exhibition nov 4
We are very excited to announce our first exhibition since 2019. I have been busy! The past few years have been quite a journey for everyone. Myself included.
During winter 2020, an opportunity was presented through the pandemic, allowing me to challenge myself. My goal was to create 25 small landscapes (oil on canvas 8"x12") from Fish Creek Provincial Park, very near where my family and I lived. We would bundle up and hike in the snow around Fish Creek each day. At night I would work on these small canvasses.
The latter series, 'Yellow' are an extension of that initial artistic challenge. I enjoyed painting scenes of Fish Creek Provincial Park so much, I decided to revisit the Fish Creek vistas again. Fish Creek Provincial Park is a huge piece of my family's story in Calgary. Rarely a day would pass when we were not walking or cycling the trails and discovering and exploring back trails. For this series, I focused on capturing the autumn glory of Fish Creeks landscape. Anyone who lives in Calgary knows that the beautiful golden shades of yellow that kisses the leaves, does not linger long. The wind from the Rockies normally bids the foliage farewell in one day. I needed to act quickly. One incredible Sunday morning, Holly dropped me off at one end of the park where I proceeded to snap photos through to the other side. I used these photos as reference for the new Fish Creek series in the studio.
The series, 'Yellow' is just one part this exhibition.
I have also inserted various paintings completed over the past few years.
During winter 2020, an opportunity was presented through the pandemic, allowing me to challenge myself. My goal was to create 25 small landscapes (oil on canvas 8"x12") from Fish Creek Provincial Park, very near where my family and I lived. We would bundle up and hike in the snow around Fish Creek each day. At night I would work on these small canvasses.
The latter series, 'Yellow' are an extension of that initial artistic challenge. I enjoyed painting scenes of Fish Creek Provincial Park so much, I decided to revisit the Fish Creek vistas again. Fish Creek Provincial Park is a huge piece of my family's story in Calgary. Rarely a day would pass when we were not walking or cycling the trails and discovering and exploring back trails. For this series, I focused on capturing the autumn glory of Fish Creeks landscape. Anyone who lives in Calgary knows that the beautiful golden shades of yellow that kisses the leaves, does not linger long. The wind from the Rockies normally bids the foliage farewell in one day. I needed to act quickly. One incredible Sunday morning, Holly dropped me off at one end of the park where I proceeded to snap photos through to the other side. I used these photos as reference for the new Fish Creek series in the studio.
The series, 'Yellow' is just one part this exhibition.
I have also inserted various paintings completed over the past few years.
pallet
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What I have enjoyed so much about this new series, 'Yellow' has been honouring the beauty and symbolism the many shades bring to the viewer. It is not an easy colour to work with because if used incorrectly, it has the ability to overpower the artwork. The more I worked with yellow, the more boldly I decided to paint. My intent was to surrender to the creative process and allow the image to be revealed. Cadmium yellow dominates the general palette of the collection, and is made stronger and conveys even more boldness and movement with the addition of Prussian blue, it's complement.
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inspiration
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A visit to Paris was influential in reevaluating my creative process. A trip to connect with Holly's dear friend, Naz, brought us to Giverny, and any art nerd will know that this was the home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. He created his iconic water lily paintings that are known for the reflection of light and use of color, that appears to dance and portray an abstract element in the natural environment. As we explored Giverny, especially the water lily pond, so much about Monet's process became clearer to me, especially regarding water, sky and reflections. Taking inspiration from Monet, I focused on painting reflections looking down rather than up, and altering the viewing perspective, and my own personal perspective.
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influences
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This exhibition also includes a number of pieces I began in France. Each summer, I bring a roll of prepared canvas to record the landscape and architecture of and in the area surrounding our beloved little French village of Pezenas, located in the Languedoc. When the summer is over, paintings follow me home to Calgary where I continue working on them. My process is essentially the same as in the Canadian Rockies. I paint en plein aire (out-doors on site) in the elements. Some of my biggest influences like Paul Cézanne, Vincent Van Gogh and countless others famously worked in the South of France and I can't help to feel like their spirits are present there with me. I am not painting to re-create or imitate anything that has already been done, but rather have awareness of my influences journeys and explorations. My work comes from the sum of my own creative experiences and discoveries over my life.
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