Gloria Friesen never thought she’d find herself painting pictures for leisure, and sometimes, for cash.
Painting kind of found her in 2008 and has opened up an entirely new world, as she enjoys her retirement years.
Many people will know Friesen as a former secretary at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School, but now she’s relabeled herself as an emerging artist since realizing a fascination with painting and its promising potential.
Originally an avid and gifted photographer, Friesen turned to paint and brushes when the new house at Watson Lake that she and husband, Wes, finished building in 2008, needed a feature piece of art in the living room.
“I found it hard to find that perfect piece of artwork to decorate and tried painting something myself.”
With confidence that came from knowing she comes from a family of professional artists, Friesen gathered her supplies and got to work. She was able to stretch a large piece of the drop cloth used in painting her house and fasten it to a frame.
Leftover house paint was used to paint the piece, which she says worked out nicely. Friesen is also quite satisfied with another large piece she created for a different space in her home.
With a background in interior decorating having an influence on her work, Friesen naturally sways toward modern art.
However, it’s a style she has found to be not particularly popular in the South Cariboo, so the few commissioned pieces she has done have been for homes on the Lower Mainland.
While using house paint is economical, Friesen has since moved on to using standard acrylic paints for her work and finds painting to be a wonderful and satisfying hobby.
“It’s fun finding yourself, and realizing in retirement, you can do something other than work. I don’t consider myself as a great artist, but a little bit different.”
Friesen has been referred to as having a style that is representational abstraction, and she’s not about to argue that.
While still a self-proclaimed greenhorn, she has put together a collection of her work, which she has set out on display at Showcase Gallery at 475 Birch Ave.
Her interest is still very much split between photography and painting, so people will find a little of both. All of the pieces are big and bold, and just a little something different in a land of Russell fences and aspen trees.
