My journey to meet other artists continues!

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting artists Ken Horn and Michael Lewis.

Thanks to an introduction by Kristy Garry, Acupuncturist – I met with Ken and saw his work which hangs at O’Bean’s Cafe at the Oak Bay Junction.  The following week, Ken and I both visited Michael Lewis at his studio.

Ken Horn was born in Scotland, studied art in Sweden, and at Croydon Art College in England before coming to Canada in 1975 where he spent a year studying art conservation in Ontario. Initially working in black and white Celtic designs, he has since spent a season or two working in clay but from about 1997 to the present finds him concentrating mainly on the use of acrylics.

I really like the characters that Ken develops.  In particular, The Windmill Girl and Warrior Queen. I highly recommend popping into O’Bean’s Cafe the next time you’re passing by. Each piece tells it’s own story, and is wonderfully illustrated and rendered.  He’s on my list to purchase a piece in the near future.

Ken has also written and illustrated two books, At The Crossroads and Ghost Flowers.

Ken Horn at O'Bean's Cafe with his artwork

Also on my list to collect is Michael Lewis. I was introduced to his work by Bonnie Laird, Artist, and ArtWorks Program Coordinator at The Garth Homer Society.

Michael has the most awesome studio (insert studio envy). If you like comic books, vintage toys, and cool stuff like plastic hula girls and boomerangs, this is a pleasure zone. Clearly his inspiration comes from his passion for the old time funnies, but his work also has a serious side to it which he communicates in a very clever way. And, if you follow Michael on Facebook, you’ll get to know him equally well for his love of puns. For example, Tuesday’s pun of the day, “Heard that fishy artist Arnold Bocklin was drawn to mermaids for models because they worked for scale/.”  Ok, you get the picture. He’s a funny guy.

Michael Lewis, Artist

Michael Lewis, Artist's Studio

Tropical Girl Squirrel & Gnome | Oil on Canvas | 2011

I’ve just completed Tropical Girl Squirrel and Gnome. This was inspired by a recent adventure to the Hawaiian Islands, vintage postcards by Garry Palm, and my Grandmother’s dress. Over the years I have accumulated a collection of vintage gowns and dresses. I like to trot them out now and again to relive their glory days by wearing them out to a party. But, I have discovered a new reason to give them life!

Dress modeled for Tropical Girl Squirrel & Gnome

I posed myself in the style of a vintage postcard wearing my grandmothers dress.  Adding some creative & imaginative alterations, I transformed it into a fun fresh girly dress for this painting (and added giant boobs). I had been planning on painting a Gnome Squirrel, and then I acquired a painting by Noah Becker called, Gnome. As a result, I was inspired to incorporate a gnome into my next painting. I think that Gnome Squirrel might be next, but I’ve been meaning to work on Elvis Squirrel, which is still unfinished.

Show opens Friday, March 18, 6-9 pm
Jennifer David and Dave Barnes

Wild Things, View Art Gallery, Victoria, BC

WILD THINGS
March 18 to April 16, 2011

Gallery hours
Tues-Sat | 11 am – 5 pm
104 – 860 View Street, Victoria, BC
Phone: 250-213-1162
Web: www.viewartgallery.ca

A new gallery has opened up in Victoria, BC by artist Marion Evamy called the Red Art Gallery, where colour makes you happy!

Red Art Gallery, Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC

Grand Opening celebrations to take place
on March 5th., 2011 from noon to 4 pm.

Oak Bay Artists Studio Tour  April 16 & 17, 2011 from noon to 4:30 pm…

Any art lovers attending the studio tour at the gallery April 16 & 17th, who
are wearing “red,” will be eligible to enter a draw to win an original work
of art by Marion Evamy.

2033 oak bay avenue victoria b.c.
250-881-0462

www.redartgallery.ca

Here’s the list of Art Openings around Victoria, BC – Courtesy of Exhibit-V

http://www.exhibit-v.ca/OpeningNight.html