Carollyne Yardley and Ernest Marza (home and studio visit, May 14, 2012)

Back in March 2009, I first experienced a visit to the magical world of Ernie Marza.  He describes it as his little world of art nouveau.
Today, I popped over there again, and was overwhelmed. Except this time - my eyes were prepared for the feast and eager with anticipation.

While Ernie has most of his own paintings in his studio room, he reserves the living room for works by other painters from other centuries, a fine collection that he has accumulated over the decades from artists living as far away as Europe and South America. (click for video + story

Ernie gave us a lovely tour of his personal art collection. Each painting, lamp, sculpture or ornament has a story. Most paintings have been adorned with frame handcrafted by Ernie himself. His carved, painted and inlaid frames not only match a painting, but each one acts as if it had always been apart of the piece.

Hand made frame with light fixture, Ernest Marza

Ernie Marza’ passion for elaborate picture frames makes him one of the people who have influenced me in pairing ornate frames with paintings. I love to collect ornate frames, and use them to frame my work. I would love to add embellishments such as light fixtures, like Ernie does, in future.

Ernie’s passion and experience with art history, and collectables is masterful. He is a great storyteller, and  I like to imagine his adventures have been legendary.

Crow watching, except during this picture when he turned his head.

While we were there, his crow came by to inspect the visitors. The crow, he says, ‘followed me from his previous residence.”  This crow sits on the patio and watches Ernie while he paints. Today, the crow flew away when I went to snap a picture, but he sat in the tree watching for the rest of our visit.

Dracula, Ernie Marza

Back in 2009, he allowed me to collect one of his Dracula paintings, only he says, “because we both come from the same part of the world.”  I like to think we also come from a blissful world where everyone dances, loves romances, and wonders how a squirrel got a fabulous hat in that lovely shade of blue.

Cabinet made by Ernie Marza

Many thanks to Philip Willey for his review at Exhibit-V about my art show Sirius Squirrels at Sooke Harbour House.  Here is an excerpt and click to read entire article here.

Call it synchronicity or serendipity, one of those words, but sometimes things just seem to come together….as when three quite different artists with similar pop interests decide to show simultaneously.

……The squirrels turned out to be an ideal vehicle for communicating her observations about people. They allow her to explore character development without being too blatant or anthropomorphic. We in turn are obliged to think about her intentions. If we recognize something of ourselves in these cute little creatures so much the better.

Her technique is illustrational rather than painterly and always it’s the big eyes, that look of startled surprise, which hold the viewer’s interest. Her work will be at Sooke Harbour House Gallery until May 28^th.

The Dovekeeper, Oil on Board, 24 X 30, Carollyne Yardley, 2012

Also thanks to Amy Smart of the Times Colonist

When: May 1-28. Opening reception May 6, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Why: Squirrel fanatic? This show’s for you. Everyone else? Well, if you’ve got a sense of humour, you may appreciate Carollyne Yardley’s wacky surrealist world. Sample painting: A squirrel with a woman’s body who is standing in a nest, cupping a bird in its hands and also wearing an elaborate feathered hat and powdered wig. Yardley specializes in creating imaginary creatures and characters through paintings, illustrations, multimedia, digital art and costume design.

- Amy Smart

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/Critics+Picks/6558352/story.html#ixzz1uufsGIO5

I was fortunate enough to get invited to Steve Chmilar’s studio for the Farewell to Victoria show, and was pleased to see some pen and ink drawings amongst his paintings for show and sale.

This little pen on paper drawing caught my eye. It is the preliminary drawing to the final drawing for the painting (see below)!   The painting is still in progress, but here are snaps of my newly acquired Steve Chmilar pen drawing, the second drawing where he has made many changes and the final work-in-progress painting.

http://stevechmilar.com/

Steve Chmilar and Carollyne Yardley April 2012

Steve Chmilar pen drawing

Steve Chmilar Victoria studio - second drawing and painting in progress on easel

Join us for a tour and taste at Victoria Gin distillery, and take in Bill Blair’s new show of art work. Bill will also be setting up one of his large paint-by-number backdrops for photos!

https://www.facebook.com/events/419184001425450/

The Horned Squirrel of Cedar by Bill Blair

The Horned Squirrel of Cedar Hill, Bill Blair, 2011, Collection of Carollyne Yardley

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Patience and I blog at isavirtue. I was delighted to discover that Maryam and I shared an interest in art and that she wanted me to do a post about it on Pamplemousse 1983. In Real Life I work as a gallery manager and as I sat at work pondering what I could write about here – it suddenly hit me – it was right in front of my face. Literally. Except it wasn’t a human face staring back at me. It was a squirrel!

READ ARTICLE

Also find them on Facebook.

Steampunk Squirrel | Oil on Board | 2011 | Carollyne Yardley