It鈥檚 all about the people. Expressionistic portrait artist Nalidsa Sukprasert pursues an emotional experience rather than physical reality in her first Canadian solo exhibition of Faces. Sukprasert uses primary colours of oils to emphasize the contrast between the study and background 鈥� cerulean blues diverge with bright orange faces or golden yellow hair 鈥� and create highlights and shadows on the faces to compose an eruption from the canvas.
Originally from Bangkok, Sukprasert embraces tempestuous Squamish weather, especially when it鈥檚 cold, rainy or windy. She admits, 鈥淭he weather affects many locals鈥� faces. They look chilly but they still smile and even laugh in the freezing weather.鈥�
Sukprasert starts her creative process with a sketchbook to collect fresh ideas and imagery when observing people in the moment. She believes that this is the initial key step towards producing a fine work of art. Then she moves to the canvas to start working in oil paints, using her preferred evolution of bold colours and palette knives, as well as her fingers, to create textures and depth and induce the energy of life into the people鈥檚 faces. Sukprasert says that portions of her recent painting have become more realistic but she鈥檚 still searching for a combined free style and to have fun creating art.
Sukprasert鈥檚 creative stimulation for this series is quite obviously people鈥檚 faces. 鈥淚 have travelled extensively and seen many different people鈥檚 features from different cultures, and the one thing I have observed is that human expressions 鈥� happiness, joy and sadness 鈥� are global. We are all the same. Many of these portraits are inspired by people I have met and some are derived from my own imagination of people who have influenced me or inspired me to show their expressions of life,鈥� she says.
Where is Sukprasert headed? 鈥淚 want to find more inspirations or new ideas by continuing to observe people around me or anywhere I travel. In my future work, I would like to create more freestyle shapes and colours and especially put much more imagination, the source of all that is unique, into my art.鈥�
With awards in national competitions and accolades in art competitions, Sukprasert has been creating works as a serious artist for 12 years and does portraits on commission. See her work at www.nalidsa.com.
In the cases and on the north wall, the 9th annual Fundraiser Exhibit is also on display this month, with more than 50 artworks donated by artists of the gallery. Come and feast your eyes on wonders of weaving, pottery, painting, photography, jewelry and sculpture. Sponsors will receive an invitation to the Foyer Gallery soiree, where names are entered into a draw for the pieces of handcrafted, original artwork. The artful samplings, valued at hundreds of dollars, are up for grabs at the annual fundraiser gala to be held May 4 at 6 p.m.
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Toby Jaxon is the curator at the Foyer Gallery at Squamish Public Library.
