The Purgatory of My Art

Technically, my paintings don't go through any sort of holy judgement, but they do graduate to different spots in my house until they are either exhibited, brought to storage, rolled up, or painted over (sigh).

This is my latest art nook.

Half the time it takes to finish a piece is used painting, and the other half is spent looking. Natural light isn't very good for the pigment, but I can see the painting from the kitchen to allow double tasking. Drink a coffee and "work," ie. stare blankly at a canvas.

This morning, reflecting on the symbols referenced in the art, I realized my friend Rosa Quintana has been working on some paintings that directly discuss the use of birds in classical art. Sometimes you don't realize the connections being made in your unconscious brain until it is literally staring you in the face...

Her work can be seen here!

Painting: the Dreamer

The Dreamer, Oil on canvas, 36"x48"

Affectionately known as "Venus de Michael" in the studio.

My word of the day is contrapposto. It is used in the fine arts to describe the pose where all of the figure's weight is shifted onto one foot, so the shoulders twist opposite to the hips. Kind of like Venus in Botticelli's The Birth of Venus whose pose, by the way, looks remarkably like the Dreamer...

Mushroom Path

Brimming with mushrooms is the Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, Qualicum Bay. Worth the visit!

Painting: Vita Similis Umbrae

Vita Similis Umbrae (Life is like a Shadow)

Oil on Canvas

36"x36"

Painting: Fair or Fowl

Fair or Fowl

Oil on Canvas

28"x28"

Painting: Paris Saw Me Naked

Paris Saw Me Naked

36"x36" 

Oil on Canvas

Painting: The Old Ranger Station

A little tribute to my year living in the Old Ranger Station. 
http://kentharrisonartscouncil.com/

Oil on canvas, 36" x 36"

Painting: Flowers, Flowers, Fruit

Here's one of the first paintings completed in the new studio,

Flowers, Flowers, Fruit, 36"x36" oil on canvas

For a bit of a description, this painting was started with an interest in Moorcroft pottery, thinking of art in terms of function and decoration. Moorcroft (British, 1900's) produced a variety of hand-painted tableware items with art nouveau influences. Moorcroft's son eventually took over the business and the company's pottery started leaning toward the more simpler style of his time. They became high-end gift ware and collectors items.  The overlapping fruit and flowers in the piece are based on classical still-lives in the Rijks Museum.

Fun fact: Moorcroft had a "Florian Ware" line, which happens to be my brother's name.  See image below.

Step over to Victoria, British Columbia

After the artist residency ended in Harrison Hot Springs, I packed a truck (or three) and headed to Victoria! It has been fun moving into another space, and finding all sorts of useless and useful junk I hid away the previous years. It's already apparent that this is a city appreciative of the arts.

The cats have been keeping me company, the paint fumes are strong as ever. Stay posted.

TREES AND BRAMBLE: Annual Artist in Residence Exhibition

TREES AND BRAMBLE

By 2013-2014 Artist in Residence, ANOUK JONKER

June 1 - 30, 2014

Ranger Station Art Gallery

Trees and Bramble: Exhibition Reception and Open Studio

On June 1, 2014, we had an opening reception for my solo exhibition, TREES AND BRAMBLE, at the Ranger Station Art Gallery. It was a beautiful day in Harrison, and lots of friends, family, and locals came by to say hello! 

The exhibition will be up until the end of June. More photos of the exhibition coming soon.

More pictures can be seen here on the Kent Harrison Arts Council Facebook page.