THE STORY OF MY SHOP "A Bergie Creation"

A closer look at my Etsy Shop Story....
I have been creating ever since I could hold a pencil. As a self taught artist, my main discipline has been Visual. Everything from illustrating, to painting, to graphic design. It didn't hurt that early on inspiration seeds were planted, as I got to see my Dad's colour pastel and oil landscape paintings. Not to mention, my parents always provided me with craft kits and art materials. I remember playing

around with "Dip It" plastic film, wood burning, rug hooking, spirograph, paints, Laurentian Coloured pencils, plaster of paris moulds and figures to paint, spool knitting....oh, the memories.

Out of High School, I was hoping to take our university's Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Sadly, it wasn't fully wheelchair accessible so I was unable to attend. After some employment stints, (not art related), while always drawing and such, I finally decided to enrol at our local College. (about 1989-1991) in Arts Administration. Even though it was a great learning experience, especially since, I got to complete a 4 month internship in fundraising at the Royal W inning Ballet and in the education department at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, I concluded that the management side of the arts just wasn't for me. Creating is in my blood.

It helped that, after obtaining a one year employment contract as the education assistant, while at the Gallery, I was given the opportunity to do just that, create. Better yet, I learned how much I love teaching and inspiring children to make art. Aside from assisting with art lessons,  I also got to teach some cartooning lessons to children. They also let me Illustrate their fundraising cookbook!

Whether in school or working, my entire life has always been spent creating wherever I could, illustrating, painting, sketching - designing whatever and even the few arts and craft projects. I give credit to my dear Grandma Harris, who would have me sleep over at her home when I was a kid and she always had a craft kit for me to put together, if no kit, there were styrofoam egg cartons and other materials to cut up and make something from.

Aside from my usual creating projects, learning the new age of computer desk top publishing became a new passion. Again, self taught, I was hired to work on a local small publication doing layout and design. That lead to the inception of a small coffee paper, called Superior Coffee Talk. A friend did all the leg work, seeking out advertisers and shops that she would then deliver to. It was great fun to work on designing and publishing a fun little paper for a quick read during a comforting cup of joe.

In the late 1980s, I forgot to mention that I was blessed with receiving my first solo exhibition in the

Pictograph Art Gallery in Atikokan, Ontario. The subject back then, reflected my heart at the time, fashion illustration. And...about twenty years later (about 1998), thanks to our university finally becoming fully wheelchair accessible, I enrolled part time in that HBFA program and honed my composition, design, painting, drawing and printmaking skills. Not to mention, receiving great inspiration by being able to learn a tonne in a couple of art history classes as well as, being selected to participate in a few "Lakehead University's juried art exhibitions."

In 2001, I was blessed yet again, with falling in love and marrying my now husband, Craig.

About nine years ago, I was blessed with an Ontario Art Council "New Works" Grant. The theme was "All Creation Sings." My inspiration was to paint God's creation in whatever manner inspired me. The paintings were in acrylic and the subject matter included fruit, flowers and vegetables. Inspired by Georgia O'Keefe, I too feel that you can't just look at something like a flower at a distance or as a whole. It is when you look very closely that you can seen amazing details that most people miss. That is basically how to best describe my paintings.

On my own, working on some meaningful polymer clay figures.

polymer clay in my shop

Acrylic paint on canvas by Anita Berglund

Acrylic paint on canvas by Anita Berglund

A marker rendering by Anita Berglund

A marker rendering by Anita Berglund

To some up my Etsy Shop Story.....
Creating has always been in my DNA, my blood, if you will. It is too difficult for me to focus on just writing a story about my shop, because there is so much more. The actual online shop was a practical decision for me. In that, due to being physically challenged, I am unable to travel and do things like sell my work at Markets or do the "leg" work seeking vendors. When I saw what Easy offered, it was a perfect opportunity to  sell my work.

Drawing, Illustrating, Painting, design work and such, have always been my number one focus. It wasn't until 2008, when a spontaneous, practical need, prompted my dive into designing and making jewelry! I love it, but like my always bouncing brain, my ideas lead to changes in materials and designs, so nothing is ever the same way. Well, the only consistent design, is my number one seller, "The MINI Collection" small hoop earrings.

Most recently, my newest creative tool has become polymer clay. Love the fell, the colour and the endless possibilities. For more details about me personally, please feel free to check out my blogs and YouTube Channel.

For me, making jewelry has been like painting with wire and beads and most recently, polymer clay!

A SIDE NOTE:  Please, if you have children, encourage them to create. Always have art making materials available. No, you don't have to spend lots of money, just paper and pens and pencils, crayons...pressing flowers, leaves in pages, cutting, glueing, pasting....I think you get the idea. And remember, don't tell them that sky's aren't purple or green, if they colour it that way (I say that because I really did hear a parent say that to their child once, it was so painful to hear and watch)...there are no rules when it comes to kids and art. It should never be a painful process, if they aren't enjoying themselves, then, don't force them.