Description

Join us for this incredible ode to the coast of BC - reawakening your appreciation for the incredible ecosystem we are immersed in in the Pacific Northwest and especially in the unique ecology of the Gulf Islands.

Based on Gabriola Island, Isle of the Arts, Hilary Farmer worked as an architect through of her career before turning full time to her painting. She is fast establishing herself as a landscape artist to watch. Her passion for Asian studies and as a Tai Chi practitioner and teacher also highly influences her meditative approach to her artwork.

A collection of 24 oil and ink paintings by Hilary Farmer. With Gabriola Island as her muse she takes us deep into forest floor landscapes and coastal tidal pool wetscapes. Her new process of using ink under the oil paint in many of the pieces adds a rich depth and a loose sense of movement under the surface.

The landscape here is my muse. From the tree canopy of Elder Cedar to the shoreline at Drumbeg, from a piece of lichen dropped on the forest floor to the curious texture of sandstone at the Malaspina Gallery, Gabriola is full of inspiration everywhere my eyes turn. Pausing to linger for a longer look is always rewarded by yet more inspiration. There is pleasure in the shifting reflections of clouds crossing a pond or the dazzling light dancing on a tidal pool. And if I’m very lucky the wild creatures who share this special place will show themselves …then they’re gone leaving a soft touch on my soul to remember them by and share in my painting.

This series also follows an evolution in medium and technique. Most of these paintings were begun with a black ink under-painting of washes and mark-making adding to the final depth and texture of each piece. - Hilary Farmer