www.markpenneygallery.com

I managed to enter a few photos into the Winter Wave Photo Showdown
I’m really looking forward to seeing the other entries, I know a few people who’ve entered the contest.

I caught a glimpse of royal blue matte and metallic silver frames to be used when I dropped of my entry at The Info Centre at Whiskey Landing, the exhibit should look pretty sharp with an impressive line up of local photos.

Event Results: The event was fantastic, and attendance was very good.

Congratulations to Wayne Barnes, Jeremy Koreski and Marilyn McEwen, everyone was absolutely blown away by the photos.
I was surprised at how many of the photos were taken along the wild pacific trail as opposed to the classic beach wave shots taken in the Park. I’m also excited to see the addition of another great Whale Festival event in Ucluelet.

Cubist Photo-Realism and by Nigel Brooks Peer
20″x30″ Giclee on Canvas.
$500

This image is one singular image, it’s a straight photo, un-manipulated.
It expresses Nigel’s fascination with reflections and contains within it the essence of what he strives to create in his artwork. Layers of reflections, in a perspective encapsulating the many facets of an individual experience.

Nigel Brooks Peer describes this as Cubist Photo-Realism; Cubism depicts object from multiple perspectives creating an image with greater context, showing impossibly more than you could experience at once. Photo Realism usually references the adaptation of pseudo-photographic detail in art, attention to details especially reflections, highlights, lens flares and distortions … art has been long been influenced by photography and photography has reciprocated by truly becoming art.

Terracotta Warriors and Stonehenge by Nigel Brooks Peer
20″x30″ Giclee on Canvas.
$500

This image is comprised of 2 source images; one of Stonehenge ( Wiltshire, England ) and one of the Terracotta Warrior statues ( Xian, Shaanxi Province, China ). Nigel is extensively well traveled, and he develops his art from hand exposed overlapping negatives, in the darkroom. The resulting composition is digitized and prepared for contemporary print output. These prints are unparalleled in print quality and longevity, 200 year certified archival canvas with a water-resistant acrylic laminate applied. It seems somehow appropriate to strive for a long lasting image of these ancient symbols of humanity.

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Pacific Rim Arts Society, is having a local Artists showing. ‘Wave Art Show’ runs October 26-27-28 (in the Harbour Lounge) at Weigh West Resort, 634 Campbell St., Tofino.

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Wild Pacific trail – Mark Penney
20″x34″ photographic print (giclee) on archival canvas, gallery wrapped on cedar stretchers.
$400
The trail is a major attraction in Ucluelet, I find it intriguing how it dramatically it changes from hour to hour, day to day – each visit reveals new views of the west coast. It’s a well groomed trail, easily accessible from various points throughout the village.

When The Storm Breaks – Mark Penney
20″x34″ photographic print (giclee) on archival canvas, gallery wrapped on cedar stretchers.
$400
These are times when the storm has broken and the clear sky and still air is at total contrast to the heavy seas. For a while the offshore swells continue roll full force onto the beach.

Wikaninish Reflections – Mark Penney
20″x34″ Photographic print (giclee) on archival canvas.
$400

The Wik, is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon. Each beach in the area has it’s own distinct feel, and the wik is a friendly place that accommodates a large number of people without feeling crowded. Surfers, tourists, wedding parties, visitors to the Interpretive centre, restaurant patrons, and families, still there’s room to feel like you have the place all to yourself.

Sea Foam Green – Mark Penney
20″x34″ Photographic print (giclee) on archival canvas.
sold (private collection)
Sea foam is formed when the waves are whipped and churned by the winds, it blows like soap bubbles on the breeze.

Big green One – Mark Penney
20″x34″ Photographic print (giclee) on archival canvas.
$400
Wave studies are popular and after a few days’ blow there is a window of opportunity to photograph the seas. These are local coastal scenes; they’re printed on certified archival canvas, coated with a liquid acrylic laminate then stretched onto custom cedar stretchers. They’re lightfast and water resistant.

Big Beach at Dusk – Mark Penney
20″x34″ Photographic print (giclee) on archival canvas.
$400
These are local coastal scenes; they’re printed on certified archival canvas, coated with a liquid acrylic laminate then stretched onto custom cedar stretchers. They’re lightfast and water resistant.
Big Beach is right at the heart of Ucluelet, and a great place for a beach fire

Patterns of the World, 2008, Oil on canvas 48”x36” (122cm x 91cm) by Rob Elphinstone.

Nanaimo Artist, Rob Elphinstone, Contributes to International Peace Art Exhibition at Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

“The Worldwide Artists for Peace International Art Action Project” was created in February 2008 as an artist initiative.

İSTANBUL, a city connecting two old continents with its wide cultural mosaics, has been chosen as the first art action exhibition location. 67 Artists from 26 countries will take part in the first Art Action for Peace, involving 7 visual art disciplines; painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, digital and performance.

Two Canadian artists will participate: Rob Elphinstone from Nanaimo and Gerard Kelly from Corner Brook, Ontario. The exhibition, consisting of visual fine arts exhibitions, video and performance, runs at three locations in Istanbul; Dolmabahçe Art Gallery, House of Photography, Istanbul Photography Center.
It begins on September 26 and runs to October 15, 2009.

For further information contact: http://afp-iaa.co.nr
Or by email: artactionistanbul@gmail.com

Details of the program can be found below and questions can be directed to:
Rob Elphinstone Phone 250-758-6344
email : robelphinstone@shaw.ca

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I had the opportunity to fly with ‘Crazy Louis’ of West Coast Wild Adventures; he runs a charter flight service from Whiskey Landing, offering short flights and tours with his Cessna 180.

I’ve spent a lot of time on the Ucluelet area but almost none of it in the air.  Seeing the broken group and the coastline of vancouver island from the air is amazing. You come away from it with a new perspective on the peninsula and an appreciation for the beauty of the area.

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Photographic Prints – Nigel Brooks Peer

These fascinating images are created the hard way, in the darkroom with overlapping negatives, hand exposed on photographic paper. Nigel has traveled extensively to more than 50 countries, collecting candid portraits and culturally relevant images. He juxtaposes the images together in ways that sometimes result in harmonies and sometimes in tension. His early works have a bite to them, often provocative, and sometimes shocking, his later works are tempered with a sensitivity that took a decade to form. Recently he’s been shooting digitally and we’ve been adapting a series to contemporary giclee printing on  archival canvas.

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.

Mark Penney, printmaking in Ucluelet

The first print-job with the new Breathing Color Lyve canvas is complete. I got a profile from tech support ( I didn’t see any Lyve profiles posted online yet). They offer a custom profile service, very impressive although I usually make my own.

I’m impressed with the canvas, the weave looks similar to PremierArt’s water resistant canvas with a smoother gesso finish. The raw canvas is dead flat ( totally matte) before the laminate is applied. The prints come alive as the laminate cures.

These images are custom sized and gallery wrapped for the installation,  stretched on 2″ custom cedar stretchers, and by all accounts; very juicy.

Living in the Tofino , Ucluelet area, represented by Mark Penney Gallery in Ucluelet Nigel brooks Peer has recently been recognized by National Geographic.

www.nigelbrookspeer.com nigelbrookspeer@gmail.com

Throughout my life, I’ve been a free thinker and traveller, who passionately expresses through mixed media arts. I’ve explored the world for years, getting in touch with how rich and poor people live all over the world.

My travel and experiences inspire me to make art that gets people thinking about the conventions we live in, our past, our culture and our part in it.

Born April 27, 1972 in Vancouver, B.C. Took very fist picture with a disposable black and white camera when i was 6 in the redwood forest in California . I was very close to my grandfather, we share the same birthday. After he died, I picked up his camera and started using it taking photos.

Growing up in Surrey, I witnessed racial violence and saw farmland and forest change into suburban sprawl. This opened my eyes at a young age to how different cultures collide and grow together.

My whole understanding of the planet and where we are today is reflected in my art. Seeing and experiencing all different cultures through travel allowed me to understand the global picture, and how we affect the planet and each other.

After high school I went to South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore and got my first taste of world travel. I returned home to attend college studying history and philosophy, then art through sculpture and ceramics. After graduating, I continued my travels through eastern Mediterranean and Africa visiting historical sites in Egypt, Greece, Turkey and Italy.

Inspired to play with art further I attended Emily Carr focusing on ceramics sculpture . In my work I explored the juxtaposition between earth and gravity. I also experimented with crystalline glazes on ceramics . Leaded to photography for easier dialog for everyday people to challenge our understanding of international culture , modern society , and our environment .

I traveled again in Europe seeking new expression for myself. I got involved in photo documenting what was going on in countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary. I was developing my eye and becoming more of a photographer. I shot rolls and rolls of film because it felt like the right thing to do. I didn’t understand what I was doing until years later when I used these images in my current work. International Social commentary …

In the middle of art school I continued my world travels through all the major continents, doing documentary photography in India, Cambodia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Peru, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and such far off places such as Papua New Guinea, Tibet and Rapa Nui. Landing in morocco on September  11 , 2001 .

Traveling all over western Canada , exploring or culture , from the oil patch , to organic farms . Lived in work camps in the frozen north , now in small resort town Tofino .

Feeling that I have a voice that needs to be heard, I’m now fully involved in creating art though digital photography looking at the reflections we all need in our time . Recently recognized by National Geographic . Readdressing old work and digital remastering and printing with contemporary giclee print technology. I’m also getting involved in meditation, following a spiritual existence that I’ve always felt. Energetic Elemental Zen …

*Education

1998 – 2003  Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Vancouver, B.C.

1992 – 1996  Kwantlen University College, Surrey, B.C.

Right next door to Whiskey Landing is the Ucluelet Aquarium. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re traveling with children. It’s full of touch tanks and has an amazing array of local sea life. Dave and the staff there are friendly, knowledgeable and great with children (and tourists).

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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

Ucluelet is an area very much alive, even with good access to wildlife it’s still difficult to get the animals to hold still and pose.
I rarely carry wildlife photography in the gallery, although select images have made their special appearances.

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