Marla Thirsk · Ordinary Life

Ordinary Life by Marla Thirsk
37″x42″ Acrylic on Canvas
Sold (private collection)
This painting is a stunning portrait, and I think it’s Marla’s best work to date. This scene reminds me of David Hockney’s LA paintings of daily life. The lighting and mood portrayed is light and airy. Iconic even without the [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Mark Penney Gallery · A Place to Find Yourself · March 19th-31st

For 12 days coinciding with Whale Festival, March 19th – 31th, we’ll be exhibiting a group show consisting of gallery artists with a focus on the area and it’s inspiration to the arts.

Welcome the Whales, as they migrate past Ucluelet and join us for an Art Exhibition featuring some of
the area’s finest [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Manifest

Manifest by Marla Thirsk
37″x42″ Acrylic on Canvas
$2200

Similar to ‘The Telephone Call’, but featuring a large format floral backdrop, this depiction of the Artist’s mother is a moody portrait eluding to the nature of their relationship.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Beginning

Beginning  by Marla Thirsk
37″x42″ Acrylic on Canvas
$2200

A larger format series is emerging from the easel of Artist Marla Thirsk. Yes they are still portraits of her Mother, and yes this is the same figure featured in the preceding series. The arrangement has changed somewhat; A large flower depicted in the [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Released

Released by Marla Thirsk
30″x36″ Acrylic on Canvas
$1500

Many Artists deal with dark inner subjects in their art, somehow they get released in the very act of creating art. Marla has freed herself from the inner ‘demons’ that a very tortured relationship with her mother had created. Released is an exciting addition [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Access Denied

Access Denied by Marla Thirsk
30″x36″ Acrylic on Canvas
$1500

“Access Denied – She never let me in, and I didn’t let her in either.” says Marla about this painting.

I feel as though we’ve been invited to get to know a side of Marla through these paintings, as side she’d never be [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk – the Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition Finalist

The Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition has recognized Marla Thirsks’ portrait Disconnect. The portrait and figure entries were judged on expressiveness, personality and draftsmanship. The portrait  category juror; Sharon Sprung teaches at the Art Students League and the National Academy’s School of Fine Arts in New York City; she has hosted two films on [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Recognized by Sooke Fine Arts Society

   Sooke Fine Arts Society has an annual art show consisting of works by hundreds of area artists and is attended by more than 7000 visitors each year. This year the event runs from July 24th ’til August 2nd. Regionally, it’s a fairly high profile event.

It’s jurored by Jeffrey Spalding the President [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk – On the Cover, Wine Trail 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 [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Catch of the Day

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.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk – Ugly Monkey

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 [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Hot

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.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Press Relese – Fish, Ships, & Lost Treasures Art Exhibition

PRESS RELEASE

Fish, Ships, & Lost Treasures
Art Exhibition
March 6 – 16th, 2010

From Saturday, March 6th to Tuesday, March 16th, the Mark Penney Gallery in Ucluelet welcomes the whales with the Art Exhibition Fish, Ships, & Lost Art Treasures.
The gallery, located in Whiskey Landing, is “a [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thrisk · Ladybug, Ladybug

Ladybug, Ladybug by Marla Thirsk (Marion Series #1)
30″ x 36″ Acrylics on Canvas

Nostalgic family photos are referenced for the figures but each painting tells a story, …the pigeons are remarkable, but Marion’s tear filled eyes and the doll elude to a less than sweet memory… unlike the cheerful birds in the wallpaper.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Fortress

Fortress by Marla Thirsk (Rita Series #5)
30″ x 36″ Acrylics on Canvas
$1500

There is a great deal of detail in this painting, and emotion, the colors are fantastic, … I can almost smell the coffee.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Thursday’s Child

Thursday’s Child by Marla Thirsk (Rita Series #1)
36″ x 40″ Acrylics on Canvas
sold (private collection)

I’m very pleased to be able to show this painting in the gallery, the first of this series of exciting portraits by Ucluelet’s artist; Marla Thirsk

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Telephone Call

Telephone Call by Marla Thirsk
34″x34″ Acrylic on Canvas
sold (private collection)

Remember telephones? rotary dialed with a handset leashed to the base. These days everyone seems to be sporting a portable pocket computer/ GPS enabled cell phone with a touch screen, but either way, we’re still waiting for the phone to ring.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Wave Baby

Wave Baby by Marla Thirsk
30″x36″ Acrylic on Canvas
sold (private collection)

I think this is Marla’s most compelling series to date. It shows a new level of detail and introspection for this well known local artist. The Bathing Beauty Series has been well received, their first appearance being at P.R.A.S Wave Art [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk – New works, blog and website

www.marlathirsk.com Marla’s new website
http://marlathirsk.blogspot.com/ Marla’s blog

I always enjoy it when artists drop by the gallery;
Marla Thirsk let me know she’d revamped her online presence recently.

An updated website and an ongoing blog showcase her most recent and very exciting series of ‘beauties’ [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · End Game

End Game by Marla Thirsk
18″x36″ Acrylic on canvas
c/o Artist

Marla’s Salmon are a very popular. The annual salmon spawn gives life to the forest and fuels our whole ecosystem; from eagles and bears, down to prawns and even microbes. Early settlers in Ucluelet were determined to be farmers, but it didn’t [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · Humpies

Humpies by Marla Thirsk
18″x36″ Acrylic on canvas
c/o Artist

Marla’s bright coy paintings have been very well received, and Salmon are a very popular subject here in an authentic fishing village on Vancouver Island’s west coast.

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk · The Words One Would Write On Water

The Words One Would Write On Water by Marla Thirsk
40″x60″ Acrylic on Canvas
(private collection)

A lively depiction of Carp, this painting features Marla’s signature of use high key highlights to off set the deep jewel tone blues. Light impasto adds to the feeling of movement in the fish, bubbles and [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk – Acorn Art Doll

Marla Thirsk – Acorn
24″tall, Wire Framed Soft Sculpture / Art Doll
Sold (private collection)

This Marla Thirsk Art Doll is a original handcrafted creation. Each Art doll is unique; a one of a kind creation, fabricated without a pattern and made with special attention paid to details. Each doll requires 75 – [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

Marla Thirsk

Marla Thirsk was born in Vancouver, B.C. and showed an early apptitude for art by drawing in the cover pages of her father’s university books at the age of 2. She went on from there winning the “Art in the Parks” award at 11 and being displayed in the Vancouver Art Gallery. Although she [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing

About the Artists

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, [...]

www.markpenneygallery.com - Fine Canadian Art at Whiskey Landing