Greeting visitors when they walk through the doors of the Parkside Art Gallery in 100 Mile House is a large, three- by five-foot painting of Mount Baker cutting into a crisp blue sky.
Artist Michelle Brown spent many mornings, coffee cup in hand, taking in that view from her back patio in Abbotsford.
That painting, “Backyard Baker,” is what inspired her show – “B.C. Girl: My Backyard” – currently on display until March 13.
Brown moved to 108 Mile Ranch from the Lower Mainland last year with her husband, Kevin, and daughter, Dakota.
“I did that one to remind us of our old home,” Brown explains.
“I had this giant blank canvas over the fireplace for about two years. Just before we moved up here, my husband said, ‘You really should do something to remind us of Abbotsford’.”
Brown was born and, except for a year in Alberta, raised in British Columbia. She has travelled extensively. Her acrylic paintings depict scenes she has encountered from places like the Chilliwack River Valley, Whistler Mountain and the historical Fisgard Lighthouse in Victoria.
And since it’s her new backyard, a number of scenes are from the South Cariboo.
“I was so inspired,” she says of the local scenery and moving to the area. One of her paintings is of bare birch trees on a flat stretch of land at a snowy 108 Golf Resort. Another is the view overlooking Watson Lake.
Parkside Art Gallery shop manager Veronica Forcier talks about the vividness of Brown’s work, and how her show was a great way to start a new season at the local gallery.
“I like her landscapes. It’s really neat because it’s her first show [at Parkside] and she’s very excited.”
Brown says she’s fortunate to have her work on display.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity. I’ve only been immersed in painting again for about a year.”
In a separate interview about her work hung up at the Showcase Gallery in 100 Mile House in January, Brown said she tries to paint as much as possible since she relocated to the South Cariboo. She smiles when she’s asked what she’s creating these days.
Her big project now is getting her new home finished, she answers. She’s on a little break from painting “backyards,” but she still has a brush in her hand.
“Right now, I’m painting a house – doors, trim, molding, walls next week.”
