It could be the start of something cool – an art walk in Gibsons. Four artists who live almost within listening distance of this weekend’s Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival are inviting music fans to visit their studios, chat with the artists and maybe leave with a painting.
It all started when painter Paula O’Brien, who lives on Sargent Road in Gibsons, joined with her neighbour Judi Scott-Wood for last October’s Art Crawl. Visitors could check out more than one artist’s venue in the same neighbourhood.
This year O’Brien asked artist Christy Sverre if she was holding her annual June open house. Sverre has a gorgeously redecorated waterfront home and studio at 612 Marine Drive and it complements her colourful style. She has been working on a series of paintings inspired by the sea, sky and horizon, contemporary in style and painted in oil and cold wax medium. She feels most at home near the sea so her work has gravitated towards this subject over the last two years. Sverre planned to hold her open house during the Jazz Festival and gave some thought to teaming up with other artists.
O’Brien has been on several plein air painting trips with artist Cindy Riach and knew her work. Riach lives at 612 Seaview Road and she is one of the Eleven Equal Artists who hold the popular Power of Paint show in Sechelt in August. She understands how an art show within walking distance of a festival can attract a multitude of visitors. Riach paints landscapes, portraits and still life. Originally from Ontario, she began painting in 1985 and has studied and exhibited with several art schools and associations.
O’Brien describes herself as a colourist who paints the light. Among her painting mottoes are the inspirational words: be fearless, be juicy and colourful. “My work has shifted from figurative work to the West Coast world of abstract landscapes, seascapes to plein air painting and digital painting,” she said. “I look deeply into my subjects, from sailboats to dazzling contemporary dancers and fall in love with the beauty of the light falling upon their forms, their shadows and reflections.”
When the four realized they had something in common and could provide a walking tour for Jazz Fest visitors, they joined forces to offer open studios on June 16 and 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scott-Wood worked as a professional illustrator and now makes large evocative paintings of the human form. She came to the Coast from Vancouver four years ago and hopes the festival and the studio tour will attract visitors by boat and bus. “The town benefits every time,” she said. “Our little town gets known by this.”
The four artists will not be tidying away their art supplies for the tour – instead they will offer refreshments and welcome visitors asking questions about their process.
Two of the houses, Scott-Wood’s (778-881-1010) and O’Brien’s (604-740-4842), are on Sargent Road at 542 and 504 respectively, so yes, you will have to climb the hill. Consider it good exercise between jazz sets. Riach lives at 612 Seaview (604-886-1950) in the Heritage Hills area of Gibsons and Sverre is at 612 Marine Drive (604-989-2491). Look for the eye-catching sandwich boards outside their homes.
