For this Happy New Year, Michelle Henderson-Topp presents 鈥淢any Happy Things,鈥� mixed-media and acrylic paintings inspired by words or lyrics from a song, a verse from a poem or a common expressions. They鈥檙e stylized compositions in numerous layers of colourful and interesting combinations. Her pieces are energetic, curious and thought provoking鈥� and everything but boring. 听
鈥淎fter our son, Noah, was born, I struggled for years with secondary infertility. My sister is a psychic. One day she phoned me and said, 鈥榊ou are supposed to start painting.鈥� So, I did. I assumed I would get pregnant,鈥� says Topp, who at that time in 2000 had an artist neighbour that kick-started her creative experimentation by giving her some old frames. 鈥淚 stretched them with cotton that I had from some sewing projects and I used acrylic paints that were Noah鈥檚. That first painting was awful.鈥�
But that was just the beginning.
Back then, Topp would paint her canvases completely black and layer colours in a mostly self-taught folk art style. Then she was invited into a group show in Banff and happily things began to snowball.
Then about five years ago, Topp discovered a wonderful art teacher, Robert Burridge.
鈥淗e has helped me to be a better artist in terms of use of colour and composition. I had to say what my goal was last year at his workshop and it was a defining moment for me,鈥� says Topp, who at that point realized she did not want to paint any more safe or boring paintings. This transformation has taken her into the expanding world of collage and abstract paintings that more often incorporate messages in script.
Now Topp relishes her 鈥渆xperience鈥� in the studio as much as being an artist, and the end result of painting.
She says, 鈥淚 want to have fun. I want to keep trying new things. I want it to be a bit scary and exciting. I am learning to trust my instincts and my inspiration鈥� I like to be surprised by where I am going and stop in an interesting place.鈥�
Since her first group show, Topp has participated in many more, as well as 10 solo shows. Her artwork now hangs in homes around the world. She never did get pregnant but Noah turns 23 on Jan.23 this year.
Michelle Henderson-Topp recently moved to Squamish with her family and can be contacted at [email protected]听
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Joanne Lawrence exhibits a 鈥楪narly Tree鈥� oil painting, realism meets impression of an outstanding pine tree in the Rockies, partly inspired by her love of the Group of Seven.
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In the cases, avid skier and photographer Jules Stirling exhibits her series of winter wonders 鈥淥n the Lift,鈥� a collection of frosty photos seized from the slopes at Whistler. But this isn鈥檛 just your typical adventure photography 鈥� it鈥檚 imagery that is slightly blurred, abstracted or masked, and often referred to as what you would see while out skiing as your vision is obscured by icy goggles and the wild wind whipping flakes across your view.
Stirling鈥檚 studio process starts with slightly manipulating her shots to achieve a more conceptual emotion.
She then prints those initial images on photographic transparencies, which are transferred onto wood blocks. Through these means Stirling allows and encourages her still photographs to evolve with obscurity and imperfections creating a simulation of movement and reality. 听听听听听
For more information contact her at www.julesstirling.ca or 604-671-1294
Ring in this Happy New Year and meet the artists at their reception on Wednesday, Jan.7 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Toby Jaxon is curator at the Foyer Gallery.
