Artist Statement

Although I will always be painting to capture the lights, moods and depths of this beautiful coastal area we live in, in both acrylic, watercolour, and mixed media, this year I've also been having fun experimenting with different ways to portray the houses of the Townsite in a funky way.

My work is on display at Artique, on Alberni near Marine, the Tug-Guhm Gallery in Lund, and the Powell River Peak. It will also adorn the walls of Magpie's restaurant in mid-May and will be hanging at VIU with Lorna Downie's work in September.

Artist Statement

Printmaker, poet, papermaker, and book artist, Gina Page has spent most of her life on the BC Coast, a significant influence on her work. Gina studied printmaking at UBC and Emily Carr University Institute of Art + Design, and is an active studio member of Malaspina Printmakers Society on Granville Island. Her books of poetry are held in numerous public and university libraries in Canada and the United States. Her artist's books reflect a love of the natural world, as seen in images of and references to cherished plants and animals.

Artist Statement

I make one-of-a-kind, hand formed works in clay, which are raku or wood-fired. The raku pieces are burnished to create an inviting, smooth surface without glaze. Some of these are black and white shakers (rattles), jars and bowls with crackle patterns. Our wood-fired pottery is fired for up to 52 hours at a high temperature becoming coated with melted ash that creates lively and colourful surfaces.

We welcome you to visit our studio/gallery.

Open July and Aug Thu-Sat. 11-5 or "by chance" if you call ahead.

See Ron Robb for more creations by Rare Earth Pottery.

Artist Statement

Since 2009 we have been firing a large wood-fired kiln we built in Earl's Cove in collaboration with two other potters. Working in shifts, we fire continuously for 52 hours allowing ash from the fire to land and melt on the pots, forming glaze and adding interest to the surface. By our choice of kiln design, clay, glaze, shape, firing schedule, wood, and other variables, we attempt to provide the conditions for the fire to do something wonderful with the pots.

We welcome you to visit our studio/gallery.

Open July and Aug Thu-Sat. 11-5 or "by chance" if you call ahead.

See Jan Lovewell for more creations by Rare Earth Pottery.

About Fibre Space

Fibre Space @ VIU PR is a community engagement project, offered in partnership with VIU Powell River and School District 47, for the purpose of supporting the growing interest in local fibre and fashion, promoting natural sustainable fibre through art, advocacy and activism. Fibre Space will be host to a number of emerging, local fibre artists who will be displaying, demonstrating and showcasing their work through out the tour weekend.

Artist Statement

It has been said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but as a metal detectorist and mixed media artist, beauty is defined not by the aesthetics of a found object, but by it's history and the potential to breath new life into it.

I hope that when people wear my art they are drawn into the stories the piece might tell.

Artist Statement

"What does it feel like to live here?"

This question was the inspiration for the paintings and photographs that Rochelle is currently working on. Colourful, lively scenes that depict our unique coastline and our perfect small town.

Her work has been in included in gallery showings all over B.C. and Alberta. After moving to Powell River four years ago she is now enjoying the constant colour and natural beauty offered up by Mother Nature.

She hangs her work in The Dancing Tree Gallery and in her home studio, a 1930's renovation project she calls Ramble House Studio.

Artist Statement

My work in visual arts reflects the constant changes and experience in my personal life. I am guided by my feelings, thoughts, dreams and visions. While the sources of my inspiration are many, they include appreciation of and looking for traces of the people who came before along with clues about what they did there and why.

Journeys are an integral part of the inspirations. I am always intrigued by the human cultural elements and visual stimulation encountered. Every place and culture reveals its’ beauty to me in everyday life.

I like to use symbols in my art work and creating my personal iconography. The symbols are the clues to many aspects of my life, but my paintings usually start with a colour idea and than evolve into composition in which colour is the primary subject.

Artist Statement

Capturing nature's abundance through a few thousand strokes of a paint brush has led me into a deep passion for exploring an artist's journey. Three years in, the journey continues… sailing up the coast with a palette full of acrylics.

Artist Statement

Shelley Thomson, graphic designer and textile artist, has lived on the West Coast since 1990. In addition to graphic design work such as logos, signs, posters and murals, much of her art is portrayed on textiles. Pieces range from acrylic painting on hand-dyed canvas, batik and tie-dye, screen printing and devore. She also creates patterns and surface design for prints on yardage. Shelley takes artistic license creating winsome and colourful renditions of flowers, animals and scenery. Her home display at the 2018 artist studio tour will include wall hangings, t-towels, tablecloths, aprons and more.

Artist Statement

In my work I like to share the beauty of nature.

Artist Statement

Jo’s creations combine the natural elements of stone, glass, metal and pearls as representations of the calming, grounding and nurturing qualities of nature, enhanced with the ancient craftsmanship of glass. Over the years I have created natural stone and glass jewellery simply for the joy of creating.  I have experienced how working with these elements brings joy and harmony, healing and balance into my life.  My wish is to extend this joy to others.

Jo's JEMS can be purchased at Tug-Guhm Gallery in Lund; and at Paperworks in Powell RIver.

Artist Statement

Ursula Medley is a seasoned and prolific oil painter and art educator whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her subject matter is informed by the natural world and the environment around her.

Employing techniques she's developed for spontaneous on-location painting, her impressionist land and garden scapes come out of direct doing and seeing, with a consciousness of nature's rhythms.

Also available at her beach side garden studio at Lang Bay estuary are her one-of-a-kind wearable art fashion DaVinci Caps inspired by Renaissance flat caps worn by ladies and lord of the middle classes.

Artist Statement

Lee enjoys welcoming guests to her home studio in the Lang Bay community located south of Powell River. Lee's love of experimentation has resulted in the creation of a wide variety of styles and images. Working in acrylics, watercolour, and mixed media, Lee has a large selection of originals, limited edition prints and cards.

Richard Benson ~ Wild-In-Stone Studio

Showing at the Artique Artist Co-op, 4722 Marine Ave

604.485.1247     rnbenson@telus.net 

Artist Statement

We share this beautiful country with an abundance of wildlife that connects us with the earth, sky and waters. Through the use of natural stone, my subject matter grows out of the earth and brings wildlife into our everyday surroundings. For observers, it can be a reminder of an outdoor experience and a chance to use their vivid recollection of that encounter to complete the scene. If someone can experience the sight and sound of the outdoors while viewing one of my carvings then perhaps that feeling might nourish a commitment to conserve and protect our planet for generations to come. Richard's carvings can be seen at the Artique Artist Co-op year-round.

Artist Statement

Bente Hansen is an Award winning member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. She studied art at UBC for 4 years and has taken many workshops both locally and internationally.

Her inspiration comes from the environment. The mood, atmosphere, colour, and spirit of the place comes through her "Intuitive Landscape" paintings.

Bente and her husband moved to Powell River in 2014. The new environment is a constant inspiration.

Private studio tours are welcome.

Artist Statement

The underlying vision in Wendy's work is to engage 'fibre, heart and story' into every piece; to increase awareness and appreciation of sustainable natural fibres; promote the local fibre community; and advocate for the slow cloth/slow fashion movement.

Wendy’s statement pieces are inspired by a tactile, warm and nurturing love of fibre! Clothing, accessories, and gifts are made with heart and embedded with stories. Working with natural fibres, embellished with glass, shell, wood and metal; her work is bold, reflective, with each piece expressive and unique, representing a commitment to her vision.

By Appointment

Artist Statement

I spent my childhood on the Sunshine Coast looking at the world with an artist's eye. I started painting with oil becoming my favourite medium.

In the 1970’s the opportunity came to live in upstate New York; a time for gaining confidence, self-discovery, and self discipline. The Woodstock artist community helped me realize my potential as an artist.

I show and sell my art privately, in galleries, or other suitable public settings.

I moved to Powell River in 2015 where I find to my delight, ever flowing inspiration for my ART and life.

Artist Statement

Open year round by appointment

Elaine paints the land, the creatures, and the wonders of nature working with mixed mediums on canvas, old growth fir, yellow cedar, and fabric for garden banners.

By Appointment

Artist Statement

I have always loved finding little pieces of hidden beauty, a spot of colour in unexpected places. When I create art, my goal is to show my vision to you.

I also make jewellery where I get to play with different colours, textures, and shapes. Using both glass and semi-precious stones, I enjoy the contrast between the rich feeling of the stones, and the purity of colour found in glass.

Artist Statement

After 12 years in Powell River, Vi moved into BC's lovely Shuswap region. She joined the Blind Bay Painters and some of her paintings are on www.artintheshuswap.com. She is returning to Powell River to participate in the 2017 Studio Tour.  She gives private watercolour and acrylic lessons in her studio, and welcomes commissions.

Vi studied painting and drawing with

Mark Gwynn, Port Hardy, BC;

Ursula Medley, oils in Tuscany, Italy;

Australian watercolourist David Taylor, New Zealand and Italy;

New York artist Phil Levine, “Putting People into Paintings”, Paris.

Juve Furtado, Vernon, pouring watercolors; and

Terry Isaac, Penticton, animals with acrylics.

Artist Statement

Lorna Downie is a painter producing primarily acrylic and encaustic works.  She paints with abandon, inspired by seasonal changes, the surrounding vista, and her travels. Her latest works explore the layers within forests and ponds.  Always colourful, her paintings capture the rhythms and patterns of the west coast.  Lorna's encaustic works are coveted for their textural surfaces and explorations combining mixed media.   She looks forward to you visiting her at her studio in
Powell River's Townsite.

Some of Lorna's work can also be viewed at Artique artist's cooperative.

Artist Statement

A large collection of early 20th century printing equipment, displays, and demonstrations of letterpress printing. Occasional classes are held; books and broadsides are printed.

Artist Statement

My designs and creations begin when I look around at the intricacies of nature. I then incorporate these images from the earth and sea into my handcrafted, one-of-a kind art jewellery. By cutting and polishing most of my stones (not the facet-cut laboratory ones), I try to avoid importing from overseas.  Most of my stones are from parts of North America.  I use recycled precious metals and avoid blood mined metals and stone as much as possible. My involvement with the ‘ethical metal-smiths’ group enables me to source the most ‘green suppliers available, leaving the lightest footprint possible.

I hope you enjoy my small wearable art.

Artist Statement

CJ (Christine) Oakley's goal is to create memorable images that deepen your experience and love for the natural world.

Creating home decor accessories - pillows, table linens etc. provides an alternative to her framed art that offers both beauty and function and allows greater flexibility and more options for bringing nature into your personal space.

Christine tries to communicate and share the feelings she experiences each time she's out bird watching, photographing or working in her studio. Her intention is to forge a closer bond between the viewer and the myriad beings with whom we share our beautiful planet.

Artist Statement

Maggie and Tim Poole, husband and wife, will have their studio open to display Maggie's acrylic and watercolour paintings and Tim's photographs. Maggie's work features intimate views of our local landscape, taking inspiration from the towering trees of our coastal environment. She will also have a selection of still life paintings on display.

Artist Statement

Maggie and Tim Poole, husband and wife will have their studio open to display Maggie's acrylic and watercolour paintings and Tim's photographs.

Tim is an accomplished wild-life and landscape photographer. His current work will feature his latest fascination with urban graffiti. These high quality artistic prints focus down on the abstract details and colour.

Artist Statement

I hand craft each piece to be special and unique with the desire that it be used for the designed purpose and become more beautiful with wear and use as leather does.

Many of my products include the use of exotic leathers such as salmon, stingray, kangaroo, musk ox, ostrich, perch, and snake making each piece one of a kind.

Artist Statement

Transforming wood into sculpture is an act of discovery. The particular characteristics of a piece of wood determine what will be cut away and what is kept, each carved portion then becomes a new challenging clue revealing what the next steps will be. Like a dinosaur bone buried in earth, the sculpture is in there somewhere and will be found. These artworks are starting points for the imagination, strangely familiar shapes reminiscent of natural forces, of birds and fish and currents of wind, that welcome multiple interpretations. Discovery, both during the process of making and experiencing a finished piece.

Artist Statement

Working out of the historic Bank of Montreal Building in Townsite,
Anna May is a Sunshine Coast artist that specializes in coastal landscapes painted in oils.

By appointment

Artist Statement

Debra Bevaart's studio gallery is a showcase for more than 40 artists with Debra's stone sculptures brought to life. The theme of the gallery is strong coastal imagery.

Artist Statement

This is the first time that Autumn Skye has opened her studio-home for public viewing! She welcomes you to visit the inspiring creative space, overlooking a sweeping expanse of ocean, mountains, and sky; located twenty minutes north of Powell River. On display will be a wide selection of original paintings, works in progress, and a pop-up shop of prints and art merchandise.

Autumn Skye's artwork offers a personal refection to each viewer's intimate and sacred heart, while simultaneously speaking to universally human archetypes and narratives.

Through meticulous details, graceful figures, glowing geometries, and surreal compositions, her paintings invite contemplation and recognition of one's own divinity, through visions of healing and wholeness. Autumn Skye's creative journey has lead her to paint, show, and teach internationally, and she currently lives and thrives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.