www.markpenneygallery.com

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.

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Posts tagged Ken Kirkby

Qualicum Beach View by Joan Larson
Pastel Illustration
11″x17″ framed
$1700

A warm depiction of an area well known to the artist, Joan Larson. While she’s most known as an Equine Illustrator, Joan’s coastal scenes are gaining popularity. We’re glad to have a number of new exciting pieces in the gallery.

Long Beach by Rob Elphinstone

Oils on Canvas
11″x20″ (framed)
sold (private collection)

An actualist painting depicts the portion of an image that cannot be captured by photography, the emotive qualities of the scene. Wildly colored and heavily textured impasto is a signature of this widley appreciated artist.

Rob Elphinstone specializes in capturing the beauty of the Canadian west coast through his textured wild flowing landscapes. His art reflects the belief that our senses reveal only a shadow of what we truly experience. Rob believes that the beauty of a place is hardly ever replicated in a photo or a video. Our senses take in a fraction of what we perceive about the world. This tiny fraction is the shadow of what is really there.
Good art should not have to be about what the inner psyche experiences or displaying perfectly what is optically there but should be about the unseen reality that everyone feels. Every one of his art pieces reflects the premise that creative art stems from what is truly evident in nature rather than the shadow that can be photographed.
The term “Actualism art” is used to distinguish this art form from the emotionally based “expressionism” trend. Reality is more than just the sum our emotional impressions and the sense detection of an external scene. The realism art discipline attempts to capture the latter and expressionism the former.
Rob Elphinstone’s version of Actualism art allows that the observer can interpret the “actual” and create works that capture the essence of the observed in a fundamental way.
 The process of laying down textured brushstrokes helps capture the elusive nature so evident when we look outside. The textured brushstrokes give the paintings a unique look. This technique yields a complexity that mimics nature and that permeates every portion of the pieces he creates.  From a distance, the painting comes together through form as a coherent whole, but each portion catches the eye in a manner that draws the viewer into it.

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“… I see the Vincent influence, but your art evokes the brushwork of Soutine and I see  a distinct passionate style influenced by nature… This man’s art is going to find a huge public appreciation in the future.” – W. Matthews, a Vancouver collector

“His paintings radiate light from a hidden painful world, creating a natural atmosphere of intimacy. Combining thousands of colors in constant dynamism, sky, water and vegetation seem grouped to dance to the beat of your pulse, full of feelings and passions. His art is called “Actualism Art” as a testimony of a key reality that the author reflects in his work.”
Ricardo César Lescano Grosso, Art Critic, Argentina.

Selected Juried Exhibitions:
Artists for Peace, International Art Action, Dolmabahce State Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009

Art on Record, APW Gallery, NYC, USA, 2009

VI International Festival of Experimental Art, Manege Museum of Contemporary Art, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2008.

American Sandwich, Piano Living Gallery, Lecce, Italy, 2008.
Smiles Exhibition, Royal Castle, Warsaw Poland, 2008.
NHU 25th Anniversary Fiesta, National Hispanic University, San Jose, USA, 2007.

Nuit Blanche, ACA Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2007.
VIII International  “Dialogues” Biennial of Modern Art, Manege Museum of Contemporary Art,  Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2007. 

1st International Art Biennial of Sorocaba, Espaços Públicos da cidade de Sorocaba, Scorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2007.
Reflections, ACA Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2006
Urban Eyes Art Exhibition, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo, Canada, 2006.
Landscapes and Timescapes, ACA Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2006. 

 Global Fusion, Toronto Photographic Festival, ACA Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2006.
Premio Internazionale D’Arte San Valentino, Vico del Gargano, Italy, catalogue, February 11-19, 2006.


 In the Footsteps of Jules Verne, Decourtenay  Galleries, Chatelet, Belgium, 2006

3º SALÃO OFICIAL DE ARTE DE CARAGUATATUBA, San Paolo, Brazil, 2006. |

LANDSCAPES,  Estense Castle, Ferrara, Italy, 2005
DIVINE CELEBRATIONS OF SPIRIT, ACA Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2005.

TESTOSTERONE – A MAN’S TRADE, Covent Garden Fine Art Gallery, Wellington, Canada, 2005

Feature Artist, Oakleaf Gallery, Chemainus, Canada, 2005.

Open House, Studio 737, Tweed, Canada, 2005.
Feature Artist, Fat Cat Fine Art, Victoria, Canada 2005.

The Protectors by Richard Hoedl
36″x48″ Oils on Canvas
$5425

This really is one of my favorite paintings, and it gets a lot of attention at the gallery. It’s a little warmer than most of Richard’s recent work, and the Emily Carr influence is un-unmistakably obvious. The image, like most of Richard’s work, wraps around the edge of the canvas and requires no framing.

Beyond Limitations by Richard Hoedl
24″x36″ Oils on Canvas
sold (private collection)

This playful image attracted a lot of second looks – people often remarked about the ‘faces’ in the bluff. The image, like most of Richard’s work, wraps around the edge of the canvas and requires no framing

Richard Hoedl is by all measure a talented west coast artist, who creates original hand-painted oil paintings inspired by Canadian landscapes. He uses exceedingly fine materials including walnut oil based paint.

Richard is both academically trained and self-taught through years of personal creativity and development. He is currently gallery represented on both coasts and has held solo and group exhibitions across Canada for the last 15 years. His works, highly prized by collectors, are held in personal and corporate collections around the world.

A signature series of impressionistic works were inspired by the Group of Seven and Emily Carr. Utilizing the old Renaissance master’s technique, the canvas is first painted with a warm orange ground (foundation). This brings soothing warmth to the entire completed painting. The images are filled with the feeling of movement and activity, yet are calm and dream-like to view. This work of art will be relaxing and enjoyable for years to come.

Richard Hoedl was born, raised, and educated in northern Alberta. He was drawn to BC by its beauty in 1991. It has been vitally important for Richard to have a constant connection to other artists to enhance and augment his own continuous artistic exploration. Through connecting with artists of all walks of life he has gained invaluable knowledge on a wide variety of art media, styles and techniques, including pastels, charcoal, acrylic, watercolour and oil paints, bronze casting, plaster, clay, wrought iron, graphic design, photography, video, silkscreening, printmaking and even returning to the simplicity of the pencil. The subject as well as the materials in which it was created inspires each piece of Richard’s art.

The importance of learning about art has, of course, translated into the importance of teaching art. Richard has spent considerable time instructing both art and the business of art and/or acting as mentor to numerous artists at all levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned professionals. He continues to paint and sell his work commercially across Canada. His work is in private and institutional collections across Canada and Europe.

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Education & Training History:

2002-2004 Nova Scotia Craft, Art & Design University
Bachalor of Fine Art
Major in Interdisciplinary Arts
Minor in Art History

1990-2001 Various Artist Workshops and Courses

1990-1992 New York Institute of Photography

1990-1991 Alberta College of Art

1988-1990 Grande Prairie Regional College
Visual and Performing Arts Diploma – Art Major
(Graduating First Overall)

Art Exhibition History:

2005 CIBC Art Centre, Nanaimo Art Rental Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Featured Artist Show & Artist Talk

2004 and 2005 Artsfest – Originals Only!, Nanaimo, BC
Outdoor Art sale & Exhibition

2004 The Destination Gallery, Parrsboro, NS
“Wayward Winds” – Featured Solo Artist

2004 Winds of Change, Halifax, NS
Featured Solo Artist – Do or Die Art Auction/Exhibition

2004 NSCAD University Graduation Exhibition, Halifax, NS
Selected Works – Group Exhibition

2003 NSCAD Student Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
Selected Works – Ongoing Exhibition

2003 The Destination Gallery, Parrsboro, NS
“When West Meets East” – Featured Solo Artist

2003 Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
“Alphachalk 03″ – Group Show

2003 Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, NS
“Figuratively” – Group Show

2003 Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
“ThreeXfour” – Group Show

2003 – 2004 The Kensington Fine Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
Selected works – Ongoing Exhibition

2003 – 2004 Argyle Fine Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
Selected works – Ongoing Exhibition

2002 – 2003 Honey – Gallery & Gifts, Vancouver, BC
“Figurative” – Featured Artist

2002 Ya Ya Gallaria, Halifax, NS
Selected pieces within Group Show

1999-2001 Nanaimo Art Gallery – Art Rental Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Selected pieces within various Group Shows and Competitions

1999 Bldg. 55, Multi-Discipline Art Show, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Selected Pieces

1999 The Old School House, Grand Prix d’Art, Qualicum Beach, BC
Group Exhibition/ Competition

1999 The ARTery, Gallery & Art Centre, Nanaimo, BC
Featured Solo Exhibition

1998 The Old School House, Grand Prix d’Art, Qualicum Beach, BC
Group Exhibition/ Competition

1998 The ARTery, Gallery & Art Centre, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1997 Nanaimo Arts Council, Paint In the Mall Competition, Nanaimo, BC
Juror’s Choice Award, (Piece Selected: Through the Forest Series “Camping”)

1997 Prime Arts Festival, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1995 The ARTery Artists Studio & Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1993 The Fringe Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
Selected Pieces

1991 The Basement Gallery, Calgary, AB
Solo Exhibition

1991 Valleyview Art Gallery, Valleyview, AB
Solo Exhibition

1990 Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, AB
Group Exhibition

1988 Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, AB
Group Exhibition

Awards:

Grande Prairie Regional Scholarship

Euphemia McNaught Material Scholarship

Spectra Scholarship

Province of Alberta Prize

Joan Larson has been involved in the arts all her life. An early interest in art led her to study at the Banff Centre, the University of Victoria, and the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Joan specializes in equine art work, often drawing upon her background of landscape and figurative painting to create her work. Born in Sexsmith Alberta, she was influenced by the open, rural landscape around her. However, a family move to Victoria, B.C. while still young, gave her an appreciation of the surrounding forests and ocean.

Joan’s career experiences have included graphic design, illustration, managing her own gallery in Palm Desert, California, and developing several picture framing businesses. Her diverse education and life experiences have given her a practical understanding of the business aspects of the art world, as well as a technical proficiency with a variety of art mediums.

Her preference to work primarily with pastels is due to the exceptional colour effects that can be achieved when working with sticks of pure pigment. Her subjects have been described as “sensitive portrayals, so life like that the personalities shine through.” Often using unusual angles of observation and varying light sources, she is able to capture the more subtle aspects of the human/animal relationship.

Joan’s work has won awards and been featured in several publications. She shows her work at selected exhibits, including the Spruce Meadows “Masters”; Equi-Fair in Calgary, Alberta, and has been accepted to the American Academy of Equine Artists juried shows in Lexington, Kentucky. She is a member of the Pastel Society of Canada, the Equine Art Guild and the Federation of Canadian Artists. Her work can be found in numerous private and public collections.

Her home and studio are located on a scenic acreage in the Qualicum Beach area of Vancouver Island.
2008 is shaping up to another busy year in the studio. An invitation to show her work at the Look Gallery in Helmsley, Yorkshire, UK is the first show of the year. New works are in progress for that show opening on April 27.

Joan is also pleased to announce that her first illustrated book, “Yetsa’s Sweater” has been nominated for another award. So far the list includes:
• 2007 – 08 Chocolate Lily Award from the BC Teachers & Librarians Assoc.
• 2007 Shining Willow Award from the Saskatchewan Young Readers Choice Awards (voting ended on Feb. 29/08)
• 2007 BC Booksellers Choice Award
• 2008 Silver Birch Award from the Ontario Library Association
It has also been chosen for the “Top 5 Books by the Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children” by Rutgers University, New Brunswick
A second illustrated book is currently in the works . . .

Joan will be back at Equi-Fair at Spruce Meadows this fall. It will be her 20th year there. Time flies to say the least. She will be previewing new works and new projects. If you would like an invitation to the “Preferred Customer Evening” please contact the studio and we will make sure to send you one.

Joan will be having a one-person show at The Old School House in Qualicum Beach, Nov. 10 – Dec. 7. She will be previewing some of the new “RCMP Musical Ride” artworks at that time.

Posts tagged Joan Larson

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.