Slowdown. Forme.

Yukoner Donna Lawther is currently showing her artwork at Bullet Hole Bagels in Whitehorse. It’s her first exhibition and she is very excited about it. Chakras and Flowers are the two themes for her exhibition. Lawther is using a technique known as pour painting (or liquid art).

“I enjoy using rainbow colours in the order they appear in our chakras, for my abstract paintings. I then pull at the colours with a pallet knife, blow them out with a blowdryer and then tilt and turn until an image appears that I am happy with,” she said.

Her flower paintings are less abstract because she is using a different technique. She is pouring the colours in rings and purposely blows the paint out from the middle, with a blowdryer and a straw, to create petals and lacing.

Lawther is a retired elementary school teacher. She is originally from Alberta and has spent several years in Australia, where her husband is from, before she settled in the Mendenhall subdivision. She is also the author of the children’s book: Harry the Hug Monster

A couple of winters ago, Lawther found her passion for painting when she was searching for a pastime to do during long winter nights. “I’ve always wanted to paint pictures but never learned how. My only clue was what I learned in a drawing class, years ago: don’t try and draw the big picture. Break it down [in] to little shapes and just draw them.”

She then thought a paint-bynumber kit would teach her the skill and she would have lots of half-used little pots of paints

 Giant pour painting before swiping or tipping left over to do her own paintings when she was done. So she bought a set and got started. She told What’s Up Yukon that she enjoyed completing the paint by numbers but didn’t like the detailed stayin-the-lines concentration that the art required. “I’m more of a slip-slop-slap kind of gal. And my one attempt at painting scenery on a blank canvas was a major fail.”

When she searched what to do with the leftover paints, she discovered pour painting. “It looked much more my style: just dump it and tip it around.” At first it was tricky for her to find the right consistency. Further cont’d on page 23 ... research revealed that most pour-painting artists mix acrylic paint with pouring medium, paint conditioner and water. But when she tried that, she couldn’t get the right consistency for a good pour painting. “That’s when I thought of our leftover white acrylic indoor wall paint and discovered that it was much easier to get to the right runny consistency just by adding a bit of water.”

Her friends soon heard about her new craft and gave her their leftover wall paints in a variety of colours. In addition to that, she bought a big can of black and a few sample cans of primary colours.

“I was hooked! Every night, as soon as my husband turned on the TV, I retreated to our shed to put on some music and paint.”

The most time-consuming part, for her, was getting all of the paints ready and at the same consistency. Once she started pouring, it was so fun and easy.

“I never knew what it was going to turn out like. I loved it when images started forming, like dragons or birds,” the artist said. Inspired by her yoga class, she also made a series of chakra paintings, starting with a line of blogs in the order of the chakras.

Recently, Lawther went to Australia where her adult kids are living. Her daughter and her boyfriend asked her to do a giant pour painting for a tall wall beside the staircase in the house they had just bought. When she gave her kids and husband a cup of paint, they were surprised.

“It’s about time you let me have a go; you don’t usually even let me watch,” her husband said to her. Eventually, they all helped to create the picture, which was a great experience, Lawther said.

The exhibition Chakras And Flowers will run until the end of August, during opening hours.

Donna Lawther’s work is also at Arts Underground. ■

DOROTHY HEIMERSSON, RMT

Back in Whitehorse July 10 to August 31

- Lymphatic Drainage

- Pre- & Post- Natal Certified

- Scar Tissue Management

- Therapeutic & Relaxation Massage

Book on-line or call/text: Rewildingwellness.janeapp.com 778-231-1963

The next intake for Culture Quest is September 15, 2023

Culture Quest supports the expression of culture and art for Yukon performing, visual, and literary artists. Culture Quest also supports First Nations cultural gatherings and festivals around the Yukon in addition to the preparation of work to be showcased nationally or internationally.

Eligibility

Yukon-based groups, organizations, businesses and residents (persons having lived in Yukon for a minimum of one full year prior to applying) may apply.

There are three intake deadlines per year: 15th of January, April, and September.

The application form and guidelines are available on our website yukon.ca. Applicants are encouraged to consult an Arts Advisor before applying.

Phone: 867-667-8789 artsfund@yukon.ca

Yukon.ca/en/culture-quest