Adoring artist Michiko Splinter creates oil paintings that are sometimes surreal and moody but always bursting with her preferred use of vivid, saturated colour with a folk-art flare. The series now on display at the Foyer Gallery entitled Squamish鈥檚 Bounty inundates the viewer with images inspired by twisting foliage, glowing mountain vistas and scenes along the Panorama Trail atop the Sea to Sky Gondola.听
Like many painters, Splinter鈥檚 practice begins by covering the primed canvas with a layer of coloured underpainting in a typical medium to light tone, but Splinter does something very unusual by flooding her canvas in a very dark Prussian blue. Conversely, this intense background allows her to see the light of the image of what she wants to paint.
鈥淚 think that I focus more on the translation between what I feel and what I see. I don鈥檛 paint things exactly as they are, but you can tell what I meant,鈥� says Splinter.听
Her creative activity mixes exercise with nature. 鈥淚 walk for an hour and half almost every day. I enjoy watching trees, mountains and rivers and notice any small changes on my routine route,鈥� she says.听
For reference, Splinter takes many photos of scenes she finds beautiful and interesting. She is self-taught and says that she is not a fast painter and doesn鈥檛 like to paint outside due to the uncontrollable environment.
Splinter moved to Squamish 11 years ago from Japan. She says, 鈥淚 would like to keep painting the nature around here because I love it. I believe that practice makes almost perfect. I find myself improving, and I鈥檒l never get tired of my love of oil painting.鈥�
听
The Magic of Tuscany
听Also at the Foyer Gallery this month, traveller and photographer Elizabeth Kerr showcases The Magic of Tuscany in her latest series of innovative images. She is driven by a passion for discovering the relationship and influence of history, architecture, landscapes, shapes and shadows and their impact on photographic art.
鈥淭he creative process begins with an appreciation of something unique, beautiful, startling or thought-provoking,鈥� says Kerr, who tries to capture the quality in an arresting manner. The results are intriguing, clever compositions of ancient stone patterns creating textures, soft and subtle adjacent colours and atmospheric rolling hills.
鈥淧hotography is an ideal medium for the juxtaposition of contrasts, colours, textures and forms. Black and white emphasizes shape and contrasts. Colour strongly affects mood 鈥� cool blue, warm red 鈥� while sepia projects age and history,鈥� says Kerr, who is constantly learning and striving for new avenues of expression and emotion. She is starting to use digital enhancing to influence the emphasis of contrast, composition and perception.听
Other than photography, her other passions include languages 鈥� notably Italian at the moment 鈥� as well as reading literature and spending time with her family.
听Leather and silver
In the cases this month, Danelle Rees presents her line of Halabay Design, an array of handmade leather and silver accessories, primarily leather bracelets and rings with sterling silver accents.听
A Squamish resident and mother of two young children, Rees is living a life of love and design, full of organized chaos. Surrounded by mountains and right next to the ocean, Rees says, 鈥淭his amazing town has renewed my sense of community and family. It has taught me to slow down and cherish the small things in life. I have always had a passion for design. I took the plunge and quit my professional job to design jewelry.鈥澨�
Rees won鈥檛 deny that it was, and is, scary and exciting at the same time and that she is constantly learning and growing. Through the journey, she appreciates the support of the community and looks forward to meeting more people at the local markets.
听
Editor鈥檚 note: Toby Jaxon is curator of the Foyer Gallery at Squamish Public Library.
