The painting starts long before the canvas comes out.聽
First Jenna Robinson finds her viewpoint. Having lived in Squamish for seven years, she鈥檚 got a few of these nailed down 鈥� streets, dead ends or pathways that at some point give way to an awe-inspiring glimpse of a snow-capped mountain.聽
And then comes the waiting game. This part of the process can take years. Robinson鈥檚 calendar is marked with days in which the sun will be at the right spot to hit a certain feature on a mountain 鈥� the badge on the Stawamus Chief, the northeast side of Alpha. Armed with a camera, she heads out to capture the moments when the mountains seemingly breathe, full of life, as beams hit their rocky ridges and mystery wraps around them in a cloak of cloud.聽
鈥淚 have a list of places,鈥� Robison says while seated at an easel in her parents鈥� house in the Garibaldi Highlands. 鈥淚 paint a lot of local mountains mostly because other mountains are beautiful, but there is no personal connection.鈥�
The 27-year-old grew up around mountains 鈥� big mountains. She lived with her parents and younger brother in the wilderness 20 minutes outside of Golden. Her parents are avid climbers and skiers and both activities became part of her life. But climbing is 鈥渉er鈥� sport, Robinson says, noting many days, she can be found at the new climbing gym, Ground Up.聽
Her family left Golden when Robinson was 14 years old. They spent a little bit of time in Calgary before moving to North Vancouver. Twelve years ago, Robinson鈥檚 parents moved to Squamish and Robinson later followed them.聽
鈥淚t took a while to get inspired here [in Squamish],鈥� Robinson admits. 鈥淎t first I thought, 鈥榃hat mountains? These are hills.鈥欌��
That sentiment changed. Today the self-taught artist鈥檚 work has taken over the walls of her parents鈥� house. Acrylic paintings of Mount Garibaldi, the Tantalus range and the view of the Stawamus Chief hang around the sitting room.
鈥淚 was always inspired by being in the outside. It was definitely a part of my parent鈥檚 values. It just turned into my value as well and I think painting was just the next step to appreciating it,鈥� Robinson says.聽
Robinson鈥檚 uncle, Dunkin Bancroft, who also loved the outdoors, took many photographs featuring reflections. It wasn鈥檛 until he recently died that Robinson realized much of her work prominently features water and reflections.聽
鈥淚t must have come from him,鈥� she says. 鈥淥bviously he inspired me in some unconscious way.鈥�
Robinson says the logical side of her brain wrestled with the idea of going to university for art. Instead she opted for history, she notes with a laugh, adding it was likely less useful in terms of getting a job. She has just completed her teaching certification. Robinson hopes to combine her passion for art with her new career and work as an art teacher.聽
鈥淚 discovered I liked working with kids as I got older and became less of a kid myself,鈥� she says.聽
Robinson is painting up a storm in preparation for her third solo show. On August 6, her work will be on display at the Squamish Academy of Music. She is also planning to have pieces in a Foyer Gallery exhibit in November.聽
When she鈥檚 not getting ready for an art show, she鈥檒l likely be climbing or seeking out new viewpoints of Squamish鈥檚 local mountains.聽
鈥淚 would climb five days a week, if I could,鈥� she says.聽
