ANNIE GALLANT
Observer Reporter
For the first time in her artistic career Antoinette Ros is showing her work, along with fellow local artists Judy Cottyn and Maureen Wheeler at the Quesnel Art Gallery for the month of March.
“It was suggested I find two artists whose work complements my work,” Ros said.
“Judy’s paper mache and tissue paper flowers and Maureen’s painted rocks work well with my acrylic and watercolour work.”
She admitted up to recently, her work has found its way onto the walls of family and friends, but now Ros is entering the world of professionalism.
“I’ve painted all my life and in the past few years my work has been included in several group shows,” she said.
However, this show, Ros’ work is centre stage on the walls of the gallery.
Her work features rocks, flowers, shorelines and many other organic subjects.
And for this artist, she loves it when a piece comes out like she envisioned it.
“It’s amazing, I’m often surprised that I painted that,” Ros said.
She draws inspiration from what she sees, especially the ocean and shore.
“I always think ‘someone should paint that’,” she said.
For Cottyn, paper mache has been one of her media of choice.
“But this is the first time I’ve done so many species,” she said.
“Paper mache is so versatile, I use it as a canvas. I like dimensional things.”
She said the three of them had discussed the show a couple of years ago and it morphed into an organic show.
“It’s about the life cycle of all living things, even rocks slowly break down,” Cottyn said.
“This show is about colour, spring, summer, fall, the cycle of the seasons.”
Brightly coloured flowers sit on plinths in the gallery, some Cottyn isn’t even sure are real flowers, but the medium and her creativity give the vivid displays a realistic presence.
“I call it artistic license,” she said with a smile.
Wheeler has also been creating her unique painted rocks for years.
“I’ve always been a rock collector,” she said.
After her sister suggested she try painting some of her treasures, Wheeler found she loved the medium.
“I love the three-dimensional aspect, every rock has a personality,” she said.
“You just have to look for it.”
Wheeler’s rocks will be showcased as a floor scene including a simulated water element.
As to how large can a rock painting be, Wheeler said her most ambitious project was a 60-pound rock, but said the most challenging part of rock painting is the awkward shapes she must work around.
“My favourite are round, river rocks, but I’ll paint all types of rocks,” she said.
Although she uses primarily local rocks, she said she brought some sandstone from the island.
The show, titled It is Better to Leave Silent Things Silent is an excerpt Ros translated from a Dutch poem.
“The silent things of our world range from the ephemeral (flowers) to the almost permanent (rocks.) In between the extremes can be decomposing logs or deteriorating buildings,” Ros said.
“We are three hermits who appreciate the silent things of our world.”
The show runs until March 26 and gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Arts and Recreation Centre.
The show sponsor is Ron Paull Communications and Quality Tax Services.