Andrea Mulder-Slater

In addition to painting the land and sea in waterco lor , oil and acrylic, I also create abstract colorfields, coffeecolors, mixed media paintings, pottery and floorcloths. I received my Fine Arts Diploma from Georgian College and did my BFA coursework at Thompson Rivers University. Below is a snapshot of the kind of work I do including abstracts, coffee paintings (they are PAINTED WITH COFFEE), and seascapes (both in watercolour and acrylic) I welcome commissions at: andrea[at]mulderslater[dot]com      

By Andrea Mulder-Slater I was born with a full head of hair. I’m talking about the kind of tufts that would look right at home in an advertisement for baby hair gel... if babies used hair gel. Looking back, it’s entirely possible my penchant for hair product first began when – as a toddler – I styled my locks with oatmeal. By the time I could ride a bike, the only way to contain my mop was a tidy, at-home-mullet, courtesy of mom. Fortunately, as a kid, I had no real concept of what it meant to look good. In fact, rummaging through old family photographs, one might assume I grew up in a house without mirrors. Or reflective surfaces of any kind.

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Minimalism is hard. And yet, it’s all the rage. I mean, everybody’s either doing it, or thinking about doing it. This includes dyed-in-the-wool hoarders, forward-thinking hamsters, and anyone who lives in a tiny house. Even I’ve ( almost) embraced the trend. For example, I know people who have watched Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things on Netflix and I own The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up . I’ve also held all of my belongings and waited for them to bring me joy. (And let me just say, Marie Kondo, that’s a lot of pressure to put on a pair of 99 cent socks rescued from the depths of the last chance sale bin at Old Navy.)

by Andrea Mulder-Slater Every once in a while, I lose my mind. And then, I buy glitter. I never know what will trigger the purchase. Sometimes it’s hearing a Depeche Mode song at the grocery store while I’m picking up string cheese. Other times it’s the absence of coffee cream in my refrigerator. Mostly, it’s nostalgia - or amnesia - brought on by lack of sleep. And Pinterest.

by Andrea Mulder-Slater A few summers ago, my 90-year-old neighbour was over for a visit when she spotted a list I had left on the table. “You are far less reserved than you appear,” she said. “I can see it in your handwriting.” Find out exactly how I feel about cursive in the classroom, by reading an article I wrote for CBC. Read it here...

by Andrea Mulder-Slater I grew up in the 1990s. Ok, I also grew up in the 1980s. The thing is — when I was a kid in the 1970s, money was tight and we didn't have a ton of extra cash available for buying store-bought treats. Cakes were reserved for birthdays (and were always homemade), ice cream was a once or twice a year delicacy and the closest I came to Popsicles were the delicious frozen chunks of apple juice nestled in our ice cube trays.

by Andrea Mulder-Slater I’m an oatmeal girl. I start my days filling up on a bowl full of hot steel cut oats, flavoured with a touch of salt and butter. Sometimes I get wild and crazy and throw on a drizzle of honey, a handful of raisins and a few almonds. My daughter – on the other hand – is not an oatmeal girl. At least, she isn’t one anymore. As a baby she gobbled up the stuff, but that was before she discovered she had options. And while her breakfasts today are nutritious (fruit, vegetables, yogurt, cheese), I’ve always hoped that her love of oatmeal would return. Here’s why…

*Warning: Contains Graphic (Dirty Bathroom) Images by Andrea Mulder-Slater I was over for coffee at my friend’s house on the weekend when another friend dropped in. And because all three of us have kids under seven, the discussion quickly turned to the merits of baking soda. “It’ll take that craft paint right off your window.” “It worked wonders on the bathtub after pink dye leaked out of a piece of fun foam.” “Baking soda is great, but it has nothing on vinegar.” And with that, Rachel proceeded to tell us about a magical vinegar-based Pinterest potion she uses to rid her bathtub of soap scum.