OPENS Aug 19th - Sept 7th
Come and look with us. Through portraits and figurative works, this exhibition explores the connection between artist and subject. Each work began with a shared moment of observation, trust, and presence, preserving a fleeting encounter. More than a likeness, these works seek to reveal the individuality, emotion, and humanity of each subject. As they meet your gaze, we invite you to pause, explore these moments, and discover the connection that extends from artist to subject, and from the artwork to you.
EVENTS:
Artist pARTy: August 22nd, 6-8pm. Please join us!
LOOKING OUT, LOOKING IN
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The figure paintings represent my west coast life. Beach , Snow , Ocean and community,, a classic Legion party. The subjects are a mix of family and friends that complete my left coast life.
The Face Changer series represents change of emotions. How everything can shift in a split second, a smirk to a laugh , quietly listening to untapped rage. combining the viewer's motion to interact with works emotional change makes the viewer part of the work.
ARTIST BIO:
Matt Vyner is an emerging acrylic painter based on Bowen Island, British Columbia. His long term passion for skateboarding and snowboarding have had a strong influence on his artistic style. Matt's recent expansion into multi dimensional paintings has opened a new door of his work. Using bright and bold colours to create a dream-like feel is a common theme in his paintings. . .
Matt Vyner Artist Statement
Stuart Slind
Artist Statement
What makes portrait painting so fascinating to me is that as an artist you are first of all dealing with all the complexities of art as a craft. By which, I mean using a set of learned techniques that one has spent years in developing. This is the technical side of art, which has to be (unfortunately) very precise in rendering a realistic portrait. After this you are faced with a greater challenge. What are the important details of the sitter that will convey their uniqueness as an individual. What parts do I focus on and emphasize? Would greater detail add to the painting or would it be a distraction and how do I bring the various elements into a comprehensive whole?
If that isn’t hard enough you are also attempting to render the more ephemeral spiritual side of the person. Trying to see them as something that is greater than the sum of their parts.
A uniqueness that is theirs alone.
ARTIST BIO
Stuart Slind is a Canadian painter who currently lives on Bowen Island. He paints landscape, still life and portraits. He Studied at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and the Seattle Academy of Realist Art. His work explores themes of intimacy and connectedness to the world around us. The style and mood of his paintings are rooted in the artistic traditions of northern Europe.
He has exhibited at the Bau-Xi gallery in Vancouver and Toronto, as well as galleries across Europe.
Heather Wilkinson
Artist Statement
Painting in mostly watercolour and some acrylics and oils, Heather discovered that painting moments of beauty..faces, flowers, landscapes, abstracted landscape was something that gave her great satisfaction. Sharing these with others has also been a great joy for her. She started at age 64 with watercolour, mostly portraits, and was surprised and thrilled to find a gift there that she hadn’t known before. During Covid time she painted many flowers and landscapes. In Mexico she painted oils and a participated in a group mural project. Most recently she has studied abstracted landscape acrylics and plein aire painting in France with Alison Watt. In 2024, she studied watercolour, in Venice, with Watercolourist Mary Whyte.
ARTIST BIO:
Heather is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists has exhibited her paintings at the Federation’s Granville Island Gallery online exhibitions many times.
She has exhibited at Whytes Gallery in Comox, oftentimes at the Pearl Ellis, at the Comox Valley Art Gallery Christmas event and Comox Community Centre. Her paintings have also been exhibited at various restaurants and cafes (Mudsharks, the Naam, the Hub, Broken Spoke, The Bayside and others) and she currently has several paintings on display at Comox Avenue Dental and at Dreamlife Mattress Company on Ryan Road in Courtenay. In Mexico, Heather has participated in many Art walks and in local exhibitions at the La Manzanilla Gallery and Galeria Amiga in Melaque.