Sophie Brunet presents paintings that evoke emotion and stimulate thought with a primary interest in portraiture and developing a mood. Her intent is to show us how people express themselves by the lines in their faces and a sparkle in their eyes, devices that link us in to the subject's inner souls. Brunet's goal is to accentuate the state of the individual, the part of him or herself that she/he wishes to see more of and remind the subject of her or his own personal journey and unique beauty.
Brunet is also inspired by places, especially when there is a mysterious element of the unknown lurking within. For this particular series, Brunet describes that some of these painting images came to her in meditation: "My creative inspiration began when I became more in touch with my own inner feminine. I painted the foot of a dancer and from that came the vision of a whole series that reflects the sacred feminine.
"A voyage I took to the land of my heritage, the island of Malta, has been a great influence in my latest work. The Goddess of Fertility was once worshipped there in the fabulous temples that date to 3000 小蓝视频; the oldest in the world, yet this information was not shared in their museums or exhibits. I want to bring the history of Malta and of the matriarchy to more public knowledge."
Brunet, who in the past had generally adopted an impressionistic style, feels that she is currently wandering slowly into a more visionary realm of art. Her creative process begins with loose sketches and ends with the thick texture of expressive palette knife strokes of colour educing mood and reaction.
Like many artists, Brunet's paintings have evolved to explore different themes but she admits that recently her work has become more personal.
"I have simply been playing with the fine arts realm in oil paint, and a very freely abandoned acrylic painting style which helps me to access my muse. It is from the latter place that I find my inspiration and will be teaching this method in the future," she says.
She is excitedly planning this new endeavour to instruct this loose acrylic process.
With her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Brunet practices as an art therapist, promoting enhanced creativity, self-discovery and a greater sense of community.
Enriched by her passions, Brunet dances and teaches "art and yoga" classes in Vancouver with a yoga teacher. You can contact her at www.sophiebrunet.com.
In the glass display cases, Effie Baker exhibits her unique handmade jewelry - unassuming and simply styled. Her contemporary and classic individually designed pendants, earrings and beautiful bracelets are generally inspired by the natural world but Baker also looks to other artists in other mediums for creative insight. On her process she describes, "the materials I use often dictate what I do with them. For example, the shape of a pebble inspires what is done to it to maximize its beauty or a colour will start my inspirational wheels turning."
Baker doesn't limit her resources. She uses a variety of materials and methods to create each quality piece. One necklace might include a combination of a drilled pebble, a spiral of forged metal, a circle of hammered silver and a pierced sphere of coloured, moulded polymer clay with a suspended leaf-shaped cast relief.
Baker's pieces (which are constantly evolving as she acquires new skills) naturally emphasize the different components. "I find that natural elements almost always fit together. I love the contrast of silver with rock, smooth with texture, leather with pearl etc.," she says.
Baker resides in the beautiful Paradise Valley and recently started her jewelry business out of her cabin in the woods after taking fine arts courses in Vancouver, focusing on metalsmithing as her artistic outlet.
A bubbly blonde and former river guide, Baker loves summer and being outside surrounded by water, mountains and pebbly beaches. For more of her work, see her Facebook page, Effie Baker Designs.
Brunet's and Baker's work is on display in the Library Foyer Gallery through March 26. You are invited to Sophie Brunet's opening reception on Monday, March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Hope to see you there.
Toby Jaxon is curator of the Library Foyer Gallery. She can be reached at [email protected]
