Anr Desiree Burford – Inspiration and Mentor

Forty years of original – acrylics and ink – Anr Desiree Burford was an Inspiration and Mentor to artist Della Burford.

Anr Desiree Burford was born in Eston, Saskatchewan on November 15th 1921 – and passed in 2001. She was a Canadian painter, registered nurse, mother of six and loved painting.
Life and Work: Anr Desiree was a major influence and taught painting to her daughter Della Burford. They did paintings inspired by the Elements of Water, Ice, Plants, Fire and Galaxies. This photo below is when they had a show together in Edmonton at the Centennial Library for the Celebrating the Environmenta performance by Maria Formolo Dance.
Desiree was working with acrylics as a medium in the 1960’s. She moved from Landscapes, Still Life’s to Abstract Colorism. She studied with many noted artists including Jock De Tonnacour and Shadbolt. She showed in the Celebration of Woman in the Arts and had many one woman , duo and group shows. She was Chair of the Edmonton Branch of the Federation of Canadian Artists from 1985 – 86.
Her art is flamboyant in color and shows the influence of the many countries where she travelled. The vibrancy and life in her art was shared by many doctors, care givers at the Cross Cancer Clinic and collectors in the later stage of her life. She painted for 40 years, and is known as an Abstract Colorist.

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Desiree loved to paint with the flow of water. She was so thrilled in the 1960’s when acrylics were born. She developed many techniques to embrace the flow and move with the synchronicity that happened.

Studying: Desiree studied at the New York School of Interior Design ( correspondence ) and The National School of Radio Broadcasting. She studied painting at the Edmonton Art Gallery and the University of Alberta Extension Department in Drawing, Perspective, Painting, Print Making, Graphics and Pottery. She studied specialized workshops with noted artist such as Shadbolt, Leroy Stevenson, J.A.S. McDonald, Jock De Tonnacour, Alex Colville, and Walter Hooke.

Exhibitions of Anr Desiree Burford’s Paintings

Artist Exhibitions – One Woman Show – Two Small Rooms, Hilton International Courtyard Café, Graphica, and Opperthauser House. Her works have been shown at the Edmonton Art Gallery (Art Gallery of Alberta), Downstairs Gallery, Jacox Gallery, Timberline Gallery, Gulf Gallery, Canadiana and the Muttart Art Gallery – many Duo and Group Show. Desiree & Della in 1991 -Duo show – Centennial Library for the Celebration of the Environment. Travelled extensively painting : Canada, Arizona, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Portugal, England and Japan.

Desiree had a flamboyant style to her personality and art. Because of her positive and life affirming attitude towards life she was able to qualify for a new program at the Cross Cancer Center which was for liver cancer and it which extended her life for a decade. In her generous way and with gratitude she filled the Cross Cancer Center with her paintings for all to enjoy.

Organization and Associations Anr Desiree Burford was part of : Life Member of the Alberta Society of Artist.
Member of the Celebration of Women in the Arts.
Past Chair of the Edmonton Branch of the Federation of Canadian Artist 1985 – 86.

Desiree Produced / Directed Live Shows “A Hundred Years of Fashions” from her own collection of authentic and collectable clothes which at the time was said to be the “largest private collection in Canada“. Part was purchased by the Provincial Museum in 1970 which is now the Royal Albert Museum.

Desiree Hosted and Produced the Television Program “Collectors Items” for C.F.R.N. – 62 ½ hours of Programs. Desiree owned and operated Fireside Antiques from 1968 – 1980.

Desiree had a love of snow and ice. Della and Desiree painted outside even in the winter with the ice crystal around. This gave inspiration for both fairy tale like environments and also space like revelations. A quote by Buckminster Fuller rang true to both of them – “You do not belong to you – you belong to the universe”.

Links: Anr Desiree had a exhibiton with Della Burford at the Centennial Library when Della’s book Magical Earth Secrets was performed by the Maria Formolo Dance Company. Many of the Celestial Crystal painting and painting from the Picture Magical Earth Secrets book were shown.

Some of Desiree’s favourite shows:
Views from Alberta – 1991 Muttart Art Gallery
Celebration of Women in the Arts Celebration of Women in the Arts“
Federation of Canadian Artists. https://annesleystudio.com/blog/2021/4/21/federation-of-canadian-artists-its-a-long-storyAnnesleyStudio.com/blog

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