Lori Geddes-Felix

10/16/2019

Lori Geddes-Felix

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Lori Geddes-Felix has been drawn to art since early childhood when she was mesmerized by the works of her grandmother, an amateur artist. Although she enjoyed art as a child and in high school, she opted for what she deemed to be a more practical path when she chose to study graphic design in college. Combining some of those skills with a talent for photography, she went on to dabble with design in various fields including home staging.

Her epiphany came when she attended a group paint night three years ago. Her painting shone and many of the program attendees wanted to buy it. Lori subsequently launched her art business, primarily as a way to preserve and restore old photos by rendering them as paintings on canvas. The photographs entrusted to her covered a wide variety of subjects, ranging from pets and people to landscapes, cars and flowers. Some were snapshots of dubious quality, old and timeworn, beyond hope of restoration through digital means. Memorial paintings are a common request as are compilations of two or more subjects from different photos.

Lori began taking commissions two years ago and her business is booming. She has had some interesting projects on the side, including a fundraising series for the Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue in Durham. This rehabilitation and education facility is licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources without funding, supporting itself through educational programming for youth and fundraising efforts.

Be a Part of the Art by Lori

Lori is taking Christmas commissions now. Experience indicates that she'll be at capacity over the holidays.

Her prices are based on hours required. Easier subjects like a single face could take a day.
More complex pieces with photo compilations or restoration of damaged photos could take many.

Her facebook page offers some
time-lapse photography of
works in process.

Be a Part of the Art by Lori
on facebook

One of her most meaningful works is currently on display at the ‘Celebrating a Century of Care’ juried art show in Whitby , marking the 100th anniversary of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. She is excited about attending the final gala there on October 23rd before the exhibit comes to an end.

On display at the Celebrating a Century of Care juried art show, Whitby

Her entry was born as a personal project, a commentary on the deception so often manifested in the social media world. The work consists of two paintings, one a smiling filtered image set in front of an abject reality. Her daughter, Madison, was the model. Lori believes that the seeming perfection of lives portrayed on social media is damaging on many levels, compromising self esteem and creating inauthentic personas or unrealistic expectations. The message of the painting proved to be a perfect fit for the Ontario Shores event and she felt honoured by its acceptance in this prestigious exhibit.

A native of Bowmanville, Lori followed her parents to the Trent Hills area seven years ago. She enrolled her family in Karate for fitness but, she grins, she was the only one who stuck with it. Lori completed training for her Black Belt in a short four years and is now an Assistant Instructor at Trent Hills Martial Arts. She loves the sport as well as the conditioning and discipline that is part of the curriculum for martial arts.

Riley

“I’m a perfectionist,” she says, one who chooses challenge and detail over familiarity. She has no favourite subject to paint. Lori recounts some initial trepidation about her untried ability to paint animals and people, but her concerns were long ago put to rest on that score. Her first animal painting was of her own pet, Riley.