Aristides Balanos:   Born in Athens Greece, he grew up beside the sea. Raised by an artist, he began exploring different media at an early age. With his focus on industrial design he received a degree in Engineering in 1988. He has worked in Berlin and Paris and returned to Greece in 1995. While on the island of Santorini, inspired by the powerful currents of the Aegean and the shifting winds his dramatic seascapes and majestic ships are a testament to the enduring relationship of humans with the sea. For the past years he exhibited his work in Santorini and in Athens. Aristides Balanos lives and works in Montreal since 2004. His work can be found in private collections worldwide.

Régis Boivin:  Born in the 60’s, Regis Boivin is fascinated by the power that colors have over him. Drawing is an integral part of his life, just as is his training in architecture at Cégep de Lévis- Lauzon, and fur design at Lasalle College which structure his artistic thoughts to finalize shapes and images. After years of concrete & logical work, he was self taught by his inner child to draw and paint through meetings with Seymour Segal, Jacques Clément, Francine Labelle et Louisa Nicol. He has exhibited at the Galerie In Vivo in Old Montreal, in Granby at Boréart and participates in charity auctions for OMPAC, Refuge pour les Femmes de l’Ouest de l’Ile and for the 3rd time, The Shield of Athena. He is also part of the Galerie de Luxart on  Saint-Paul Street in Old Montreal. His main medium is acrylic and he specializes in the layering of textures and collages. The art that we give ourselves reflects our profound experiences and touches the soul of others and awakens their most intimate emotions. Art is the mirror of the soul.

Eva Chiotis:   Art has many meanings for this artist. It is a metaphysical experience.  It is a means to create, dream and perceive life in different ways.  Her major inspiration lies with the surreal genre.  She carries her fascination with the unique and unusual into a wide range of art forms through the use of mixed media.   In her paintings, she incorporates the realistic with the abstract.  As an artist, her intention is to evoke wonder in the viewer.  Of Greek heritage and born and raised in Montreal, Evanthia has been practicing her craft for the past fifteen years.  She attended the Fine Arts Department at Concordia University and has taken multiple courses at the Saidye Bronfman Centre for Arts in Montreal.  She has participated in group exhibitions as well as in the Hellenic Community Exhibition for the Arts.  

Nikitas Dendrinos: (to come)

Thomas Desouza: Thomas Desouza was born in Goa, Portuguese India in 1933. He studied drawing, painting and sculpture at the renowned School of Fine Arts of Bombay. He has painted all his life in the oil medium although he paints in water colours as well. De Souza has won many juried awards, is a member of the Arts club of Montreal, Dorval Artists association and the prestigious Lakeshore Artists Association. He has had many group and solo exhibitions and his paintings are to be found in many corporate and private collections in Canada, the USA, Israel, India, Japan and France.

Miguel Esparbe:  Born in Manresa, Barcelona the 29th of September 1942, at an early age shows an innate tendency to draw. At the age of 14 he is admitted to the School of Arts, where obtains a higher grade "Matrícula de Honor". Later he studies at the studios of Basiana and Vilajosana, where he initiates into oil painting. He was still very young when he participated in contests and was rewarded at state level. Later on, he attends the studio of González Carbonell. He painted his first mural painting in 1964; since then he has made use of his painting method - on gold leaf and decorating walls.  Restless creator, he has made cartoons, scenography, shorts and publicity. We can find his work in the United States, Canada, France, Italy and Belgium.

Andrea Ewanchyna: Andrea Ewanchyna is a Canadian-born artist who has been painting in acrylics since 1998.  Her inspirations derive from architecture, culture and nature.  Her contemporary abstract style is based on color and line, and the contradiction between organic and man made.   She has studied design and earned her Degree in Art History from the University of British Columbia.  Since her graduation she has been successful at selling her work privately on the Westcoast of British Columbia.  In addition to private sales, she has work shown at: Vancouver Art Gallery Art Rentals & Sales, Vancouver Art Events, Big Door Fine Art and the Bovag, in Ultrecht, the Netherlands.   Andrea resides in Winnipeg, where she is currently completing a Masters in Interior Design.  

Bernard Foullon: Born on May 21, 1939, at Nice in France, Bernard Foullon has studied art at the Superior National School of Decorative Arts in Paris (1959-1962) and Gilles Brianchon 's work shop ( 1963-1966). From 1961 to 1968, he exposed solo and in groups at Paris, Rennes, Barbizon, Caen, London, Cherbourg, Nice, Nantes, Vevey in Switzerland and Dusseldorf in Germany. Laureate on several prizes, he works in his studio in Paris and Nice.

Marina Gavanski-Zissis: Marina Gavanski Zissis was born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and immigrated to North America in 1962. In 1979, she received her masters of Fine Arts from the University of Belgrade. Her art is a merge of the reality of the flesh and nature of spirit. Marina has taken part in many solo and group exhibitions in Canada.

Marilyn Gordon: Marilyn Gordon was born and educated in Liverpool, England. She graduated from The Royal College of Music, London, and pursued a career in music. In 1963 she immigrated to Canada as a teacher. Shortly after, she obtained a B.A. and M.A. in English. Throughout her career, painting attracted her especially the impressionist masters. Since 1999, she has been involved in art at the Recreation Centre of TMR. She is a member of the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada, and has exhibited among others at the Galerie Artitude. She is also president of TRAM, (Table Ronde sur l’art de Mont-Royal.

John E. Gouzopoulos: John E. Gouzopoulos was born in Montreal and began painting after his retirement. His medium is oil on canvas. This will be his ninth year of participation, which pleases him as this helps the SOAFS in their work. John also enjoys meeting with the other artists who participate for the same cause. Some of his paintings are now in Japan, New York, Ottawa and Greece.

Pietras Ibianska: Pietras  Ibianska was born in Lithuania, on April 10, 1941.  Following the invasion of his country by the USSR, he and his family were deported to the North-West of Siberia where he passed his childhood and adolescence from 1948 to 1958.  He studied the fresco and mosaic in the painting department of l’Academie des Beaux-Arts of Vilius.  After obtaining his Diploma in 1971, he began teaching in the same department, the technique of monumental painting.  He is a creator of about 100 works of` art that embellish galleries and homes in several countries and continents.  Among his preferred subjects, we distinguish the landscapes and portraits.   He is a member of the Association of Artists of Lithuania.

Nikos Karras: (To come)

Fotis Koletis: Fotis Koletis was born in 1969 in Salonica and has been with painting since childhood. Later, he attended painting courses next to the famous Mr. Georgiadis and since 1998, he has been professionally working as a painter. He has taken part in group exhibitions organized by the Association Professional Painters on Salonica, in the Town Hall Gallery (1999). In his own workshop, there is always an Art Exhibition. His works ca be found in Salonica, Crete, Castoria, Hanthi and in many other places.

Georgia Kourleti: Born in Mikromani, a picturesque village of Greece, Georgia Kourleti pursued her artistic interests in the sixties. After a career as a midwife and nurse, she took art courses in order to develop her sense of colour and texture. She paints with oil and watercolours. For the past two years, she paints icons in the Byzantine style. She has presented at the Shield of Athena art auction and solo exhibitions.

Helmut Langeder: Helmut Langeder started painting at the age of fifteen.  For forty years he worked as a designer and illustrator reaching the top in his field.  During this time he continued painting, mostly landscapes.  When time and conditions allow, he sketches or paints on location to capture the mood and give his interpretation of the scene.  His work is exhibited at Exclusive Artforms, On., Galerie Guylaine Fournier in Baie-Saint-Paul, Que. and in Saint-Sauveur, Que, as well as Galerie Jackson in Saint-Ours, Que. He is a member of the Society of Canadian Artists and the Lakeshore Artists Association. He is also  a First Prize recipient of The 1st Juried Online Exhibition by SAC/SCA.

Michel Langlois: Michel Langlois was born in Montreal in 1950. During a trip to North Africa he discovered his passion for the visual arts and after working in cinema and video, he professionally turned to painting around the age of 40. Self taught, he participates in the workshops of Frère Jérôme and follows the footsteps of the Montreal Automatistes allowing  him to open up and give free rein to the influences of poetry, urban grounds, nature and the people. He has displayed some of his works at the Galerie du Marché Bonsecours, in Portugal at the Galery Tad’art, Galery Gora, Galery Easlink and others.

Dimitris Loukas: Dimitri Loukas was born on the island of Chios, Greece. He learned his techniques in drawing and colour during the Second World War from renowned painters. His unique style is distinguished by his use of abstract, prismatic and geometric shapes. His paintings hang in several private and public collections

Bernard Marsy: A native of France, Bernard Marsy studied drawing, painting and Art History at the École Nationale d’Art Graphique de Paris. He is an active contributor to the shows that are put on by the various art associations, and his work is on display in private collections across Canada, The U.S. and Europe.  His work reflects nature and its splendour, transporting the viewer to a world of tranquillity. Always searching for new techniques, he instils in his paintings a life cover artist and soul of their own.

Margot McPherson-Balanos: Margot McPherson was born in Montreal. After completing two years of Art History at the American University in Paris, she received her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 1984. She has worked in various areas of art and design in New York, Montreal and Los Angeles. From 1994 to 2004 she lived and worked as a painter and sculptor on the island of Santorini and in Athens Greece where she and her husband had two galleries.  Her work is profoundly influenced by classical antiquity and her admiration for the ancient canons of balance and beauty which reflect man’s original quest for perfection and truth in art. Since 2004, she lives and works in Montreal from her studio on the Lachine canal

Katerina Mertikas: Born in Tripoli, Greece in 1957, Katerina Mertikas is a permanent resident of Ottawa. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, her highly stylised art is mostly inspired by her family. Particularly naïve, her expressionism also demonstrates a simple narrative which is both decorative and imaginative. Her work is sold in many   galleries of Canada. Collections: Her Royal Highness Diane, Princess of Wales, Mrs Aline Chrétien, Mrs Mila Mulroney, Julios Eglesias, Roger Moore and others. We can also see her work on Unicef Cards.

Susie Mouroukas:  Favourite childhood memories of life in quaint villages and idyllic towns serve as the inspiration for the paintings created by Suzie Mouroukas.  A self-taught artist born in Montreal, Quebec in 1964, Susie uses bold and bright colours to transform typical scenes of rural life into imaginative colour extravaganzas.  Her use of colour and level of detail bring cheer and happiness to all those who admire her work.  She has captured her happiest times in her paintings filled with simple charm and pure innocence.  As a child and throughout high school, most of her time was spent painting and drawing.  Her magical and delightful paintings express a familiar comfort and evoke feelings of joy and enchantment to all.  Susie is also very excited to partner with UNICEF in creating paintings that help the children’s outreach in Africa. 

Evangelia Mouzakiotis:   A self-taught artist, Evangelia Mouzakiotis was born in Athens, Greece and lived her adult life in Montreal, Canada. Her medium is oil on canvas where her attention to detail translates onto her creations of places of the imagination or places she has traveled in her life. Evangelia has participated in various exhibitions and her work is displayed in numerous private collections in Montreal, Toronto and Athens.

Alain Nonn: ( to come)

Nick Ordolis: Nick Ordolis was born in 1978, in Montreal Canada.  He was raised in Athens Greece where he has been working as a freelance photographer for the past 7 years.  Past projects include publications, reportage and advertisement photography.  His clientele of worldwide companies include PepsiCo, Bristol Myers and Energizer as well as other companies based solely in Greece.  He has also worked with global advertising agencies such as DDB and Leo Burnett.  Aside from sponsored projects, he has recently been working on personal projects that mainly include night photography with slow shutter speeds, landscape photography and portraiture of other artists.

Jimmy Papachristou: Born in Montreal, Jimmy Papachristou is the son of the late John Papachristou (Yanni). Jimmy never studied art, but from a young age, was exposed to his father’s beautiful paintings. Jimmy started painting after the loss of his father (July 22, 2002), as a way to feel close to him. Feeling as though his father is watching and guiding him with every brush stroke, he signs his paintings « Yannisson » as a tribute to his father.

Stephane Parnel: Stéphane Parnel was born in Dijon, France on April 16, 1945. His studies: Toulouse Fine-Arts Academy, France; Fine Arts School of Vevey, Switzerland, 1968-1973 and private courses with Professor Bernardo Littore, Paris, France. Exhibitions:  Gallery of Fine Arts of   Toulouse, Contemporary Art Museum of Dijon and others.

Pei Yang:  Pei Yang was born in Yang Zhou, China. He began his art studies in high school. Pei immigrated to Canada with his family.  He then studied fine arts at both the Ottawa School of Art and Algonquin College, in Ottawa. He first worked as an art director and visual development artist.  Pei's credits can be seen in films produced by Columbia Studios, DreamWorks Studios and many others. Pei Yang now lives in Montreal where he devotes all his time to painting. He paints landscapes, flower groupings in unique still life compositions, and highly praised interior scenes. Strong decisive ink-like brushstrokes give depth to elements that are depicted with a palette of distinct hues of rich colours such as ochre and indigo.

Georgia Priniotakis:  A native of Crete, Georgia Priniotakis (Kalas) has been an active artist since 1984, creating paintings of realistic nature.  Drawn towards the arts since childhood, Georgia has worked with different media such as watercolor, acrylic, oil, soft pastel and ink.  Watercolor being the most challenging medium dominates the work of the artist.  Vibrancy and transparency are depicted in the seasonal changes of her landscapes, flowering gardens and tranquil patios.   Georgia is a signature member of the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada and a founder member of the Ville St-Laurent Artists’ Association.  She has participated in group exhibitions and has won numerous awards and distinctions for her paintings, the latest being “Artists choice” award in the annual Mont-Royal Cemetery Art exhibition.  She is listed in “Magazine d’ Art” Biennial guide to Canadian Artists in galleries; the “Lexicon” of Greek Artists vol. # 2 and “Le Pluralisme dans l’Art au Quebec”.  Georgia has been an active participant in the Shield of Athena art auction for the past fifteen years

David Rose:  Born in Toronto, David Rose studied at the Ontario College of Art, and at the New School of Art.  After receiving a diploma in Fine Arts from St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario, in the 1980s, he moved to Montreal and acquired a Bachelor’s degree in art history, and then a Master’s degree in Canadian Art History in 1993 at Concordia University.  Since 2003 David Rose has focused on local and urban scenes of Beaconsfield and Montreal as subject matter for his paintings.  Other subjects include landscapes, portraits of private residences, and indigenous animals of the St Lawrence Valley.  His preferred technique is acrylics, sometimes with mixed media, applied to canvas, masonite board or paper.  As a low-vision artist, he uses photographs as source material and a starting point to develop his compositions in a realist style.  David Rose has solo exhibitions at the Kirkland Public Library, the Eco Museum in St. Anne-de-Bellevue as well as several Montreal restaurants.  He has also participated in group shows at the Agnes Etherington Art Gallery, Kingston, the Art + Vision Exhibition, Montreal, and with the Beaconsfield Artists’ Association.  

Yelena Samoukova:  Born in Saint Peterbourg, Yelena Samoukova began painting when she was a child. In 1990, She applied to the Academy of Art and Design as a student in the department of manufacturing of Art textiles. After her arrival in Canada in 1999, she yearned to express her deep respect, tenderness and appreciation of the Russian culture. She decided to make a series of pen and ink drawings. In these, she has incorporated her childhood memories and the concept of Women who needs peace and tranquility and protects her Home and Children.

Peter Smith:  Born in England and having travelled extensively for business, living and working in may different countries in Africa, Europe and the USA, Peter Smith is now firmly established in Montreal where he paints and writes.   He spends more time these days painting the vivid and lively scenes he encounters.  He began painting over 25 years ago and examples of his work have been sold and are in display in the UK, Canada, Egypt, Spain and Australia.   His art reflects his outlook on life, with bright colors, happy subjects and intelligent use of light and shadow; he is particularly renowned for his portrayal of skies and clouds, something he learned from studying the great landscapists.

Paul Soulikias: Paul Soulikias was born in Greece in 1926.  He studied art in Athens and in Paris and came to Canada in 1959.  He is known since 1965, for “his assured and subtle handling of colour,-his ravishing harmonies and “his Fresh Look at the Laurentiens”. In 1982, Dr. Stern, the owner of the Dominion Gallery, gave P. Soulikias, an exhibition with the known sculptor Henry Moore.   For over than 40 years, P. Soulikias had exhibitions in Canada, the United Sates, and in Greece, and he has participated in international symposia of Quebec.  His paintings are in many private and public institutes such as the City of Montreal, Reader’s Digest,  as well as in many private collections. 

Gilbert Strudwick:  Gilbert Strudwick began his career as an artist in the graphics industry in 1955 at the age eighteen.  During his time in Toronto he kept a deep interest in fine art, training himself as a painter, at first in watercolour, and slowly into other mediums.  He would go out into the surrounding countryside from his family cottage in Collingwood Ontario and sketch from nature and life.  He held his first solo exhibition in 1971.  He perfected his skills as a portrait painter and in the year of 2000 he received his first portrait commission, the first of many.  In September 2000 he began his University education in Fine Arts at York University.  His work can be found in corporate and private estates.  During the last 20 years of his career, he has participated in several group exhibitions, and has held membership in a tour group of artists in Barrie. 

Margareta Stevens: (to come)

Teresa Uzarowska: Teresa Uzarowska was born in Warsow in Polland and she took private courses for painting. Graduated from the University of Warsaw, she taught different subjects including painting for 28 years. Her mediums are oil, pastels, watercolour, charcoal and ink.  Exhibitions: Galerie Art & Quartz, LyLa  Restaurant,  and Kermesse polonaise (2004);  Olympic Picture Frames,  Tessa Gallery, Entre Cadre Gallery, Les Cadres Grevena, Exposition Humanitarian, la galerie Le Parchemin,  Katimavik Center and others. Private and public collections: Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Etobicoke. 

John Vazalinskas: John Vazalinskas has attended Fine Art classes and workshops in Montreal and exhibits his work in that area as well as in Eastern Ontario. His colourful, evocative paintings are in private collections across Canada, the U.S.A., Europe and Australia. Storybooks illustrated with water color pictures made for him by his father had a strong influence on him during his early childhood in wartime Europe. John was inspired to draw progressing from cartoons to painting in acrylics. A career temporarily interrupted his painting but, upon retirement in 1997, he started again, this time in oils

Vassilis Vellis: Born in Alexandria, Egypt and motivated by his parents who originally came from the Dodecanese islands, Vassilis Vellis, paints Hellenic scenes of the Aegean where life has not changed much in the 20th century. His mediums are acrylic and oil and he has also mastered the art of stained glass. His paintings and glass creations can be found in many private collections in Athens and Montreal.

Egolfi Yantsulis: Egolfi Yantsulis was born in Athens, Greece, her love for the art of painting led her to discover her talent at an early age. She has done freelance work for various cultural organisations and has presented her work at different exhibitions in Canada.  Her paintings are held in private collections in Canada and Europe.

Marek Zoltak: Marek Zoltak was born in Poland. In 1978, he completed a major commission for Saint Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Michigan, the theme of which was Millennium of the polish church  He also participated in several exhibitions in Poland (1972-1981). He came to Canada in 1981. From 1988 to 1995, worked at CBC as an architect where he was involved in projects concerning interior design of studios. He has presented his works several times in Art Galleries and at the CBC (Maison Radio-Canada) in Montreal. Within his works, architectural influence is always present however, the discipline of forms and global impression which the artist places on (his) environment are much more delicate and subtle. He is equally adept in both oil and watercolors.