Marla Thirsk - 'Ucluelet's Artist'
Honouring, 46 x 36”
Marla Thirsk lives on the extreme West Coast of Canada in Ucluelet BC. She is recognized for her paintings and her 'fearless' approach to Art by working in many mediums and genres. Never without a sketchbook in hand, Marla is constantly drawing and noting ideas for her next painting. You are often refered to as Ucluelet’s Artist? What has kept you there for the past 30+ years?
You know, I can’t recall exactly when that moniker got applied to me….a long while ago now. I’ve been involved in the Arts out here, and being a part of PRAS for 25 years. I’ve organized special arts events, painted most of the murals around town, designed posters for pretty much most of the Festivals; that I was the person folks came to for any questions or information or just wanting to make something happen artistically. Somewhere along the way I got called “Ucluelet’s Artist”, which I am proud of.
Tell us about “Disconnect” and how that piece impacted your career?
I attended an opening at Sooke Fine Arts Show and saw a painting that completely mesmerized me. It was of a woman in a bathing suit, It had a very 1950’s look to her and it inspired me greatly. I recalled that I had a collection of old photos of my mother who was extremely photogenic. She had died when I was in my early 30’s and I hadn’t looked at those pictures since.
lications and won. To date it is the one painting that gets me the most recognition and has put me on the ‘Art Map’, so to speak. Being a full time artist can often be challenging. What has kept you true to your passion?
My father used to quip that he believed I had been born with a paintbrush in my hand as art was what I constantly did. It took me until I was in my 40’s to be serious about it. There is a huge backstory here about all the things that sidelined me but throughout all that chaos, I still did art. I just never believed I was good enough.
They opened a flood of memories. We had a tortured relationship. When she passed away, unexpectedly from a terrible and rare disease, much was left unresolved between us. Paintings poured out of me. All the strangeness of that time came out onto the canvas.
Fearless, 42 x 34”
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I put these paintings into the Mark Penney Gallery and they started to sell. ‘Disconnect’ went into the 2010 Sooke Show and won the Dianne Farris Juror’s Award. The image was submitted to various pubwww.islandartsmag.ca
Disconnect, 32 x 36”
