ARTIST CV
Below is a list of my education and accomplishments. If you would like to learn more about me, visit my ABOUT Page.
For Artist Interviews & Other Inquiries Please Contact Me at contact@barbsotiart.com
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2004 Certificate of Completion Pre-College Arts Program
2009 BDes Degree in Visual Communications Design, Alberta College of Art and Design
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2014 Kingsland Public Art Committee Member
2016–2024 Colored Pencil Society of America
2024–2026 Calgary Art Community Board Member
2024–Present Federation of Canadian Artists
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2013 SNAP/APA Artist Postcard Exchange and Exhibition / Calgary AB
2013 Calgary Stampede Western Oasis / Framed Acrylic Painting Category / Calgary, AB
2015 Calgary Stampede Western Oasis / Framed Acrylic Painting Category & Framed Drawings / Calgary, AB
2016 Naess Gallery / The Big, Big Portrait Show / Edmonton, AB
2016 Calgary Stampede Western Oasis / Framed Drawings Category / Calgary, AB
2017 cSPACE King Edward / People’s Portrait Prize / Calgary, AB
2017 Calgary Stampede Western Oasis / Framed Drawings & Theme Categories / Calgary, AB
2017–18 cSPACE King Edward / The Principal’s Office / Best for Last / Nov – Jan / Calgary, AB
2018 cSPACE King Edward / People’s Portrait Prize / Calgary, AB
2018 Mahogany Beach Club / Mahogany Spring Arts Festival / Calgary, AB
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2021 COLORED PENCIL Magazine Selfie Challenge/ Online Competition
2022 Contemporary Calgary / People’s Portrait Prize / Calgary, AB
2023 Calgary Stampede Western Oasis / Oil Painting Category / Calgary, AB
2023 Art Under $100 (16th Annual) /ARTSPOT/ Calgary, AB (Juried)
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2024 Mini Masterpiece Fine Art Show / CALGARY ART COMMUNITY/ Calgary, AB (Juried)
2024 Western Art Gallery / CALGARY STAMPEDE / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2024 Miniature Masterpiece Art Gallery / CALGARY STAMPEDE / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2024 MOSAIC FINE ART POP-UP GALLERY / CALGARY ART COMMUNITY/ Calgary, AB (Juried)
2024 Art Under $100 (17th Annual) /ARTSPOT/ Calgary, AB (Juried)
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2025 May MOSAIC FINE ART POP-UP GALLERY / Canyon Meadows Community Association / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 Plus15 Pop-up Art Gallery at Stephen Avenue Place / ARTSPOT / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 June MOSAIC FINE ART POP-UP GALLERY / Spruce Meadows / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 July MOSAIC FINE ART POP-UP GALLERY / Spruce Meadows / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 Miniature Masterpiece Art Gallery / Calgary Stampede Western Art Show / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 August MOSAIC FINE ART POP-UP GALLERY / Canyon Meadows Community Association / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 Square Foot Show / Autumn Theme / Online Exhibition (Juried)
2025 Sweet Sixteen Show / Online Exhibition and Calgary, AB In-Person Show (Juried)
2025 Art Under $200 / ARTSPOT / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2025 Mini Masterpiece Show / Canyon Meadows Community Association / Calgary, AB (Juried)
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2026 Artist Showcase - April - June / Gallery Underground / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2026 Mini Masterpiece Fine Art Show - May 2 / Canyon Meadows Community Association / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2026 Miniature Masterpiece Art Gallery - July 3-12 / Calgary Stampede Western Art Show / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2026 Square Foot Show - Aug 13-14 / Sun & Sky Theme / Online (Juried)
2026 Strathearn Art Walk & Music Festival - Sept 12-13 / Edmonton, AB
2026 Mini Masterpiece Fine Art Show - Oct 15 / Online / Calgary, AB (Juried)
2026 Mosaic Pop-Up Fine Art Show - Nov 14th / Canyon Meadows Community Association / Calgary, AB (Juried)
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2015 Colored Pencil Magazine Challenge Honourable Mention "Rust & Stuff" and "White Peacock" Advanced Category
2015 Calgary Stampede Creative Arts & Crafts Competition third place ribbon win "Afternoon Feast" Pencil Crayon and Pastel Category
2016 Colored Pencil Magazine Challenge Honourable Mention “Birds of a Feather" and“The Sight" Advanced Category
2016 Calgary Stampede Creative Arts & Crafts Competition first place win Pencil Crayon and Pastel Category and second place overall win Framed Drawing Section for “Tyto Alba"
2023 Why Artists Create - Online gallery competition hosted by Veronica Winters. Award received for “Midnight Reverie"
2023 Calgary Stampede Creative Arts & Crafts Competition second place win for "Transcendence of Memory" in the Oil Painting Category
PUBLICATIONS
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2016 COLORED PENCIL Magazine Issues: September - December / Q&A BUY ISSUES
2017 COLORED PENCIL Magazine Issues: January - December / Q&A BUY ISSUES
2017 Ann Kullberg’s COLOR Magazine July Issue: Colored Pencil Box Showcase (Girl With Flowers In Her Hair)
2018 COLORED PENCIL Magazine Issues: January - December / Q&A BUY ISSUES
2018 Jerry's Artarama SoHoHo Holiday Gift Guide, Demo and Feature Artist VIEW
2019 COLORED PENCIL Magazine Issues: January - December / Q&A BUY ISSUES
2019 The Best of Barb's Q&A: COLORED PENCIL Magazine BOOK BUY HERE
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2020 COLORED PENCIL LookBook DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE
2020 COLORED PENCIL Magazine September Issue: Latest & Greatest Gallery feature (The '68)
2020 COLORED PENCIL Magazine October Issue: Artist Workshop - Fall Still Life Tutorial BUY
2020 COLORED PENCIL Magazine November Issue: Show Us Your Art Space Contributor
2021 COLORED PENCIL Magazine January Issue: Past & Present Article Contributor
2021 COLORED PENCIL LookBook DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE
2021 COLORED PENCIL Magazine July Issue: Artist Workshop - Lighthouse Tutorial BUY
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2022 COLORED PENCIL LookBook DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE
2022 CPMagic! Featured Artist March 2022
2022 COLORED PENCIL Magazine July Issue: Artist Workshop - Jellyfish Tutorial BUY
2023 CPMagic! February 2023 Special Issue: Your Best Colored Pencil Work of 2022
2023 COLORED PENCIL Magazine June Issue: Artist Workshop -Simple Succulent Tutorial
2024 MONEY MAKING METHODS FOR ARTISTS - BOOK (PRINT EDITION) BUY
2024 COLORED PENCIL Magazine Spring Issue: Artist Workshop - Rose Sedana Tutorial
TEACHING, WORKSHOPS & MENTORING
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2011 ACAD Third Year Visual Communications Student Portfolio Review Mentor
2016 – 2019 Q&A Columnist for COLORED PENCIL Magazine
2016 Individual Beginner Acrylic Painting Instruction
2017 Private Group Paint Night Instruction
2017 Individual Beginner Acrylic Painting Instruction
2018 – 2021 Sharpened Artist Colored Pencil Podcast Guest Co-Host
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2019 Private Group Paint Night Instruction
2019 Individual Beginner Acrylic Painting Instruction
2020 COLORED PENCIL Magazine October Issue: Artist Workshop - Fall Still Life Tutorial
2021 Guest Speaker Career Day - Graminia School - Virtual Presentation
2021 Surreal Skintones - Guest Speaker - Sharpened Artist Member's Circle Office Hours
2021 COLORED PENCIL Magazine July Issue: Artist Workshop - Lighthouse Tutorial
2021 Private Artist Mentoring
2021 – 2024 Sharpened Artist Colored Pencil Podcast Co-Host
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2022 How to Edit Your Photo References Mini-Workshop (Live on Zoom)
2022 CPMagic! Feature Artist Rose Bouquet Tutorial March 2022 Issue
2022 Secrets For The Best Line Drawing - Live Training (Live on Zoom)
2022 COLORED PENCIL Magazine July Issue: Artist Workshop - Jellyfish Tutorial
2023 COLORED PENCIL Magazine June Issue: Artist Workshop -Simple Succulent Tutorial
2023 AUARTS Guest Speaker for 3rd Year Illustration Students (2 Days)
2023-2026 Private Student Mentoring
2026 Professional Presentation & Branding for Artists Workshop (Live on Zoom)
2026 Mastrius Mentor
PRODUCT PARTNERSHIPS
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2018 Jerry's Artarama - SoHoHo Holiday Gift Guide, Demo and Feature Artist VIEW
2019 Staedtler Mars - Product Tester
2019 Staedtler Mars - Holiday Giveaway Social Media Influencer
2020 Staedtler Mars - Package Illustration Concepts VIEW
2020 Staedtler Mars - Product Tester
2021 Jerry's Artarama - Product Tester
2021 Staedtler Mars - Package Illustration Concept
2022 Sticker Canada - Product Feature partnership and blog post
2022 Staedtler Mars - Package Illustration Concepts
2022 Canvas - Creator Feature on Instagram
2023 – Present - Ferris Wheel Press - Brand Ambassador
2023 Ferris Wheel Press - Giveaway Collaboration with The Gilded Rabbit
2023 Staedtler Mars - Package Illustration Concepts
2023 Art Bundles for Good #8 Course Contributor/Partner
2024 Art Bundles for Good #9 Course Contributor/Partner
2025 KraftGeek Affiliate Partner
2026 The Naked Leaf - 2026 Feature Label Artist
INTERVIEWS & FEATURES
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2016 Wildlife Reference Photos artwork feature Instagram: (Tyto Alba) VIEW
2017 Strathmore Artist Papers Feature Favourite Artwork Created in 2016 VIEW
2017 Calgary Arts Development: Artist Feature: Living a Creative Life (color charts) VIEW
2017 Strathmore Artist Papers Facebook Feature Artist VIEW
2017 Ann Kullberg’s COLOR Magazine Blog Feature Artist: Colored Pencil Box Showcase
(Girl With Flowers In Her Hair) VIEW2018 Prismacolor Instagram Feature (Humility) VIEW
2018 Legion Paper Instagram Feature (Humility) VIEW
2018 Sharpened Artist Colored Pencil Podcast Ep. 175: Feature Artist Interview LISTEN
2018 Artsnacks social media Artsnacks Challenge features: February, April, June, July, August, September, November and December
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2019 Artsnacks social media Artsnacks Challenge features: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2019 Artsnacks social media artwork feature: August
2020 Artsnacks social media Artsnacks Challenge features: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
2020 Artsnacks social media artwork feature: March
2020 COLORED PENCIL Magazine May Spotlight product feature: Cezanne Watercolour Pencils
2021 To The Point CPSA Magazine May half-page ad for Staedtler Mars featuring Galaxy Explorer artwork
2022 CPMagic! Featured Artist March 2022 Issue BUY
2022 COLORED PENCIL Magazine March Issue Half Page spotlight ad on Printable Color Charts
2022 Canvas - Creator Feature on Instagram
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2023 CPMagic! February 2023 Special Issue: Your Best Colored Pencil Work of 2022
2024 ART SPOT - Under $100 Art Show Feature Artist Profile - WATCH HERE
2025 MARKETSPOT - Feature Artist
2025 ART SPOT - Under $200 Art Show Feature Artist Profile
PODCAST CO-HOSTING
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Ep. 250: Does Lightfast Really Matter? LISTEN
Ep. 251: Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor vs Cezanne Colored Pencils LISTEN
Ep. 252: Derwent Studio vs Winsor & Newton Colored Pencil Face-Off LISTEN
Ep. 254: Faber-Castell Goldfaber Pencil Review LISTEN
Ep. 279: Licensing Your Artwork – Call-in Series Questions LISTEN
Ep. 280: Should You Be Using Instagram? LISTEN
Ep. 287: Commissions & Pricing Considerations LISTEN
Ep. 289: Improvement Is A Marathon LISTEN -
Ep. 290: Color Matching & Failure LISTEN
Ep. 295: Forming Your Own Opinion LISTEN
Ep. 297: Two Different Drawing Processes LISTEN
Ep. 298: Artist Professionalism with Email LISTEN
Ep. 299: Artist Professionalism with Websites LISTEN
Ep. 300: Artist Professionalism with Presenting Yourself LISTEN
Ep. 308: Guest Panellist for Derwent Roundtable Discussion LISTEN
Ep. 310: Making Art Authentic to You LISTEN
Ep. 312: Art Show Rejection LISTEN
Ep. 314: New Printable Color Charts BUY CHARTS LISTEN
Ep. 315: Making Mistakes In Your Artwork LISTEN
Ep. 320: Self-Taught vs At School LISTEN
Ep. 322: Copying Artwork – When is it Okay? LISTENEp. 323: Big Changes Coming to the Show LISTEN
Ep. 325: New Tool for Colored Pencil Artists LISTEN
Ep. 326: Key to Success That Don’t Involve Talent LISTEN
Ep. 329: Artist Gift Guide LISTEN
Ep. 332: 10 Artist Health & Wellness Tips LISTEN -
Ep. 334: Why Your Paper Matters LISTEN
Ep. 335: Artist Interview – Sara Prentice LISTEN
EP. 336: Interview – Strathmore Artist Papers LISTEN
EP. 338: How to Pick Your Pencils LISTEN
EP. 339: Cyber Security for Artists LISTEN
EP. 341: Finding The Right Reference Photo LISTEN
EP. 342: The Most Important Step in Your Process LISTEN -
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