Lynn Webster's oil painting exhibition is a delightful medley of images rejoicing in rich colour, magical shapes, and the enchantment of nature.
Webster's style of painting ponders the general tone and effect produced by a subject, without elaborate detail. She says, "I consider myself to be an impressionist. It is my feeling and sense of the essence or core of the subject I am trying to get to and portray - not the 'realist' or photographic property of it."
It is obvious that Webster is fond of deep colour, specifically in nature. She attests to spending a lot of time in the great outdoors. "I love the peace and tranquility of gardening, and watching my garden evolve within the seasons, and over the years. I also love the mountains, spending a lot of time hiking both locally and in the Rockies, etc."
Webster grew up in the Okanagan where the winters were very snowy, hence her passion for cross-country and previously backcountry skiing. She also discovered that cycling is great way to appreciate beauty in the environment, catching scenes and nuances of light to portray in her paintings.
Webster's compositions explore colour, and she works at verifying rhythms and patterns of line and shape in her subject matter. On juxtapositions, she explains, "I like to show the movement in nature - the strength of trees, the undulations of hillsides and mountains, the softness of colour in the distance contrasting with the strength and depth of the foreground and so forth."
Webster's goal is to keep creating and learning by sketching, painting, attending art classes and workshops on an exploration of growth wherever her journey takes her. She can be reached at [email protected] or (604) 925-4214. (She suggests that it is nice talk!)
Mark Mentiply's handcrafted metal art sculptures fill the display cases with stylish fish, birds and bears - his favourite animal subjects. An intricate yet menacing bird of prey stands perched on a base of driftwood, along with sockeye salmon mounted on river rocks or chunks of basalt quarried locally. Shown in this lively exhibit, Mentiply describes, "My process is to cut, polish and then heat-treat the steel to create one-of-a-kind pieces. They are clear coated but are primarily for indoor use unless requested for outdoor use, which then a special marine coating for steel is applied."
What started as metal end cuts is transformed into incredible creatures of shiny or brushed textures, highlighted with lustrous colours of blues and purples. Rolling salmon, fluttering butterflies, birds, weathervanes and witty garden "fish sticks" are all part of Mentiply's typical repertoire.
So how did Mentiply's art get started? You might remember 21 Jump Street, a TV series starring a young Johnny Depp filmed in Vancouver in the late '80s. This is how Mentiply was first drawn into the film industry as a "stand-in" performer. From there he went on to become a commercial fisherman and then tried his hand as a stuntman actor, a voice-over performer, a foley artist and then settled on special effects, which is when he became a certified welder.
Mentiply's welding ticket started his artist journey of working with steel and for the past 15 years he has been creating and selling his unique metal sculptures both locally and internationally.
Mentiply, the art sculptor and avid fisherman, continually showcases his passion and love of that "catch and release" sport as a strong supporter of salmon enhancement. He creates "fish" trophies and welcomes commissioned pieces such as twisted metal rails, security art window bars and candelabras.
To contact Mentiply, email [email protected].
Lynn Webster's "Colours of Nature" and Mark Mentiply's "Go West" are on display at the Foyer Gallery at the Squamish Public Library through to Dec. 5.
Toby Jaxon is curator of the Squamish Library Foyer Gallery. She can be reached at (604) 898-1895 or [email protected]
