www.markpenneygallery.com

Marla Thirsk Art, Cover of WineTrails Magazine

Wine Trails Magazine, Summer 2010 Issue features Marla Thirsk’s Art on it’s cover. Just inside the cover is explained the following:

Marla Thirsk was born in Vancouver, BC and showed an early aptitude for art by drawing in the cover pages of her father’s university books at the age of 2. Her Art career really started when she decided to change her life around by believing in herself and following her life-long dream of being a professional artist. Since then she has created award winning posters for the Whale Festival, Edge to Edge Marathon, Ukee Days and just finished one for the Tofino Food and Wine Festival. She has designed logos and costumes and done set design. She was president of the the Pacific Rim Arts Society for six years running. She has painted every mural in her town of Ucluelet but one and continues to be a major figure in the planning of local Art Events. She has worked in all mediums but oil. Her works have sold and gone worldwide. She proudly wears the title of “Towns’s Artist”.

The original acrylic paintings in the theme of the Tofino Food and Wine Poster on this issue’s cover are the newest venture for her. They are inspired by old photos ofher mother from the 30′s to early 60′s and old french postcards of the 1800′s and early 1900′s. with these new works she feels she has finally found her own unique style. for a more comprehensive look at her work, please visit her website (www.marlathirsk.com) or see her work at Cedar Corner Gallery in Tofino and Mark Penney Gallery in Ucluelet.

The magazine is widely circulated in BC and can be found at most BC Liquor and Beer & Wine Stores, the painting was created specifically for Tofino’s 8th annual Food and Wine Festival which ran June 4th-6th.

Lawren Harris’s Bylot Island I, an oil painting of a stylized arctic mountain range sold for $2.8 million The fourth-highest price ever for a Canadian painting sold at auction.

“An Arctic Lawren Harris is one of the rarest commodities in the Canadian art world,” said David Heffel, president of the Heffel auction house that kicked off spring sales of fine Canadian art.

“Most of those reside in public institutions today, so for one to turn up in a private collection and come back into the market is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for bidders.”

Bylot Island I wasn’t the only Harris artwork to break the million-dollar mark Wednesday. Arctic Sketch, an oil-on-board painted in 1930, sold for $1.521 million after the premium.

Harris’s Winter painting went for $731,250, Mountain Sketch LXX sold for $497,250 and Mount Temple, Mountain Sketch LII fetched $468,000.

Cameron Lake View by Ken Kirkby
30″ x 60″ Oil on Canvas
(sold) Coulson Collection

Cameron Lake is a deep cold lake located next to Cathedral Grove between Port Alberni and Coombs. The Lake was named after the first Chief Justice of Vancouver Island, David Cameron.

After the Squall II by Ken Kirkby
30″x 60″ oils on canvas
$5000

The sudden change in the sky, is the focus of several of Ken’s recent paintings. Vancouver Island is known for it’s many different micro climates and most areas are in a state of constant change of weather.

a Break in the Weather by Ken Kirkby
30″ x 40″ oil on canvas
$3000

The Demon Within Me by Christian Morriseau
28″x40″ acrylic on canvas, framed
$2500

Christian is the youngest son of legendary Canadian Artist; Norval Morriseau. He expresses complex messages in the contemporary woodland Cree style his father established, as a boy Christian painted backgrounds for Norval, noting the healing colors his father used and learning the symbol language of his ancestry.

I’ve just posted the official video from MLA Scott Fraser’s Legislative Address to canadarides.ca, I thought it might be of interest here also.

Tiger Rockfish by Bruce Muir
16″x20″ acrylic on canvas
$1800 (shown framed)

Tiger Rockfish are slow growing, long lived, spiny, and beautiful fish. there are numerous varieties of rockfish, each with distinct color and markings. They tend to hang out near rockpiles, reefs and amongst the small inshore islands.

West Coast Halibut by Bruce Muir
16″x20″ Oil on canvas
$1800 (shown framed)

This is the very first painting, that I can recall seeing, depicting a halibut.
Halibut themselves are a remarkable species of fish, as a juvenile fish one eye migrates to join the other on the upward camouflaged side of the fish. They grow to impressive sizes; in some cases upwards of 400lbs. Anyone from around here will tell you, they’re one of the tastiest fish in the Pacific.

Red Tailed Surf Perch by Bruce Muir
16″x20″ Oil on canvas
$1800 (shown framed)

There are a variety of Perch species here, these pretty looking examples live in the edge of the surfline with their yellow tailed cousins.

Tuesday, April 26th, 2010, BC Legislature, Victoria, BC

Scott Fraser, MLA for Alberni-Pacific Rim will address the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Artist Joan Larson will be present for Mr. Fraser’s speech and public endorsement of Larson’s RCMP Musical Ride Series.

When Mr. Fraser visited our Fish, Ships & Lost Art Treasures exhibit during Whale Festival he casually remarked that he was considering a public endorsement of Joan Larson’s Musical Ride Series; He agreed that they represent a significant contribution to Canadian Art and that they should be preserved as a collection on behalf of all Canadians. I have to say I was impressed with Mr.Fraser’s knowledge and awareness of the Art scene and the of the many Artists in his riding. His continued support of the Arts is very much appreciated.

Scott Fraser ‘s official website: www.scottfrasermla.com

Statements (Standing Order 25B)

CREEKSIDE STUDIO AND RCMP MUSICAL RIDE ARTWORK

Scott Fraser: There are times in our communities when greatness shows itself. I believe that what I am about to describe falls into that category.

Recently I was invited to Creekside Studio near Qualicum Beach, owned and operated by artist Joan Larson and her husband, Paul Smith, who are visiting us today. Joan is arguably the best equine artist in the world. A proud Canadian, Joan grew up in a small prairie town until moving to Vancouver Island as a child. She worked tirelessly at her craft, perfecting her art, and was awarded the designation of Premier Pastellist with the Pastel Society of Canada.

She is embarking on a series of paintings celebrating the RCMP Musical Ride. When I visited her gallery, I was quite frankly in awe. I recall seeing the musical ride when I was a child, and this brought it right back to me. The quality of this work is phenomenal.

Joan Larson’s depictions of this Canadian iconic event are simply magnificent. Her and Paul’s vision is to take this series on tour to any and all communities that are interested and that have never been able to have the opportunity to host or sponsor a series of paintings of this magnitude or the musical ride itself.

Joan’s ultimate quest is to showcase the series at the National Gallery in Ottawa and bring these marvellous paintings of this major part of Canadian history past, present and future to the Canadian public. I urge everyone to check out her work on the website www.canadarides.ca. The collection is destined to be known as a significant statement of Canadian heritage for generations to enjoy.
In 2007 Joan began the first of her planned series of 20 paintings depicting the life of the RCMP Musical Ride. Last summer Creekside Studio created a special poster commemorating the B.C. tour of the musical ride. Proceeds from the sale of this poster during the ride performances went to a charity helping fund local B.C. communities.

video archive
transcript of the speech

Ucluelet 1899-1954 by E.A.Hillier

Ucluelet, about fifty miles from Port Alberni, is on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, at the westerly entrance of Barclay Sound. it is not a new settlement by any means. In 1899, there were about fifteen whites and two hundred Indians living there.

When Mr. H.J. Hillier left Victoria for Ucluelet, he was told that it was a good move, that the road was going that way, and that there were years of work ahead. On arriving in Ucluelet April 9th 1899, aboard the CPR steamship Willapaw, which sailed from Victoria four times a month, he found Mr. J. Sutton with wife and family – owner of the store and also part owner of large tracts of timber and land. He also met Mr. George Fraser, a botanist who had started his gardens about 1895. Mr. Fraser’s wonderful rhododendrons, azaleas, heather, and roses with their varied crosses made his gardens world famous for about 45 years, until his death.

Sealing was at it’s height in these days. two schooners were outfitted from the Ucluelet Reservation every year with a crew of thirty Indians each. These sailed out for a month or so to the sealing grounds. In winter and fall, the Indians and their wives fished for dogfish in their canoes. They extracted the oil from their livers and traded it to the store keeper. In return they received a stick marked in gallons at $.25 per gallon. They then traded the stick back for goods. More…

Catch of the Day by Marla Thirsk
30″x36″ acrylic on canvas
$1500

There’s something very playful about this portrait of Rita, She’s out of the deck chair and heading out fishing. Here on the west coast it doesn’t take much to convince someone it’s a good time to go fishing.

Ugly Monkey by Marla Thirsk
30″ x 36″ Acrylics on Canvas
$1500

The lipstick that defined a glamorous era. Another compelling portrait…. doesn’t everyone remember their childhood toys?

In the painting you see a stuffed monkey doll. I got one for Christmas from my brother and I LOVED the darn thing to bits. “Ugly Monkey” is what my mother called me.

~ Marla

Hot by Marla Thirsk
30″ x 36″ Acrylics on Canvas
$1500

A bright eyed beauty, charming and just a little shy. This is a fresh and compelling portrait…. there’s something very natural and endearing about the pose.

Trees in the Inlet by Ken Kirkby
30″x40″ oils on canvas
(sold) private collection

Pacific Sunrise by Ken Kirkby
24″x48″ oils on canvas
$3000

The green treeline stands in contrast to the mountains in the background as the sun rises over this grassy lakeside shore.

After the Squall by Ken Kirkby
30″x60″ oils on canvas
(sold) private collection

This is the moment when a squall has broken and the first rays of sunlight penetrate the dark stormy clouds. The highlights on the rocks are glowing in contrast to the deep blue sky.

Tofino Harbour by Rob Elphinstone
15″ x 30″ Oils on canvas, framed
$1600

Here we can see the various buildings, floathouses and boats in the bay as well as the Seafood and Shellfish processing plants that line the foreshore of Tofino Harbour. There’s always something going on in the busy harbour.

Pacific Rim Surfer by Rob Elphinstone
11″ x 17″ Oils on canvas, framed
$1000

The beaches of Pacific rRim National Park are some of the few places where you can surf in Canada. In recent years there has been a resurgence of local surf culture and growing number of surfers are traveling here to experience the cold water and large waves for themselves… you could live on the inside of the island your whole life and never see waves like these.