Pacific Meadow by Ken Kirkby
24″x30″ Oil on Canvas
$2000
A subtly colored painting, but very much in Kirkby’s signature realist style; staccato grass, evenly textured rocks, simplified trees silhouetted in graceful warm tones that fall off into the distance. This is a man who paints with total confidence, he paints what he observes and he feels what he sees.
Artist Ken Kirkby’s recently released biography, Ken Kirkby – A Painter’s Quest for Canada, has been garnering a lot of attention, a book signing in Calgary had just shy of 5000 people in attendance.
Ken says the book has sold out of the 1st printing, that it’s a best seller and that they’ve begun selling the second edition.
I had Ken bring by a few copies, he signed them here at the gallery.
Sea Shore Series (4) – Ken Kirkby
20″x30″ Oil on Canvas
sold (private collection)
Sea Shore Series (2) – Ken Kirkby
20″x30″ Oil on Canvas
$1000
Sea Shore Series (1) – Ken Kirkby
20″x24″ Oil on Canvas
sold (private collection)
Sea Shore Series (3) – Ken Kirkby
20″x24″ Oil on Canvas
$750
Lakeview (Taylor Arm) by Ken Kirkby
30″x60″ Oil on Canvas
sold (private collection)
Still waters; a lakeside view of Taylor Arm in a graphic panorama. Kirkby observes the lakes of Vancouver island in the stillness of the early evening, when the wind has slackened.
Old Paint by Ken Kirkby
36″x48″ Oil on Canvas
$3700
This painting is of a gillnet boat out of water, in the cradle of the ‘ways’. It looks like she’s about to receive the care she’s badly in need of. Well rendered, it still retains the simplistic graphic character of Kirkby’s realism.
A Painter’s Quest for Canada – Ken Kirkby
Ken Kirkby has published a biographical account of his travels across the north, and of painting the largest canvas known; 12 foot x 153 foot long , Isumataq. Launch of the book will take place at Englishman River Gallery, in Parksville on Saturday September 12th 2009, noon ’til 4pm. I’ll extend my personal invitation to all of you.
Ken is a remarkable speaker, and a formidable painter. Ken’s works are represented here at Mark Penney Gallery, Ucluelet and at Englishman River Gallery, Parksville. The book is currently available online through it’s independent canadian publisher; Libros Libertad. I’ll be sure to bring in a few signed copies.
Pacific Breeze by Ken Kirkby
30″x60″ Oil on Canvas
sold (private collection)
Kirkby’s paintings are very often large scale, and this lends itself to the grand coastal views he portrays. The wind is a key feature in this particular peace and it’s impact is seen interacting with each element, the trees, water, sky … even the grass is bent in response to the wind’s presence.
As a child in Europe, Ken Kirkby chose painting as his life’s work, forsaking formal education for the passion of creation. Arriving in Canada in 1958, he quickly made his way north. Five years living among Inuit, traveling with Canada’s native people, enthralled by the environment.
Returning from the north, Kirkby settled in British Columbia. Here his paintings of wildlife and stylized landscapes have struck a chord with viewers and have been met with success.
In the Early eighties, he brought his message to Toronto, to reach a larger audience with images of the north. Today his landscapes are found in prestigious collections worldwide; the speaker of the House of Commons, The Royal Family, the government of Portugal, various diplomats and dignitaries have recognized his contribution to the art world, and to Canada.
Living and painting in Bowser, a small community nestled in the heart of Vancouver Island. Ken Kirkby brings alive the environment around him.
Known to have painted the largest painting known; Isumataq is an astounding 12′ high and 153′ long, and was unveiled in the Parliment Buildings in Ottowa
Since 1971, Kirkby has been featured in numerous shows, among them;
Galleria de Arte, Madrid Spain
Alex Fraser Galleries, Vancouver BC
Morgan Fine Art Galleries, Edmonton Alberta
Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver BC
Gainsborogh Galleries, Calgary Alberta
Gallerie Fore, Winnipeg Sask.
Humewood 11 Art Gallery,Toronto, Ont.
Columbus Centre Art Gallery,Toronto, Ont.
J.D. Carrier Art Gallery, Toronto,Ont.
Kennedy Lake by Ken Kirkby
36″ x 36″ Oil on Canvas
$3000
Simplification of forms contribute to Ken Kirkby’s signature style, but the subtleties in his technique add a refined level of detail to his realist paintings.
Island Reflections by Ken Kirkby
36″x36″ Oil on Canvas
sold (private collection)
Ken puts forth a very refined graphic style. He’s a very accomplished painter by any measure. His works feature a stillness that I’d be tempted to compare to canadian realists such as Christopher Pratt or Alex Colville.
I know and respect each of the artists represented in the gallery, some I have worked with for many years, others have come to know me recently, through the gallery. I try not to limit the works to any specific genre, scale or medium despite my own personal biases.
It’s an absolute pleasure to admire, display, reproduce, sell artwork that I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.
Many visitors are amazed to learn how many artists are from Vancouver Island or who travel here to paint, study, vacation and sometimes to disappear for a while.
Charles Villiers seldom offers explanation of his work. He prefers to remain a bit of a mystery, leaving the viewer to form their own opinions of his art. Prolific painter, sculptor and more recently digital media artist, he’s made a transition that many artists struggle with; the process of making your art in different mediums without loosing your style. Somehow even highly technical compositions retain a bit of the innocence of his earlier figurative and nonobjective works. It’s not unlike the way you can still sometimes see the boy within a man.
Ken Kirkby is renowned at an internal level as a decisive canadian painter, he has a distinct graphic style formed by many bush miles. His paintings depict a minimal stillness not unlike other noted canadian realists. He’s a very passionate man who has a dedication to making an impact as an artist that goes well beyond painting.
Rob Elphinstone is a physicist whose area of expertise is the study of the northern lights. I find it fascinating that his work to quantify something ethereal is also reflected in his art, he’s an actualist painter and his paintings depict his experience, not technically what he saw.
Marla Thirsk – is known as Ucluelet’s artist, and I’d have to say she’s so much more. Almost every art event, function, group in the area has benefited directly from Marla’s help. The Whale Festival posters have been a calling card of hers for years. I’m pleased to have several exciting work of hers.
Jeff Edwards – a well known sculptor, and a well liked crab fisherman. Jeff chooses his stone from local area quarries, his works are highly prized. His enchanting bears, and marine mammals are well liked and collected, I’m happy to be showing several of Jeff’s figures, and shapes.
Joan Larson – renowned for her equine (horse) Illustrations, she works almost exclusively in pastels. We’re very pleased to showcase several of her local landscapes, and look forward her RCMP Musical Ride Series.
Peggy Burkosky – Known as a advanced watercolorist, Peggy is an capable painter in any medium. Her paintings have a sincerity about them, a true reflection of her island life. Sea scape scenes often include her daughter, family, or Bob’s fish boat, they are stunning paintings and portraiture. She teaches her secrets at the Old School House in Parksville.
Richard Hoedl – An accomplished painter, his bright whimsical style catches alot of attention. Richard paints in a walnut based oil on deep streched canvas.
Terry Jackson is a Metis artist working in carved wood, silver and cast porcelain. His contemporary use of materials lends a refreshingly clean look to his culturally based works. The porcelain is highly collectible, and the silver reflects an intrinsic value. Terry’s woodwork ranges from masks and wall panels to commissioned totem poles.
Jacqueline Windh, a Tofino based photographer, is well known for captivating seascapes and wildlife. Her work is frequently published and she regularly contributes to CBC Radio.
Nigel Brooks Peer is an art photographer of a different kind, he’s well travelled has worked in several genres, and is fascinated with reflections. He’s formed a style of his own in multiple image exposures, juxtaposing images, often on first blush they’re seemingly unrelated subjects, but subtle cultural refrences emerge to poke at your conceptions of art and photography.
