Aerial View

Richmond Art Gallery recently had its fundraiser "Mirror, Mirror II" which is a silent auction of member's works. The theme this year was "Little Landscapes and Miniature Worlds" - with no size limit. Interpretation was left to the artists. As I had traveled over to Victoria on a day trip on a float plane, I had some interesting photo references looking down on the Gulf Islands. To me, it looks like looking at a model railway set-up. You see the trees from a different angle. Rocks that form a beach are visible underwater for an extended distance. The whole landscape looks Lilliputian. So, that became my inspiration for "Aerial View, Gulf Island". And, happily, it was purchased. An artist friend has suggested I do a series - so that is something else to think about.

Artist's Statement

"Portraits of Local Artists" is over now, but I thought I would post my artist's statement from the show. (Guess who forgot to keep a copy before?)

I decided to paint portraits of Richmond artists when I was delivering flyers about Artists Among Us. One person said, "Who is an artists around *here*?" I thought then of all the really good artists who often aren't recognized in their hometowns. For starters, we have a marine artist who is known worldwide, a sculptor who sells in New York and painters selling in Vancouver, back East and in the U.S.

To increase awareness of local talent, I decided to do portraits that would indicate the type of work of each artist. The style of the portraits would be simplified for three reasons. One- the show would have unity in spite of varied backgrounds. Two- I could work from a drawing from life and not take too much time from artists who would rather be working on their own works. Three- the style conveys a "Time magazine famous persons profile" and creates a moment in the spotlight effect.

I wanted each painting to be like a billboard for the artists and the cumulative effect to show the wide variety of talent right here in Richmond. Of course, this is really just the tip of the iceberg as 20 artists are only a fraction of the total number of artists in the community. I'd like people to think about buying real art and supporting living artists. For a modest price, people can have one-of-a-kind art instead of mass-produced reproductions. They can choose a piece with personal appeal. No one can promise escalating values in the future, but if a person loves the artwork now, then in ten years they will still love it and have had ten years of enjoyment.

There is often the tendency to feel "real" art must be imported but we need to realize the value of local artists. in 1893, John H. Twachtman spoke to a class graduating from an American art academy and said, "Some day some of you will become painters, a few of you will do distinguished work, and then the American public will turn you down for second and third rate French painters." I would hope that in 2007, people would think for themselves and discover the talents of Richmond artists.

Loraine Wellman

Waiting...

This 20" x 16" painting is being used on the poster and catalog for this year's Artists for Animals silent auction fundraiser. And, yes, you can bid on the actual painting when the advance viewing for the fundraiser opens October 22 at Autumn Brook Gallery.
The bidding for both the silent auction and a live auction - paintings ,yes, but also sculpture and other fine art - is on Sunday, October 28th. It all starts at 5:oo pm with the live auction at 7:oo pm. There will be refreshments so it all makes for a good evening raising funds to pay veterinarian and medical expenses for animals in crisis. This event is organized by the Kensington Foundation. You can read about how they got their name on their website.
Autumn Brook Gallery is located at 1545 W. 4th Avenue in Vancouver.
I was pleased to have my painting selected for the poster and catalog and to be part of this worthwhile endeavour. The painting is called "Waiting" - and whether the cat is going in or coming out is up to the purchaser to decided. Maybe, in the meantime, the cat is waiting for attention to this good cause!

Portraits of Local Artists

My major work, this past year, has been creating portraits of local artists with the backgrounds showing something representative of their work. Today, the show has been hung in Richmond City Hall, where is will hang through October 29th, 2007. It is always exciting to see one's work spread out in a larger space. The paintings represent artists who work in a variety of media and style - as a sort of "tip of the iceberg" of what is available out there. I'm hoping that the exhibition will help make people aware that there is a lot of good work being produced by contemporary artists at really affordable prices.Wouldn't it be nice to have offices and businesses displaying work by local artists?
Also, all those eyes looking at the local politicians are asking for recognition and hoping that the Art Gallery can be funded to stay open in evening hours!

New Painting

This is the artist statement from the exhibition:
My painting is called "Enduring" because it is about something that has lasted, rather than changed. The Japanese words for "Murakami", "garden". "enduring" and "living history" are carved into the textured fence while English written words are hidden throughout the painting. I have painted this garden before because it is an expression of a free-spirited woman making her statement. I thought a re-interpretation would show that some things continue on. I wanted to celebrate a piece of living history that continues while change occurs around it.

"Enduring"

The current show in Richmond Art Gallery is called "Changing City" and is a juried show. It replaces the former "Artists Among Us" as well as the user-group shows.I decided to focus on something enduring, rather than what was being changed. My painting is about the Murakami Garden by Britannia Heritage Shipyard. It was created by a Japanese immigrant woman, an independent spirit. Instead of something confined and rigidly organized, this garden is a riot of colour and plants. I wanted the painting to go beyond the visual impact of the flowers, so I incorporated the Japanese words for "enduring", "Murakami", "living history", and "garden" by carving them into the raised texture of the fence posts. Then I also wrote English words into the foliage. It was an interesting challenge and the painting was accepted into the show.

Next, after the show ends on July 6th, there will be Open Studios for the artists in the show who indicated that they were interested in having them. This is a chance for people to visit where the artist works, see their set-up, and also see other paintings.The Open Studios are on July 7th and July 8th from Noon to 4 p.m. each day.I will be participating - and hoping that people will come to see my work.

I was reading about the painter Duccio di Buoninsegna who worked on an altarpiece for the Siena cathedral between 1308 and 1311. I was interested to read about the civic enthusiasm for his work. Completed on June 9, 1311, the altarpiece was carried through the streets in triumph from Duccio's workshop to the cathedral and was cause for a citywide celebration.
A contemporary account tells us: "On the day when it was brought to the cathedral, the shops were shut and the Bishop decreed a solemn procession of a large and devout company of priests and friars, accompanied by the nine Signori and by all the officers of the Commune and all the populace; and one by one all the most worthy persons approached the picture with lighted candles in their hands and behind them the women and children in devout attitudes. And they accompanied the said picture to the cathedral, marching in procession round the Campo, as is the custom, while the bells sounded the Gloria, in homage to so noble a painting as this is. And they remained all day praying and gave many alms to poor persons praying to God and to his Mother, who is our patroness and with her infinite mercy defends us from every adversity and evil and preserves us from the hands of traitors and enemies of Siena."
-wow! now *there* was a celebration of art!
I'm hoping local artists will be more celebrated when I finish the portrait series and they are shown in City Hall. There is a lot of talent out there- but I'm not expecting a Duccio-style procession!

Seventh Annual Art About Finn Slough Show

This weekend, March 9th to March 11th is the Art About Finn Slough Show in the Lecture Hall, Richmond Cultural Centre - 7700 Minoru Blvd. Viewing is Friday March 9th from !0 am to 9 pm., Saturday March 10th from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday March 11th from 10 to 3 pm. There will be a celebration on Friday evening from 7-9pm. Please feel welcome to come. A special treat this year will be BC writer Daphne Marlatt who will read at 7pm. I have three smaller paintings in the show this year- and there looked to be lots of other paintings, photographs and Finn Slough information to see. Drop in to have a look. It is always fun to participate in this show.

"Which Picasso"

I'm working on my series of portrait paintings of Richmond artists which will be shown in Richmond City Hall in September/October. In the process, I often see the artist's studio and their work both past and present. It is interesting to see how styles change and how the artist has gone through various stages. These changes of styles are also noted in renowned artists and we see an artist such as Picasso going through changes so distinct that each has been endowed with a name of its own- such as the Blue period or the Classical period. I have been going through old issues of Horizon magazine and, in an article about Picasso, the author, Alfred Frankfurter, states "In a remark that may be apocryphal yet remains sympathetic, Picasso is said to have answered someone's criticism, "I don't like Picasso," with the response, "Which Picasso?"
Most serious artists do move through various "periods" as life and experience change them. I'm continuing my fruit and veggie series for now (remember, I didn't get enough cherries so that some survived to be painted!) but the portraits are different again. One of the "Fruit Period" paintings - if it may be given such a grand title- is showing from February 20 to March 9 at the Federation Gallery on Granville Island. Look for "Black Friars".
-and- if you have time for an interesting video of a talk on creativity- go to:
www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=ken_robinson&gclid=cJjqh

New Year and New Galleries

I've been waiting to make a new post - thinking to come up with a profound statement to start a new year - but no profound thoughts have occurred. So, I'll just comment on the new galleries. The Fruits and Veggies are part of a series of small paintings. Almost all have metallic paint backgrounds. There are actually more- about seventeen varieties of apples so far. Each seems to have its own personality. I still haven't found a Gravenstein or a Northern Spy- and a few other varieties I know exist. I haven't done tomatoes yet. White onions and red onions - but not yellow ones yet. Somehow, cherry season came and went without cherries making it to canvas. So, maybe there is a New Year's Resolution after all-" buy enough cherries that they all don't get eaten immediately!" I can't promise you a whole bowl of cherries but maybe I'll paint at least three survivors.

Fruits & Veggies and Gallery 2006 now available!

Two new online galleries have been added:

- Fruits & Veggies (2006)
- Gallery 2006

You can also access the online galleries through the Gallery Teaser pictures, or clicking the 'Loraine's Digital Gallery' link below the Gallery Teaser.