Following a desire to learn more about female artists - and Canadian artists in general, these four have captured my interest lately.

Their use of shapes and colour appeals to me and with the exception of Maud Lewis, their work is of a style and era that appeals to me overall which makes them all the more interesting in my eyes.

Each one really warrants her own post and study, but for now, I offer you this cursory introduction.

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Maud Lewis

Maud Lewis was a Canadian folk artist from Nova Scotia, “Canada’s own Grandma Moses.” Despite having to overcome some pretty severe physical circumstances, she produced paintings that evoke a joyful simplicity and nostalgia. Maybe that’s why I like them.

If you have 10 minutes, a 1976 short film called Maud Lewis: A World Without Shadows offers insight into her life and outlook (via Canada’s National Film Board website).

Her story inspires and is a great reminder that fodder for art can be found right in our own back yard!

3 Women from the Beaver Hall Group:

Prudence Heward, Anne Savage and Lilias Torrance Newton

The next three women on my list were part of a Canadian group of modernist painters from Montreal formed in the 1920s, called the Beaver Hall Group. I've been reading a lot about the group these past several weeks and may dedicate a post to it in its entirety later, but in the meantime I'd like to highlight the three women below whose work caught my attention.

Prudence Heward

When I saw a photo of Heward's Sisters of Rural Quebec it immediately reminded me of another favourite female artist of mine, Tamara de Lempicka, so of course I was hooked. Many of her pieces involve bold and expressive figures coupled with rich colours. The Art Canada Institute offers a good glimpse at her work here, this is one of my favourites:

Anne Savage

I just finished reading a most delightful biography of Anne Savage (Anne Savage: the story of a Canadian painter, 1977) that complements what I'm learning about her in more academically inclined books. An “innovator in art education”, she taught art in Montreal for 26 years all the while breaking new ground with her own work. She seems like someone I would have liked to have met.

The Plough is one of her most-known pieces (link also includes a good bio) and I am absolutely smitten by Lake Wonish (for Don) that she painted shortly after her brother died in WWI. Unfortunately, I can't for the life of me find an image of the latter online, but I will make up for it by offering you a soothing yet striking piece called Country Scene:

Lilias Torrance Newton

Having a penchant for painting portraits it's no surprise that I like Lilias Torrance Newton's work. She was mainly a portraitist, with a modern bent. If I had to compare her work to Heward's and Savage's I'd say that it has a more muted quality, but it's by no means less expressive. In 1957 Torrance Newton painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the first known Canadian commissioned to make a portrait of either subject.

Though there are more colourful portraits of hers out there, this particular one, Louis Muhlstock, caught my eye. I find it captivating.

Louis Muhlstock, by Lilias Torrance Newton, circa 1937

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There is much, much more to discover about these four artists and there are many more female and Canadian artists to discover above and beyond this list.

What I’ve offered here is but a name and a few links to perhaps whet your appetite - and mine.

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Did you miss out on previous Birthday List Love posts? No worries, voici:

Birthday List Love #1: Favourite Recipes

Birthday List Love #2: Personal Finance Books by Gail Vaz-Oxlade

Stay tuned for List #4!

Confession: I am a personal finance geek and devour personal finance books for fun. I like Gail Vaz-Oxlade's books so much that she gets her own list.

Gail has a no-nonsense, practical approach to personal finances that appeals to me. Using terms like “money moron” or “downright dumb” to describe questionable money choices, she doesn't mince words and isn’t afraid of calling the reader’s bluff. I don’t take it personally.

I find her writing sobering and direct, but accessible with a clear path to solutions. Plus she's Canadian which means her books refer to Canadian laws and resources, a piece that's usually missing in books written by US authors.

Below are three books she's written that I've enjoyed over the past few months. The subject matter is the same, but each offers its own insights.

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Money Rules: Rule Your Money, Or Your Money Will Rule You

Though the information is plentiful, this book was an easy read. The two hundred and sixty-one money rules offered range from the basic (#8 Everyone Needs an Emergency Fund) to the philosophical (#57 Learn From Your Mistakes), to the more obscure that might not be widely known (#63 Make Spousal RRSP Contributions by December). Everything is laid out in practical, bite-sized pieces that are easy take in. Some of the rules I already knew or was familiar with, but others made me go “Huh!” Some of them surprised D., my husband, and became fodder for financial discussion. Wide in its coverage of money matters, it's a useful resource.

Never Too Late: Take Control of Your Retirement and Your Future

With a focus on retirement this book includes information about RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plans) and TFSAs (Tax Free Savings Accounts), among other things, that helped me better understand my options as I move forward. I am in my forties and retirement will come soon enough. The book brings a clear message that it really never is too late to start saving, and will guide the reader through some options to do so. So no excuses!

It’s Your Money: Becoming a Woman of Independent Means

This book is geared towards women, but in Gail's words, from her Money Rules book: “It's Your Money was written for women, but if you're a guy, it won't make your penis fall off.”

The first few sections cover basics like saving, credit identity, insurance, etc., and touch on the intangibles of money, as in how do you feel about it? But I found the last few sections most insightful: Adapt Your Plan as Your Life Changes and Just in Case. In these sections Gail walks us through different life scenarios such as partnering up, having children, losing a job, becoming disabled or caring for aging parents, and outlines how each one might impact our financial plan and choices. Some of the stats presented were eye-openers for me and prompted action, which is probably exactly what she hoped for when she included them.

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Each of these books has helped deepen my personal finance journey in one way or another. They are well laid out, clear, and cover many of the facets involved in creating intentional finances, making them excellent resources for one's financial toolkit.

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If you want a taste of Gail and her approach, you can check out this interview about her latest book called Money Talks (which I haven’t read yet, ergo is not on my list):

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Did you miss Birthday List Love Day 1? Here it is. Stay tuned for Day 3...