Liana Sodonis literally goes with the flow. Always an artist, about five years ago she discovered a new medium that is perfect for her. In addition to her nature-themed acrylic paintings, she began creating functional kitchen accessories that pair beautifully grained wood with flowing epoxy ornamentation — embellishing serving trays, coasters, and recently, stunning tables. Her woodworking and resin pieces elevate a cheese and crackers appetizer to new heights.
Her love of nature is apparent in every piece. Many of her coasters and trays take full advantage of the flow of her medium — her oceanic themes capture the colours and frothing of the water perfectly. Her paintings reflect her idyllic environment, nestled in the country at the edge of a very secluded and private lake about an hour from Almonte.
Ten years ago her mother and father, Taina and Frank, rebuilt the family’s summer cottage and created a lovely retirement home that their daughter is now repurposing to include an art studio named Stationhouse Studio. Their goal is to have the new studio open next summer.
In the process, Liana’s mother Taina has also satisfied a lifelong ambition to be an artist. A few years ago she was admiring a neighbour’s mosaic glass art, and her son signed her up to learn how to create stained glass pieces. It was an instant love affair. Like her daughter, Taina’s works reflect her love of nature. A loon on the lake, a sunset over the lake, a cardinal on the wing — her pieces celebrate the beauty and healing properties of immersing oneself in nature. I was impressed to learn that Taina also frequently swims three kilometres with her husband to keep in shape.
Doing What Comes Naturally
This mother/daughter artistic duo exemplify the concept of synergy — the idea that two people working together produce a better overall result than either could achieve alone. In this case, two talented women, each pursuing her own artistic calling, benefit from each other’s endless energy, enthusiasm and encouragement. Every mother and daughter should be so lucky as to have a supportive relationship like theirs.
Taina has encouraged her daughter’s artistic proclivities since her youth, intuitively recognizing the healing power of the arts. Liana suffered several traumatic concussions as a teen and into early adulthood, and has been diagnosed on the ADHD spectrum. She also suffers from PTSD resulting from several traumatic incidents in her twenties.
That is why she started painting. As I recently confirmed from reading Art Cure — The Science of How the Arts Save Lives by Daisy Fancourt, there is a burgeoning field of scientific research supporting what so many artists have experienced: “… engaging in the arts has remarkable effects on our health and well-being.”
This mother-daughter team provides powerful evidence of exactly that with their enthusiastic descriptions of how much they enjoy and benefit from their individual artistic pursuits. Like many of the more than 300 artists I have interviewed, Liana and Taina “go in the flow” the minute they enter their respective studios. Much to my surprise, Taina confesses to having TV murder mysteries playing in the background while creating her beatific stained-glass pieces. It helps to camouflage the noise emanating next door from her daughter’s rigorous sanding of the beautifully grained wood she selects as the base for each piece.
Both create art that celebrates their deep appreciation for the natural world. Liana’s response to my question of Why? she creates her art is deeply moving: “My art grew out of healing — a way to turn the beauty I see in nature into brightness I can share with others, the same way it helped bring me back to myself.” Taina’s response is equally heartfelt: “I make stained glass to bring my creativity to life.” In her case, she knew by grade eight that she wanted to be an artist, but practicality prevailed. First she worked as a cartographer creating maps, and then she took a job with Hallmark Cards in their graphics department, writing programs to generate gift wrap patterns. Then she became a fulltime wife and mom to three lucky children. From our brief acquaintance, I’m guessing her husband is lucky too.
They encouraged their daughter to pursue her love of art and design, and Liana studied Advertising and Marketing Communications Management at Algonquin College. She worked as a marketing assistant before embarking on her graphic design career, and did freelance work for Enbridge and various other clients. Recovering from a concussion, she traveled to Australia with friends. When she was introduced to woodworking, it was an instantaneous connection; she realized that working with her hands was therapeutic for her concussion symptoms. When Covid struck, she returned home and embarked on her career as a full-time artist, convincing her mother to embark on the journey with her. Stationhouse Studio is their work-in-progress result. The family also owns a small B&B adjacent to their home in Lanark Highlands, not far from Brightside.
Riverfront Artscape
Both Taina and Liana enjoy taking their respective artworks to various markets and art shows. On Saturday, Aug. 15th, they both are participating in the Carleton Place Riverfront Artscape from 10am to 5pm at the River Walkway beside the CP Gallery at 210 Bridge Street. Liana’s eye-catching woodworking and resin art also is available in Kanata at the gourmet foods and kitchen shop Grace in the Kitchen.
Liana’s website at stationhousestudio.ca is a prime example of her expertise in marketing and graphic design. She continues to do freelance graphic design for small local businesses — samples are available at portfolio.stationhousestudio.ca. And if you feel like a beautiful drive in the country, you can head out to Lanark Highlands and see where Liana selects much of her wood. Against the Grain Outdoors at 1338 French Line Road is the home of professional chainsaw carver Andrew Schouwstra. When I stopped in, Taina’s beautiful stained-glass cardinal was on display (Andrew’s eclectic pieces can be seen at againstthegrainoutdoors.com).
Check the back of Liana’s and Taina’s Artist Trading Card at the top of the page for further details. And wish them well in their exciting adventure to create an art destination at Stationhouse Studio!
