About the Artist
For Wendy, painting is an important, natural expression, much as laughing is
- both of which she appreciates daily.
Canadian Artist Wendy Hart Penner was born and raised in Northern Ontario. After graduating high school, Wendy went directly into a field she loved the most - art. She attended Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology with a specialty in Illustration. A career path that would satisfy her artistic aspirations plus earn her a living. Having received the essential foundations in drawing, anatomy, colour, design and reprographics, this afforded her both a successful and enjoyable early career.
After graduating from Sheridan College in 1978, she moved to the West coast of Canada where she began the most fulfilling and exciting job she could have imagined working as a commercial artist for Pacific Press in Vancouver, British Columbia with exceptional people, pay, conditions and perks. This was prior to the digital age so imagine how much it helped to have a sound knowledge of reprographics as mechanical separation was still done by hand and for layouts used “paste-up” with hot wax … yes, she is a living Artosaurus. “The training in illustration earned me this opportunity and the first project given to me on my first day was to illustrate a cookbook. Imagine being fresh out of school and to be handed a project which was exactly what I was trained for and loved to do! I worked in a large studio, flooded with natural light, a view of the North Shore Mountains and five other wonderful, experienced, artists. Pinch me I still think I was dreaming.” All of this was just a hop skip and jump to Granville Island where Wendy could often be found life drawing at the waterpark, dock or Granville market on her lunch breaks.
In the early 90's Wendy was afforded the opportunity to be a test geek for the brand new Adobe Illustrator software, which instantly became an integral part of her work and remains as such, to this day.
In 1985, while heli skiing at Powder Mountain west of Whistler, BC, Wendy met her husband. As life changed and family grew, they wanted to raise their children in a small town, so they moved to the Okanagan, where they currently live, a choice made for the small-town lifestyle, the beautiful country of lakes, mountains, farms and continental climate. Still an avid skier, Wendy also enjoys the sport of rowing on Swan Lake.
With her skills and extensive knowledge of digital prepress, Wendy ran her own illustration and design business “Penner Graphics Design and Illustration” for ten years before choosing to fulfil a life-long desire to paint. In 2007, having made the decision so long ago to attend a school that taught the most important fundamentals of art - drawing and anatomy, she was well prepared for this next stage of her career - Fine Art.
Wendy’s favourite forms of inspiration are still life, life drawing, and painting en plein air. “I love to draw anything live and hope to bring those strokes of life to my painting. I draw inspiration from everyday life and depict it in an impressionistic way.” She enjoys an alla prima approach to her art, prefers oil when painting and charcoal when drawing.
“I love to draw anything live and hope to bring those strokes of life to my painting."
AWARDS
2023-11 TNSC FCA - "Limoncello Party" earned 2nd place
2020-12 PleinAir Annual Finalist "Tenisha"
2020-09 PleinAir Salon - Best Figure & Portrait "Tenisha"
COMPETITIONS
2023-09 The Daily Grind (SOLD) selected as part of the FAV15%
2022-02 Adversity (SOLD) selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-09 Tenisha (available) Awarded "Best Figure & Portrait in September 10th Annual PleinAir Salon
2020-12 Clay Pot and Peruvian Weaving selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-11 Steller's Jay (SOLD), was selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-10 Tina (available) and What a Dish (SOLD), selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-09 Sir Winston (SOLD) selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-08 Tenisha, "Get Back Stare (available) and Arctic Fox (SOLD) selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-07 Yukon Spirit Animal (available) and Feng Shui (SOLD), selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-06 Art & Dust (SOLD) selected as part of the FAV15%
2020-05 Tea Party (SOLD) selected as part of the FAV15%
EXHIBITIONS
2024-12 Gallery Odin Summer Show - 4 pieces sold at openings
2024-07 Gallery Odin Summer Show - paintings sold out at opening
2023-12 Gallery Odin Winter Exhibition - 4 pieces sold at opening
2023-11 Solo Exhibition - 16 works at the Coldstream Community Hall
2023-09 TNSC FCA exhibition - earned award - 2nd place for "Limoncello Party"
2023-07 July, Aug & Sept "My Furry & Feathered Friends" Solo Exhibition -Whitevale Veterinary Clinic's curated space
2023-07 FCA Representational Exhibition, Vancouver Granville Island - "Tenisha"
2023-06 Fintry Fusion Art Show & Sale, 24 & 25
2022-06 Fintry Fusion Art Show & Sale, 18 & 19
2021-06 Gallery Odin Summer Exhibition
2020-06 Gallery Odin Winter Exhibition
2020-06 Gallery Odin Summer Exhibition
2019-11 Gallery Odin Winter Exhibition
2019-09 Webster Gallery - Small Paintings Show
2019-06 Gallery Odin Summer Exhibition
2018-12 Webster Gallery Small Paintings Show
2018-12 Gallery 421 Winter Show
2018-11 Gallery Odin Winter Exhibition
2018-06 Gallery Odin Summer Exhibition
2017-07 Gallery Odin Summer Exhibition
2016-11 Gallery Odin Winter Exhibition
2016 -08 Stories of the Past, Vernon Community Art Centre
2016-06 Gallery Odin Summer Show
2016-08 Silver Star Wine & Food Festival Gallery
2015-11 Gallery Odin - Winter Exhibition
2015-08 Silver Star Wine & Food Festival Gallery
2015-06 Gallery Odin - 2015 Summer Show
2015-07 Art in the Garden out door show and sale
2014-11 Gallery Odin Winter Show - Wendy's paintings sold out
2014-o8 Silver Star Food & Wine Festival - en plein air for patrons, $1,300 raised from sale of paintings for Vernon Jubilee Hospital
2014-08 O'Keefe Ranch Cowboy Festival, outdoor show and sale
2014-07 Art in the Garden outdoor show and sale - 65% of Wendy's paintings sold
2014-06 Gallery Odin - Summer Show - Wendy's paintings sold out
2013-11 Odin Winter Show, Wendy's paintings sold out
2013-08 Silver Star Wind & Food Festival, painting en plein air for patrons of the festival, live auction of painting for donations to VJH $1,325 raised from the sale of our paintings for Vernon Jubilee Hospital
2011-08 Running Paints" exhibition with Blacksmith Artist Doug Alcock: Armstrong Spallumcheen Art Gallery
2010-04 FCA Open Show, Kamloops Centre for the Arts, Historic Courthouse.
2009-11-21 Drawing live for patrons of the Evergreen Fundraiser at Kelowna’s Rotary Centre for the Arts
2009-11 Solo exhibition, Bean Scene Coffee House, 2923 30th Avenue, Vernon
MEDIA
2012-03-15 Painting “Brand New” accepted in EX Arte Equinus 5 Equine Art competition, featured on website and in EX Arte Equinus magazine: http://www.blurb.com/books/3010075-ex-arte-equinus-5
2011-07-31 Featured in Morning Star Arts Section "Running Paints Exhibition"
2010-08-23 Featured Artist in Okanagan Artworks Magazine
