When you think of the landscape that surrounds you do you see prairies or mountains? Oceans or lakes? Green grass or trees?
And what does this have to do with art?
Meet Gina Sarro: Abstract Landscape Painter
Gina Sarro is inspired by Canada’s incredible beauty. Gina is a prairie-girl living an art-filled life on the west coast of Canada. And the Canadian landscape has informed many of her paintings.
Gina’s style is layered and complex and it is always changing.
“Before I go into my studio I usually have a feeling of what kind of process I want to undertake: do I want to play with oil paints, and a palette knife, giving lots of texture or do I want to use high flow acrylics and drag it around the canvas or do I want to use a wide brush and blend away. Depending on the medium and tools, the end result changes up quite a bit. This is why I have different collections of work, that are all equally important.”
“I keep one inspiration painting from each series and then revisit it. I often ask myself how did I do that? And then I may start a new collection inspired by that previous work.”
“Sometimes it’s simply the colour palette from an older piece that inspires a new one!” – Gina Sarro
For the Abstract Enthusiasts
24″x36″ acrylic on canvas
16″x12″ oil painting on canvas24″x 24″ acrylic on panel
UPCOMING EVENT: Gina Sarro solo show at The Space Gallery in Vancouver, October 2019.
Our world is one that rewards people for conformity. We like people who share our views. We are comforted by people’s appreciation of our good taste and acceptance of our choices. Have you ever felt edgy stepping outside your comfort zone? Wondered what people would say? How they would react if you made choices your family and peers did not understand? Here’s someone who did.
Meet JOELLE SOMERO: Abstract Artist
Why does a representational artist choose to paint abstract? It is a question I never considered until I met Joelle and her honest answer delights me.
For years Joelle painted representational work – realistic paintings that people could relate to … everyone that is, except Joelle.
“I wasn’t having fun painting realism anymore”.
Her move to abstract art began when Joelle stepped past fear and allowed vulnerability to guide her creativity. She began painting abstracts.
And then this happened …
Joelle made and hung a pair of canvas curtains.
Inspired by the texture of the remnants she began glueing them to a stretched canvas as an experiment.
It’s an experiment that unknowingly served as a prototype for what would become Joelle’s Abstract Collage series. Joelle paints abstract oil paintings in neutral, natural colours with a duck cloth collage foundation.
Duck cloth is a high thread count canvas.
Joelle’s love for Abstract Collage grew and so did the practical reasons for this artistic expression. Unlike painting, collage allows this artist the ability to start and stop as necessary to accommodate her busy life as a mom to four children. It allows her to be equally present for her family and to her art.
What I like: These works of neutral, layered texture are attractive in both modern and classic interiors.
These works lend nuanced texture to neutral design and decor and offer serenity to bolder interiors.
FEATURED PAINTING | On Cloud Nine | Artist Amy Stewart
Vancouver is home to numerous artists creating far and wide across our city, yet it is Granville Island that is best known globally as Vancouver’s arts and culture hub. Our feature artist had the good fortune of securing one of the coveted studios on the island.
Meet AMY STEWART: Abstract painter
From her studio a full-height glass garage-style door gives Amy a private view of the north shore mountains and the thriving market activity as tourists and locals bustle past.
This glass front studio is set back from the road affording Amy both privacy and connection to the world outside. And it’s this connection to the outside that shapes much of the work Amy paints. Her mix of soft, cool colours and natural shapes balance uniquely with her exacting use of one single geometric line. This combination of soft forms and solid lines is the hallmark of Amy Stewart’s work.
In Amy’s newest series Sometimes Blue, these forms stand punctuated by a receding dark blue/black background.
More from the SomeTimes Blue series
Fine and DandyDig DeepHappy As Larry
“When we don’t address our sadness in public, and when we receive such constant messages to be happy, we end up neglecting more difficult feelings for fear of bringing down or producing discomfort in ourselves or others.”
Sometime Blue acknowledges Amy’s belief that feeling deeply requires a range of emotions including sadness. Each piece in her series was given a happy name, reflecting the truth that we are sometimes blue yet, in most cases, also happy.
ARTSPEAK
I had the pleasure of chatting with Amy about her paintings. Listen in to hear about her current source of inspiration.
1. Artists name their paintings, how do you pick your titles?
2. If I needed to pick out your work in a crowded gallery, what would I look for?
3. What influences your work?
4. When did you know that you wanted to paint full-time?
5. You recently did an Art Pop Up Shop on Granville Island. Tell me about that?
FEATURED PAINTING | On Cloud Nine | Artist Amy Stewart
About this featured painting
On Cloud Nine
Original Painting
Mixed acrylic medium on canvas
36″ x 30″ (92 x 76 cm)
Sometimes Blue Series
What I like: On Cloud Nine is soft and organic yet grounded by linear shapes. It is deep and dark yet feels light. This painting has a calming effect for me.
How it looks on a wall:
Amy’s work is currently on exhibit at Vancouver International Airport. Her work has been purchased internationally and can be see in galleries across BC, Canada.
Additional works by Amy Stewart
Walking On AirA Bit Of BlissThe Long Road
Say HI to Amy! By Appointment studio visits are always welcome.