Reproduction of a Whistler painting by Julia Deutsch-Goulet, age 14. Created in Drawing & Painting – Rachel Daley, instructor.

Work by Ann Wilson. Created in Landscape Painting for Advanced Students – Daniel Hughes, instructor.

Lydia began her career as an architect in her native Argentina and continued in this profession after immigrating to Canada in 1998. Having also been trained by renowned Argentinian master painter Kenneth Kemble, Lydia decided to go back to her first love – painting. Ironically, her former boss, architect Henry Wong eventually became her painting student at the Avenue Road Arts School!

Lydia recently won an important commission from the city of Mississauga to create a mural for the newly renovated Courtney Park Library. It will incorporate family friendly themes and will reflect the ethnically diverse community. Lydia likes the idea of researching and collecting ideas from all the groups who make use of the library. As an architect, she is sensitive to making the mural both appealing and useful. "I would like to see a lot of movement and information in the piece so that anyone who looks at it will learn to appreciate the interaction of differing cultures in Canada," says Lydia.

Her abstract work often focuses on the idea of barriers. While trying to operate within the chaos of a politically unstable Argentina, barriers became a symbol of both protection - and the placing of boundaries around oneself in order to feel some sense of freedom. While living in the more volatile Argentina, she found herself continually "reacting" in her art to what was happening politically. Since coming to Canada her work has become more introspective, more intimate – a result of the relative stability we enjoy in Canada.

As a teacher, Lydia wants to stimulate a genuine sense of discovery in her students. She explains: "I don't like putting all my students into the same bag." Instead, she wants to help them individually find their own language in art. She feels enormously grateful to have the opportunity to do this so freely in Canada. Her students are grateful for this as well.

Here's what Lydia teaches:

Studies in Art & Design (Gr. 6 - 9)
Wednesday, 4:30-6:00 pm

Landscape Drawing & Painting
Monday, 9:00-11:30 am

Acrylics & Mixed Media
Wednesday, 10:00-12:30 pm

Abstract Painting
Wednesday, 7:00-9:30 pm

Drawing & Sketching
Saturday, 9:00-10:30 am

Acrylic Painting
Saturday, 11:00-1:00 pm