Artists’ Demos Offer Glimpses Into Creativity

Gallery Manager Stephanie Allesia said a series of demo videos, showing the work and techniques of local artists, are a ‘toe in the water’ for Rainforest Arts.

Rainforest Arts is offering A Peek into the Artistic Process from the perspectives of members, who braved the limelight to demonstrate their approach to making art.

“It’s a great way for people to kind of get a taste of various artistic avenues that they may not know very much about,” said Rainforest Arts Gallery Manager Stephanie Allesia, who organized a one-day shoot where seven demo videos were recorded. “We worked with a fabulous local videographer Keyworks Designs,” she said. “We were there for eight and a half hours, with set up and take-down and filming, and we just shot right through. It was a fun day.”

‘Fun’, despite the jitters some of the artists felt stepping in front of the camera. “It’s something that most of them haven’t done a lot of, online demos and online work,” Allesia said. “But everyone had a great time. It was a lot of fun.”

The demos, which can be accessed from the menu of RainForestArts.ca, include:

Cim MacDonald - Watercolour, incorporating the added element of wax.

Brenda Isaak Taylor - Mixed Media on canvas using acrylic ink, stencils and paper.

Robert Cerins - gave an artist’s talk on getting the mind ready to begin creating.

Lori Schiersmann - Ceramic paste on glassware.

Sarah Brunt - Quilling, rolled paper strips used to create decorative designs.

Margot Page - The ancient form of enamelling art onto sheet metal. Diana Durrand - Mixed media, incorporating fabric into paintings with acrylics.

“The videos are not meant for full tutorials,” Allesia explained. “They’re meant for a taste, or a peek into an artistic process, or a particular style.”

For Rainforest Arts this project has been an experiment. “Other places have been doing a lot online, but for us this is a toe in the water, and we’d like to see how it goes,” Allesia said, adding that she’s optimistic online presentations will become part of the RFA mix.

The project was made possible by funding through the BC Arts Council and the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, the parent organization of Rainforest Arts.

Up next at the RFA gallery: Big Art, a group show of larger art pieces that will be on display from September 1 through November 15. Keep up with the Chemainus Valley and region arts scene at RainforestArts.ca, or on RFA’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Rainforest Arts is located at 9871 Willow Street. Make contact at 250-246-4861 or info@ rainforestarts.ca