science world

The Beauty of Everyday Life – An Interview with Angela Weichel

By Alyssa Laube

About: Angela Weichel is a local, self-taught artist based out of Langley,B.C..She is inspired by everyday subjects and colours that can come to life on a canvas, and her acrylic paintings include a variety of wild life, landscapes, still life, and portraits.

Can you tell the story of how you started out in art?

I started painting as gifts for friends and family, until I received my first commission in June 2012. A family wanted to do a culture wall of eight paintings in their home to represent their adopted children and their heritage. Shortly afterwards, I entered into my first public art show and began showing my work. In February of 2014, I joined the Fort Langley Artists Group. This group has been an amazing way to meetand connect with other artists in mycommunity. We have a gallery in Fort Langley, BC at the Heritage CN Train Station. The next opening will be in May!

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How did you teach yourself how to paint and are you still teaching yourself today?

My first time painting, my goal was to make my canvas look just like the photo I was referencing. I used to go from one side to the other to fill the space, which caused issues since I wasn’t creating any backgrounds or layering. I taught myself over time how to be patient and create a painting little by little without getting ahead of myself. Hopefully I will always be learning and growing, as long as I have a brush in my hand!

What is it about painting birds that you enjoy?

Birds seem to have so much personality. I love to focus in on them as the main subject, letting the background fall away. I also enjoy the fact that there are so many species to choose from and each has their own stunning feathers and colours.

What do you love about your hometown of Langley? How did it inspire you artistically?

I love that Langley is a “city meets country” kind of place. Wherever I drive, I can picture different spots along the way that would be great to paint. I’m particularly drawn to the sights off Glover Road, the quaint charm of Fort Langley, and pastoral colours set against the backdrop of the Coast Mountains.

When you paint a landscape, do the places always exist in reality, or are they often creations of your imagination?

They always exist in reality. My favourite landscape experience was during an early morning in August of 2013. I got out early to meet the sunrise behind a barn that I had noticed a few days earlier. I placed my easel on the field and painted the scene as quickly as I could before the sun crept up. It was a beautiful morning!

Can you explain what you mean by “still life” and why you are interested in it?

Still Life painting is a work of art created from everyday objects. It can be fruit, flowers, a tea pot, or even a bottle of wine. It is totally up to the artist as to how they would like to interpret “still life.” I would love to paint more in this theme. It interests me because there are so many options and it is a great way to challenge myself.

Which artists or works of art inspire you?

My first inspiration as a high school student was Paul Cezanne (1839-1906). I was taken by his still life paintings and the rough brush stokes that he used in his work.

Currently I am inspired by artists like Zaria Forman, and Carol Marine.I love to watch their hard work and the amazing pieces they produce.

How has having such a big family impacted you and your life?

When I think of my family, I think of Sunday lunch after church. It’s a regular occurrence to see twenty people around the table laughing and sharing our weeks with one another. I have amazing parents who have guided me in my faith, and us siblings challenge each other for the better. But we’ve also had our share of trials: in 1996 we moved half-way across Canada with little more than faith that God would provide for us when we arrived in BC, and we’ve recently suffered a terrible loss to cancer. Our Sundays since then have changed, but we find newfound joy in all the nieces and nephews running around. Through everything, I love my family and thank God for every day I get with them.

What do you like about painting portraits, compared to you landscape and other works?

Painting a portrait really challenges me to be patient with my work. Emotion is not something you can rush. Every face has a story – and I enjoy using my paint to re-create that story.

Can you recall any specific portraits that had a lasting effect on you?

My brother (who is a photographer), was on a trip to the Philippines a few years back and he took a photo of a young girl. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to paint her. She was waiting for a bus that took inner-city children to a place where they received a bath and a fresh pair of clothes. I couldn’t get the look on her face out of my head. These are the types of portraits that I would love to paint more of.

Where can we find your work?

Currently you can find my work on my websiteand on Facebook. Starting in May, I will also have work in the FLAGstop Gallery in Fort Langley. To find out more about these shows, you can visit http://www.fortlangleyartistsgroup.com!

You can also learn more about Angela at:

http://www.angelaweichel.com/

For The Love of Art – An Interview with Caragh Geiser of Open Door Gallery

By Alyssa Laube

About: Caragh Geiser works on both sides of the art-selling business; She both creates and exhibits paintings at her Vancouver site, The Open Door Gallery! The gallery features a unique selection of local oil and acrylic paintings, some of which will be exhibited at this year’s Art World Expo.

What made you want to establish your own gallery? How did you go about doing it?

Despite a career in science, art has always been a necessary counterpoint in my life. Then about ten years ago I found out that my hairdresser was an incredible painter. He convinced me to model for him and it all blossomed from there.

At a dark point in my life Maurice showed me how to work in colour again, in every sense. Our shared love of painting led to an amazing two year fling and a return to the brush. My first painting, after a long period without art in my life, was called Open Door – which inspired the name of the gallery.

At the time, I was mostly seeking a way to capture all of Maurice’s undocumented work, and integrate it into some sort of curated platform. Irolled in my own pieces, and then somehow the artists just kept coming.

Open Door Gallery now carries the work of 14 local Vancouver and BC painters, and offers a unique selection of over 250oil and acrylic paintings and limited edition reproductions on stretched canvas.

Why do you feel it’s important to show local art?

Think of us like afarmer’s market for locally producedpaintings. By supporting local producers, you invest in a more stable local economy and higher quality arts future for our community. Our unique format allows the consumer toaccess the remarkable work produced by their next door neighbours.

What do you think makes Canadian artwork unique?

100% of the purchase price of Canadian made art is tax deductible as a business expense. Every painting offered by Open Door Gallery qualifies for this deduction. For detailed information please download our free eBook called the Corporate Guide to Canadian Art Acquisition at www.opendoorgallery.ca.

Do you think the style of art changes depending on what area of B.C. the artist is from?

Some have a very strong connection to their surrounding geography anda deep connection to nature. I invite you to explore the work of Mihaela Stefan, Roy Geronimo, Jojo Geronimoand Marina Wright.

How do you go about finding or attracting new artists?

We’ve established a clear style, and it seems that artists who respond to our aesthetic seek us out.

What sort of message do you try to convey with your work – if there is one?

We simply want to demonstrate that beautiful art is being produced all around you every day.Purchasing this art helps artists to stay in Vancouver and keep creating.There tends to be the perceptionthat it’s everyone for themselves and that we must all grab for a piece of the pie. My philosophy is to instead view it as a collaborative process, working together to make the pie bigger. Vancouver is poised to make a much larger name for itself in the art world. We have the talent and we have the world stage, so lets step into the limelight and show off our world class creative industry.

Who and/or what inspires you?

I know it’s almost a cliche, but Vincent Van Gogh is a painter’s painter and I love his work dearly. As an artist I feel a deep connection with the work of Sergy Mann, who has continued to paint 25 years after going blind, feeling his way around using pieces of stick tack on the canvas as co-ordinate points. But most importantly, I’m inspired by the Open Door Gallery artists who continue to produce inspiring work despite day jobs, families and other commitments.

How is the diversity between your artists at Open Door Gallery important?

The broad selection of styles, size and price represented in our gallery increases the likelihood that a particular painting will connect with a viewer. You can see the various collections, such as landscapes, nudes, abstracts, celebrities, and local landmarks at our website www.opendoorgallery.ca.

There are few things more exhilarating than buying a piece of art. At least once in your life you should allow yourself to purchase a painting you fall in love with.

You do more than just create art- you also buy, sell, and exhibit it. What is it like to be involved in all of these different areas, and which is your favourite?

I like to see the buying and selling of art as a natural extension of exhibitions. For us, the thrill comes from displaying these unique works.

Since the opening of the gallery, have you changed as a person or an artist? If so, how?

I don’t know if I’ve changed much as a person but I’ve certainly worked hard at building the gallery into something I’m proud to represent, and now it is time to give something back to the community.

We have partnered with AIDS Vancouver to create the #iheartlocalart fundraising campaign for May and June, with our launch at the Art World Expo. We have packs of gorgeous greeting cards and postcards for sale online and at our booth, featuring a selection of paintings by Open Door Gallery artists.

50% of art card salesand 10% of all original artwork sales in May and June will go directly to AIDS Vancouver to support them in continuing to provide community support services including Case Management, a Financial Assistance Fund, a Grocery and Nutrition Program, and a Confidential Helpline.

During the campaign, we will be exploring the research to date on the interconnection between art and health at the local level. Science tells us that viewing art and creating art is good for your brain.I truly believe that when you find a piece of art you deeply connect with, acquiringit is an extremely healthy act.

Check out iheartlocalart.cato find out more about our exciting campaign!

Why do you work specifically with contemporary oil and acrylic painters?

Many people think that contemporary art is a style of art, but it simply means art produced in the current era. All of our artists are therefore contemporary artists. We specialize in oil and acrylic works, most of which are oil or acrylic on stretched canvas. Nothing beats the richness of oil paint,however acrylics are a very close second. The latter are cheaper, easier to work with, and less toxic. When water soluble acrylic paints became available in the 1950’s, it was a revolution for budding artists everywhere.

What is it about fruit that you find interesting to paint?

I’m attracted to colour, and some of the most dazzling colours I’ve ever seen just happen to have been on produce.

How many different art forms have you explored?

Personally, I’ve worked with pencil, watercolour, charcoal, india ink, acrylic and most recently oil. Now that I have painted with oils this will always be my preference, although with two young children at home acrylics may have to do for a few years.

What sets Open Door Gallery apart from other galleries?

We operate without a dedicated retail storefront, so we can offer our services without high commissions.

You’ve been to a lot of exhibits – the Art World Expo is one of many. What makes this event special to you?

Through the affiliate ticket sales, presale items and silent auction, the format of the Art World Expo doing it right and putting money back into the pockets of the participants. As a member of Arts and Cultural Alliance of BC, Open Door Gallery is an advocate for this type of properly integrated business model.

What do you think is the most important thing while pursuing a career in the art industry?

The most important thing is to do the work behind the art.Nobody is going to discover you, you have to show yourself to the world.

To learn more about Open Door Gallery, visit:

http://www.opendoorgallery.ca/

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor:

Little Works of Art: Quality over Quantity

An Interview with Pam Jackson of Street Cat Designs

By Alyssa Laube

About: Street Cat Designs jewellery is a symphony of elegant gemstones, freshwater pearls and precious metals wrapped, coiled, crocheted and knitted into exquisite works of wearable art.They are hand-made by Vancouver designer Pam Jackson, who will be exhibiting at this year’s Art World Expo.

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What makes Street Cat Designs jewellery unique?

The uniqueness of my work comes from the techniques I use. I make everything except for chains and clasps myself. I don’t use moulds or pre-made components, so even if I were to try to duplicate a piece, no two would be exactly the same.

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What sort of materials do you use in your jewellery?

I use sterling silver and 14K gold fill wire in varying gauges, along with natural gemstones, freshwater pearls and Swarovski Crystals and Pearls. I don’t use any plated or base metals.

Where do you find your materials?

I have a number of sources for my materials, but the most important is my metals. I get them from the U.S.. They are certified and follow the European Union directive for jewellery metals. This directive regulates the metals in an alloy, so we are guaranteed that none of my jewellery will contain any amount of nickel or lead. My chains and clasps come from the same distributor and follow the same directives.

Why is the quality of your materials so important to you?

The fine quality of the materials contributes to the longevity of my jewellery. Each piece takes a huge number of hours to complete, so I want to use the best materials possible while still keeping it affordable. It makes sure that your piece will last and last.

What is your favourite material to use?

The gemstones I incorporate into my jewellery are determined by many factors. A lot of the time, it’s my mood that decides what I use. Every gemstone has it’s own properties; Some will calm the mind or soothe the soul, some will aid in clarity and inner strength, etc.. As I combine the gemstones, they’ll form an elixir of sorts that will continue to aid the person who ends up owning the piece. Other times, it’s simply the colours of the gemstones that pop out from my messy workspace!

Why is it important to you to create your jewellery entirely by hand?

Oh gosh, there are many reasons. I guess that the number one reason is because I can! It also allows me to know the quality of the materials. Once you start to buy your components, you lose the purity of the work. I love to take the wire and loop, coil, wrap, crochet and knit it into little works of art.

Can you list some ways that you find inspiration?

My inspiration comes from so many places and things! From the messy desk, to current and past fashion, nature, and the gemstone properties, each piece is dictated by the mood I’m in or what i’m being influenced by. It could be something like the music or t.v. show I’m listening to, or even sunlight being filtered through the huge laurel tree outside of my studio window.

How would you describe your designing style?

I once had someone describe a pair of earrings as “little fairy gardens for your ears”. I like that.

Why do you love making jewellery?

It calms my mind and gives me a sense of peace, serenity and accomplishment. Also, it just thrills me that people want to wear it!

Where can customers find your products?

My work is available at Fine Finds, Blushing Boutique, Jeweliette, Two of Hearts (all downtown Vancouver), Favourite Gifts (Lonsdale Quay), Noir Lash Lounge (Lower Lonsdale), Tiny Finery (East Hastings), Juvelisto (Steveston), Muddy River Landing (Ladner), and Just Jewellery (South Surrey).

It is also available at Portobello West Fashion and Art Markets, and a number of other markets around town. You can check my website for updates on markets at www.streetcatdesigns.net