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Downtown Duncan Art Pages
PAULINE DUECK CRITTERS OF THE COWICHAN VALLEY EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS A Thriving Arts and Cultural Community
I often say “there are many artists who paint deep, thought provoking works – I’m not one of them.” But if I can impart a sense of wonder or whimsy or humor, I am all over that. I am unapologetically a teller of tales and painter of “happy art,” perhaps my small attempt to counter the deepening sense of global despair. “Critters of the Cowichan Valley” is a body of paintings telling stories of the animals that inhabit and enrich our lives locally. We are so blessed to live in an area where animals are accessible and present in our lives! I enjoy “meeting and greeting” my muses, whether a scheduled photo shoot, or a random fortuitous encounter. Observing animals first hand gives me insight into their individual personalities, often triggering the whimsical narrative that I surround them with.
I enjoy painting a variety of subjects, but it is always a good day in the studio when I have an animal staring back at me from the easel. I paint their eyes early in the process so their soul feels present as I work, holding me accountable to do a good job. I use a combination of acrylic paints and glazes, in a variety of thick and thin layers, to create a soft “blendy” painting. As a former veterinary technologist turned full time artist, my intimate association with animals and understanding of their anatomy is seen in my detailed depictions of them. There is some degree of realism in my work, but I intentionally depart from photo realism as I enjoy a more unpredictable outcome. Honestly, it feels like a magic chemistry when paint and a flat white canvas morph into a new friend!
Tough Enough To Wear Pink 12” x 12” Acrylic on Canvas by Pauline Dueck Date Night 20” x 16” Acrylic on Canvas by Pauline Dueck
Thyme” 16” x 20” Acrylic on Canvas by Pauline Dueck Excellent Frameworks Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St, Duncan 250-746-7112 excellentframeworks.ca ejhughes.ca
A TOUCH OF WINTER MAGIC NEW PAINTINGS BY DALE BYHRE AT AQUAMARIS ART GALLERY
Idyllic, pastoral scenes eloquently painted by the award-winning Canadian artist Dale Byhre, add a heartwarming touch of winter magic to the existing offering of Byhre’s landscapes and marine themed works of art at Aquamaris Art Gallery.
Painted in acrylic on panel and board, and true to traditional landscape sizes that perfectly suit his contemporary impressionist style, these little gems portray acres of winter wonderland and invite a viewer to marvel at the harmony of winter hues.
In a delicate balance between broad brush work and exquisite fine detail, Dale Byhre captures the winter landscape in strokes of brilliance, setting his signature glowing skies in contrast with elements clad in muted blues and greys and grounded in deep browns and auburns. Whether it’s the warmth of a winter sunrise as it glistens across a frozen field or the evening light caught in barren canopies of trees as they tower over their long shadows, there’s much comfort to be derived from the palpable cold in these universally appealing and poetic depictions of rural Western Canada in wintertime.
Evening Winter Shadows, Acrylic on Board, 11” x 14” by Dale Byhre
First Light on a Frosty Morning, Acrylic on Panel, 12” x 16” by Dale Byhre
They make truly special, oneof-a kind works of Canadian fine art to deck the walls with any time of the year. Happy Holidays!
Aquamaris Art Gallery Upstairs in the historic Duncan Garage Building Suite 202 - 330 Duncan Street (250) 597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com
DECEMBER ARTS
AQUAMARIS ART GALLERY Adding a touch of elegance and sparkle to the artwork displayed in the gallery this Holiday Season are tall and slender abstracted works by the newly introduced mixed media artist, Laila Jensen, while the newest small paintings of poppies by Gail Johnson bring splashes of bright reds. December Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am - 5:00 pm Suite 202-330 Duncan St. Downtown Duncan 250-597-2798 aquamarisartgallery.com
EXCELLENT FRAMEWORKS EJ HUGHES GALLERY Excellent Frameworks SURPRISE Custom framing sale! Visit our Instagram page or website for our surprise sale! Get your artwork custom framed at a fantastic price... With a surprise frame! Excellent Frameworks - Home of the EJ Hughes Gallery 115 Kenneth St., downtown Duncan 250-746-7112 excellentframeworks.ca
