Shauna Umney-Gray took her inspiration for a Christmas card from a Dec. 24 walk with her daughter, Isla.
“We went down to Heritage Park and Meridian Place last Christmas Eve to walk around and look at the lights,” said Umney-Gray. “She loved the glowing ‘Christmas balls’ at Meridian Place, and dancing on the stage singing Jingle Bells.
“I thought our little Christmas Eve tour was a great nod to Christmas in Barrie, so I put it into a painting.”
Isla is featured prominently in her mother’s painting, which just so happens to be Noella Glow, winner of the city’s 2021 Christmas card art contest.
“This is my first Christmas card,” she said. “My uncle sent me a link a few years ago to the mayor’s contest, but this was the first year I’ve been painting regularly again, and submitted the design.
“It was an honour to be recognized.”
An art instructor at MacLaren Art Centre, Umney-Gray is a lifelong painter — but really started up again during the pandemic.
“In my own practice I am a live wedding painter,” she said, “which consists of painting wedding ceremonies and receptions, as they happen, as well as a mural and commission artist.”
Barrie’s 2021 Christmas card art contest comes with prize money of $600 for the winner.
Around 500 cards are produced for the use of the mayor and members of council.
An e-card is also distributed to city staff.
To see more of Shauna Umney-Gray’s work, visit paintwithshauna.com.
