Steffich

Daily self-portrait project by painter Danica Lundy, completed in one hour sittings.

In this article we will take a look at the artist's self-portrait to understand why it is an important discipline and exercise.

When you see someone drawing, painting, and sculpting their own image over and over again it can look like bizarre act of navel gazing.

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Geographical Art Market: The naturally occurring hundred mile art diet.

Geographical Art Market: The naturally occurring hundred mile art diet.

by Matt Steffich

Geographical location develops and influences local taste. Examples of some of these influences can be found in the raw materials readily available, the atmospheric light, local colour and seasons. This process begins at the beginning;  meaning you will find proof of this in historic and indigenous art from each region around the globe. These influences create a solid foundation, it is a part of regional identity, and is deeply rooted.  

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Corporate Art: What is the cultural atmosphere of a company?

Corporate Art: What is the cultural atmosphere of a company?

by Matt Steffich

Art in a corporate setting is used to reflect the corporate culture and what is unique about that particular company.


During the Second World War the Canadian Government partnered with the graphic design company Sampson and Matthews to produce art that would promote and brand Canada to the world. The project proved to be one of the most valuable morale boosters of the Second World War. The prints were distributed in military posts around the world. One of largest publicly sponsored art project in Canadian history.

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Art History and Art Education for Collectors and the Curious 

Art History and Art Education for Collectors and the Curious 

by Matt Steffich

In​ ​this​ ​article​ ​we​ ​will​ ​discuss​ ​first,​ ​why​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​art​ ​and​ ​art​ ​history​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​art appreciation;secondly​ ​we​ ​will​ ​look​ ​into​ ​several​ ​modes​ ​of​ ​study​ ​and​ ​lastly​ ​we​ ​share​ ​our​ ​“short list”​ ​of​ ​favorite​ ​books​ ​and​ ​media​ ​to​ ​get​ ​one​ ​started​ ​on​ ​these​ ​subjects. 

Why​ ​is​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​art​ ​important​ ​to​ ​art​ ​appreciation? 

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Abe Anghik Ruben made an Officer of the Order of Canada

Abe Anghik Ruben made an Officer of the Order of Canada

by Matt Steffich

On November 17th 2016, sculptor Abraham Anghik Ruben arrived at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa to receive the Order of Canada. Abe was met by David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, who named him an Officer of the Order Of Canada. This prestigious award was Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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Collecting Art (Part II)

Collecting Art (Part II)

by Matt Steffich

In part one I talked about the first steps in understanding art. I am working with a basic premise: you must participate in understanding some art fundamentals in order to make educated observations about what you are looking at and what you may want to purchase.

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Collecting Art (part I)

Collecting Art (part I)

by Matt Steffich

Art, like wine, has criteria that can be learned and applied to the subject at hand. And if wine is something you enjoy, learning about it will be fun. The spectrum of art, like wine, is so wide that the thought of trying to dissect it can be absolutely daunting. The trick is simple. When you visit New York City, you don’t need to learn every street to get around; you simply need to learn how to get to where you are going.

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