Immortal

Darling Graham is a contemporary visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice incorporates drawing, photography, and digital media. She describes her distinctive style as “feminine superflat art,” a refined and concept-driven approach that blends traditional techniques with digital tools to explore identity, femininity, and personal evolution.

Born in Rome, Italy, Darling began her artistic journey at the Liceo Artistico Via Ripetta, where the city’s rich history and architecture left a lasting impression. At nineteen, she moved to Canada, later earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and Photography from the University of Ottawa. After graduating, she relocated to Montreal, where she gained recognition as one half of the acclaimed photography duo Leda & St. Jacques, known for their visually compelling work in both editorial and commercial settings.

Now based between Canada and the United States, Darling has developed a unique visual language that feels intimate yet symbolically rich. Her work often pairs soft, flat color palettes with the presence of a central female figure, who is stylized, ageless, and emotionally complex. The character’s direct gaze invites the viewer into a layered inner world shaped by memory, mythology, and quiet introspection. A recurring element in her work is her cat, an enigmatic presence that can be seen as a companion, observer, alter ego, or symbol of emotional continuity. This subtle detail adds a sense of tension and depth to her compositions.

Darling’s process often begins with photographic self-portraits, which she then translates into delicate graphite drawings and digitally paints in soft pastel tones. The final creations are predominantly large-format inkjet fine art prints, presenting introspective visual stories that blur the line between personal narrative and universal experience. Her witty titles serve as gentle guides, offering context without limiting interpretation.
Overall, Darling’s work functions as a personal journal: elegant and emotionally resonant, inviting viewers into a space where intimate reflection and broader themes quietly converge.

Art is my existential library. I unfold my work as a personal journal of dreams, fears, happiness, and insecurities, always touched by humor. My style, which I call “feminine superflat art,” blends photography, drawing, and digital painting to create delicate, symbolic compositions. Each piece begins with self-portrait photography and evolves through graphite, pastel, and digital color, forming soft narratives about identity and transformation. The recurring female figure and her cat act as reflections of self and emotional continuity. Creating art means existing in a parallel universe where dreams meet reality, and everything becomes possible. My goal is to offer a moment of beauty, thought, or quiet wonder to those who look at my art, to invite them into my world where fragility becomes strength and imagination gives meaning to being.

In Memory Of

In my work, I explore the transformative power of abstraction; how color, texture, and form can combine to create something far greater than their individual parts. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, watching my mother paint. She taught me to paint what you know, and how you see and feel it. I add texture that pops off the canvas and tricks the eyes into feeling the bumpy tree trunk. I use my palette knife to paint just as much as my brushes. Unless I’m working on a commission, I rarely know what the end of my painting is going to look like. Experimentation is the most gratifying part of the painting process. Each painting begins with a variety of underpainting techniques, including alcohol ink, mixed media paper, texture, and sometimes oil pastels. After the underpainting sets, I finish my story with oils for a rich finishing layer of depth. The layers of texture invite viewers to see beyond the flat surface of a landscape or portrait. The gold woven into my paintings is a reminder of the beauty and magic found in unexpected places. My inspiration is driven by the colors of nature and the emotions of gratitude. I’d like to think each piece I create will give some warmth and brightness to whoever stands in front of it.

When we face adversity, whether it be loss, failure, or emotional upheaval, we are forced to confront vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It’s in this confrontation that healing and growth occur. Last year was a difficult year personally for me, as I lost my mother to cancer, and I was diagnosed with lymphoma. Through my treatment, I felt so overwhelmed by a range of emotions that eventually inspired my artwork. My current collection symbolizes the unique process of overcoming emotional trauma and evolving into a more resilient, gracious, and powerful version of oneself. Each piece is a visual and sensory narrative of my personal experience, a reflection of both the struggle and the eventual emergence of strength and clarity, or even a simple moment of gratitude for the earth’s gifts we receive. The works share not the grief and despair, but the rebirth and awakening of a new beginning by including imagery that inspires and connects with the viewers. My hope is to encourage, connect, console, and give hope to others who may need comfort in the notion that we are resilient creatures. Collaboratively, the collection of artwork is bright, expansive, full of vibrant colors, fluid lines, and forms that are whole or mended. Lavish underpaintings of mixed media and layers of emotion reflecting my personal evolution and a universal invitation to the audience to see the potential for resilience and hope in their own lives, no matter how difficult their journey may seem. “The Journey of Resilience” is a message of hope, gratitude, and perseverance to anyone sharing the same difficult path in life.

In Retrospect

Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”

Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.

By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.

Although self-taught, her dedication and talent have seen her work juried into 463 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 718 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.

Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, and 36 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, the cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”, & the latest, Artists & Illustrators March 2024. She has been featured in over 350 International publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.

I am a self-taught artist working in water-based mediums, mainly acrylic, but also at times gouache and watercolor. I am a hyperrealism painter fascinated by the world around me. I am very drawn to shiny surfaces as well as transparent objects, especially when the lighting brings them to life. I look for beauty in everyday objects that most people take for granted or just don’t truly see as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. The shiny metal is one of those materials that can host endless visions….the light hits it and the reflections are captured on the smooth, sleek surface…people and animals especially the eyes…an artist’s dream! My future art plans are to paint the countless subjects I have chosen to become paintings and to share my art with as many people as I can.

“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”

In The Beginning God Created

Marla Jean Clinesmith is a Louisiana-based painter whose work engages the visual and conceptual depth of the ancient Paleo Hebrew pictographic language within a contemporary abstract framework. Her practice examines how early symbolic systems functioned as both image and language — carrying layered meaning through form, structure, and gesture.

Working primarily in acrylic and often incorporating metallic elements, Clinesmith constructs luminous fields of color that serve as both atmosphere and architecture. Ancient letterforms emerge within these layered surfaces, not as illustration, but as structural components that inform composition, tension, and visual rhythm. Her work explores how symbolic language continues to shape perception and spiritual imagination across time.

A two-time recipient of the Denis Diderot Grant for residency at Château Orquevaux in France, Clinesmith also has four paintings in the Château’s permanent collection. Her paintings have been included in regional and national juried exhibitions, including the Adonai Global Art Fund Exhibition, where she was awarded First Place.

Through an ongoing studio practice, Clinesmith continues to investigate the intersection of abstraction, language, and sacred text — creating paintings that invite contemplative engagement while remaining grounded in contemporary painterly concerns.

Creativity rarely emerges in isolation; it is shaped by the influences that quietly form an artist’s way of seeing. My work is profoundly informed by a sustained engagement with the Ancient Hebrew—Paleo Hebrew—pictographic language, a visual system in which each letter functions not merely as text but as image, gesture, and bearer of layered meaning.

These primordial forms offer more than historical intrigue; they preserve a mode of thought in which language and symbol were inseparable. I am drawn to their ability to communicate complex spiritual ideas with striking visual economy, allowing ancient perception to speak into contemporary space.

Biblical texts remain a steady influence in my work, especially those that speak of God’s presence within human life. The ancient pictographs deepen my understanding of these themes, revealing layers of meaning that shape how I build each painting. I do not aim to illustrate scripture, but to express its depth and mystery through the painting itself.

Working primarily in acrylic and frequently incorporating gold leaf or metallic elements, I build layered fields of color that serve as both atmosphere and architecture. Color remains central to my process — a sensibility first awakened through formal study of color theory and continually refined in the studio.

By uniting luminous color with sacred pictographs, I seek to create paintings that operate as contemplative spaces — places where ancient consciousness and contemporary experience meet, inviting viewers into reflection rather than conclusion.

In The Hue

Adriana Azevedo was born in 1970 in Natal, Brazil. During the Covid pandemic lockdown, she’s unleashed her artistic passion and embraced it. As an immigrant artist based in Florida, her unique Brazilian perspective and cultural background inspire her creative expression.

She worked as an architect in Brazil for 2 decades before moving to the United States. She is proud and honored to contribute to the vibrant and diverse artistic community in the Orlando area.

I find my deepest inspiration in the fascinating worlds of Cubism and Surrealism. These influential movements have ignited my creative spirit, guiding me to explore the intricate interplay between reality and imagination on canvas.

My work is a reflection of the multifaceted nature of existence. Through the lens of Cubism, I deconstruct the ordinary, breaking down conventional forms into a tapestry of geometric shapes and angles. This allows me to unveil new dimensions within the familiar, encouraging viewers to contemplate the essence of what they see.

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Maries Joseph is a California‑based self‑taught artist whose passion for painting has been reignited following a professional journey in medicine. Inspired by “the unrivalled beauty, perfection, and aesthetics of the Divine Creator,” her work bridges abstract expressionism and nature‑inspired themes.

Today, Maries offers a diverse collection of original artworks in acrylic and oil, as well as premium canvas prints—each designed to bring hope, energy, and spaciousness into daily life. Her pieces range from immersive abstracts like Whispers of the Deep and Celestial Awakening to dynamic nature compositions such as The Kingfisher and Black Horse.

Maries believes art should not just be observed—it should be felt. It’s an experience that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect. Her work is perfect for collectors or anyone searching to transform a room with color, emotion, and divine resonance.

Art, for me, is a language of the soul—a way to express the emotions, energies, and divine beauty that often transcend words. My work draws inspiration from the natural world, the cosmos, and the quiet spiritual rhythms of life. Through vibrant color palettes, layered textures, and intuitive mark-making, I aim to create abstract compositions that evoke feeling, reflection, and connection.

As a self-taught artist and a former physician, I bring to my practice a deep sensitivity to the human experience—its fragility, resilience, and mystery. Each painting is a journey of discovery, guided by a reverence for light, movement, and the sacred interplay between chaos and harmony.

I believe art has the power to transform spaces and stir the heart. Whether it hangs in a home, gallery, or office, I hope my work brings a sense of clarity, warmth, and inspiration—an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters.

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