As a child, artist Claudia Lohmann wasn’t encouraged to pursue art.
In fact, she was discouraged from attempting it.
“I was told, ‘leave it be; you have no talent,’” said Lohmann, about what her family told her when she tried creating art.
Her father was a realist painter, although he never had an exhibition of his work. Her siblings also had artistic talent and her sister pursued a career in ceramics.
The discouragement was reinforced by a school art teacher. Lohmann was inspired by a book she read that described an Apache rider and his horse which shimmered blue in the sunlight. She drew the horse and made it blue. The teacher didn’t approve.
“The teacher made so much fun of me,” said Lohmann.
For years Lohmann kept the artistic world she grew up in behind her. She met her husband Chris, who was a boat cover maker. Together they began to renovate their home. Soon he bought her a wood sander and her outlet became furniture creation.
There was a table her children played on when they were younger and she decided to paint the entire top with nail polish.
Years later, a friend of her son, who was a surrealist painter, saw the work and encouraged her to paint. So she started. And she made connections with other Island artists, including Nanaimo artist Grant Leier. He encouraged Lohmann to paint as well.
“He is a well known artist and if somebody like that says just do it. It’s really nice,” said Lohmann.
She now operates her gallery, Lohmann Gallery, in Yellow Point. She is also on the board of the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery and a member of the Nanaimo chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
Lohmann is attracted to abstract and surreal forms.
“I don’t need any art that is real. If I want to see a nice landscape I look outside,” she said. “What I love about abstract is your mind can roam freely. There is no limit to what you can think about.”
Her abstract paintings are created through a series of geometric shapes. Lohmann said it’s because even though she loves surrealism, the organizational part of her personality needs the consistency of the shapes. She paints on wood and upcycles furniture. She loves to experiment with colours and go outside the mainstream.
“I don’t want to follow rules,” said Lohmann about her art.
She is among more than 40 artists showing their work during the the Nanaimo Fine Art Show, which is Saturday and Sunday (June 4-5) at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. All artists showing their work are members of the Federation of Canadian Artists Nanaimo chapter.
To become a member of the federation, artists must have their work juried. Each artist was also juried for the show. Lohmann invites people to come and see work by Nanaimo artists.
“It’s unbelievable the talent here on the Island,” she said.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 4 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 5. Admission is free.
Lohmann is also hosting a season opeing at her gallery, located at 3095 DeCourcy Dr., on June 10 from 5-9 p.m.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
