arl Ellis Gallery will present the Susan Schaefer and Jill Paris Rody show featuring “Landscapes – As We See Them”.
The show will run until Sunday, Sept. 7. The artists invite the public to join them for a “Meet and Greet” to be held on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 1 – 4 p.m.
Artists looking at the same scene under similar conditions will paint two very different paintings. As individuals we see things in our own way. One might see the minute details of the particles of sand on the beach, while the next person sees the majestic sweep of the clouds in the sky.
One can say that landscapes are all things that surround us in nature; from the ocean, to the sky to the forest and the beautiful flowers that come from the soil.
This show is their interpretation of their surroundings “Landscapes – As we see them.”
Move west, young lady
Susan Schaefer launched her career as a professional artist in 2000. Having moved back to the prairies from Toronto, Susan converted her ‘little house on the prairies’ into a working studio. There she started a graphic design company, Young at Art Studios, which continues today.
In 2007 Susan decided to move to the West Coast where she started the Island Arts Magazine. Now into its seventh year, the magazine is well received throughout Vancouver Island with subscriptions reaching the East Coast of Canada and into the States.
She continues to grow as an artist by organizing and attending art workshops. She also likes to give back to the arts by volunteering at the Old School House Arts Centre and the Pearl Ellis Gallery.
Susan’s work is reflective of her connection to nature. She enjoys Canadian landscapes; rolling prairie coulees, sway-back barns, the Rocky Mountains as well as Mexican beaches.
Susan states that her colours are bright and her style is bold and representative of what she sees. She has always been drawn to the work of the Group of Seven, especially that of Lawren Harris. Contemporary artists that she admires and have studied with are; Mark Hobson, David Langevin, Brian Buckrell, Janice Robertson and Mike Svob.
From Oregon to Canada
Jill Paris Rody grew up in Oregon, and married into Canada in 1971. She has been blessed with a very supportive family and broad framework of friends who have encouraged her growth in Art from early childhood.
She has always been particularly fond of the expressive and emotional images painted by two well-known artists- Norman Rockwell and Andrew Wyeth. This has instilled in her a desire to share emotion and to find ways to communicate expressions of hope, and grace, and peace. She learned the techniques and methods of “Art as Decoration” in the ’90s, which taught a particular precision of the craft for her fine art background.
She is eager to learn through research and practise, and also enjoys the companionship of her fellow artists (twice weekly) in the Campbell River area. She is continually growing in style, method and theory.
In all of her work her desire is to convey the color and mystery of intimate spaces; places she has discovered while walking, as well as traveling on scenic road-trips.
“My camera is always with me, to capture moments in time, which speak to my heart,” she says.
Back in the studio, she enjoys developing a “story” that can invite the viewer to visit the places she have been, and the emotion she has felt.
When time allows, she also enjoy painting “en plein air” – on location.
“Colour is very important to me, and I work from a basic six-colour palette, mixing all other colours as needed,” she explains. “This allows for a very clean and clear look to my work, as all my colours work together in harmony.”
The Pearl Ellis Gallery is located at 1729 Comox Avenue in Comox. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1–4 p.m. It is closed Mondays. Admission is free. Come out and enjoy the show!
