Vivid and captivating paintings of outdoor scenes by a former South Cariboo wildlife biologist are on display this month at Parkside Art Gallery in 100 Mile House.
The show, Just Passing Through, features paintings by John Youds. It opened on Feb. 6 and runs to March 7.
Youds worked as a wildlife and habitat biologist in the Cariboo for the province of British Columbia for 30 years before retiring in 2012. He recently moved to the Comox Valley.
While he grew up in a family of artists and has always been passionate about art, he’s only really started painting again in earnest the past three years.
What inspired him to work in the scientific field is the same thing that inspires his art – nature. Youds cares about the environment and painting helps give it meaning.
“I like to paint about relationships in nature and reflect upon how these are powerful metaphors for the human life experience,” Youds says in his artist statement. “I have particularly been focusing on exploring interconnectedness in the natural world.”
Youds spoke in depth about some of his acrylic paintings before hanging them at the local gallery on Feb. 6, ahead of a reception and artist’s talk he gave that evening. There’s a lot to each piece.
The places are real and each one has a story. Youds says that while he’s painting, he’s also exploring its subject and learning more about it at the same time.
“I’m out there and watching for things that appear intriguing. The initial idea always morphs; it changes as I work through it.”
He adds it’s been interesting to share his work with people and get feedback and he hopes visitors get something out of his show.
“Even if only one individual painting moves them, it had some value and some worth.”
Parkside Art Gallery, located at 401 Cedar Ave., is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
