ARTWALK 2020 | ART CHAIRS PROJECT
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PLEASE STAND BY
Acrylic & Latex on Muskoka Chair Not For Sale ArtWalk is a long-standing art festival here in Lake Country that happens every September. Whether I am participating in this festival as an artist or just attending to enjoy the wealth of talent, I look forward to this event every year! Unfortunately, ArtWalk 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic, so the Art Chairs project was a one-time only alternative to the festival. This project asked 45 local artists (myself included) to paint a Muskoka chair which would be placed somewhere in the Okanagan to be enjoyed by the community. Each artist was provided with a positive phrase to include in their work, but had free reign over the creative process outside of that. My phrase was "Never Underestimate the Power of Kindness". The chair I created is titled "Please Stand By". This project took place a few months into the pandemic during lockdowns and widespread uncertainty. I was inspired by the old TV test screens that would interrupt your favorite show back in the 80s. You were forced to sit there and wait for your show to resume (if it ever did!) - which is exactly how I felt at this moment - waiting for the pandemic to end and life to resume as normal. I was glued to the TV watching updates on the news, literally standing by. This chair took countless hours to create. I spent several days going over the fine lines and details, but I enjoyed every moment of it. It gave me something to focus on rather than the chaos going on around me. My chair ended up getting placed in front of the Lake Country Museum at Okanagan Centre - one of my favorite places on earth! I was very honoured to participate in this project and I hope my chair's bright colours brought some joy to everyone who came across it. |
FLUID ABSTRACTS
I have played around with a technique that I call "fluid abstracts" for a few years now, and I learn something new every time! Fluid abstracts use watered down acrylic paints that are poured onto the canvas and blown around with air. This application encourages the colours to flow into one another and created stunning organic patterns and fluid movements. Fluid abstracts work best on flat surfaces so I usually do not use texture mediums in these pieces.
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SILVER LININGS II
Mixed Media on Cradled Wood Panel; 36" x 60" Available Silver Linings II is a large fluid abstract painting done on a cradled wood panel (it's very heavy!). This piece covered over a painting that I had previously made and wasn't happy with. This history creates unique texture and depth on the surface. The vivid colours in the center are the star of the show, but the subtle pastel colours in the background hold their own by framing the center section and creating plenty of visual interest throughout the entire piece. The original painting is available.
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EUROPA I & II
Acrylic on Canvas; 2 @ 36" x 30" SOLD This set of fluid abstract paintings was commissioned by a lovely local family who wanted something new and interesting on their living room walls to match their existing decor. My only instructions were canvas dimensions and colour preferences - my clients trusted me to make all other creative decisions! These pieces have some subtle texture in the background to create visual interest, but the focal point is the striking blue and brown explosion of colour that rips out from the center of the canvas. I was very happy with how these pieces came out, as were my clients!
The originals are sold, but EUROPA I & II are still available as Paper Prints or Canvas Prints.
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ACRYLIC POURING
In 2019, I became totally obsessed with acrylic pouring! I was mesmerized by "cells" and the organic patterns you can create using different pour techniques. The creative process with acrylic pouring is very different from anything I had ever done before, so it really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I am used to beginning my work with a concept in mind and then exercising some degree of control over the entire process from start to finish. With acrylic pouring, the only factors you can control are selecting the colour palette, selecting pouring mediums and method of application, and some minor ability to manipulate the paint once it is on the canvas. The final results are totally up to chance and this was a huge transition for me. Today, I have a love-hate relationship with acrylic pouring... I had so much fun learning these techniques, but it also created some of my most frustrating studio moments of all time! Below is a selection of my acrylic pours that I felt were "successful".
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THE SHORES OF OKANAGAN LAKE SERIES
Okanagan Centre is one of my favorite places on earth. I have wonderful childhood memories of spending long summer days down at pebble beach with my family, sustaining ourselves on fresh Okanagan peaches, cherries and vegetables from my grandparent's garden. It is truly a piece of Okanagan paradise! The shores of Okanagan Centre do not appeal to everyone as they are covered in pebbles rather than sand. However, this also means the water is crystal clear and you can always see the bottom. As you walk into the water and look down, you will see an array of beautifully coloured stones. The water brings the colours in the pebbles to life.
The Shores of Okanagan Lake series was created using a "dirty pour" flip-cup technique. The colour palette was inspired by the colours of the pebbles along the shore. All pieces in this series are fairly small (under 16") and are on canvas. Surfaces are finished with a high-gloss UV-resistant varnish which makes the colours shine. Some originals are still available and some pieces are also available as paper prints, canvas prints and art merchandise.
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THE OKANAGAN VALLEY
Mixed Media on Cradled Wood Panels, 60" x 108"
Available
Mixed Media on Cradled Wood Panels, 60" x 108"
Available
The Okanagan Valley is very large triptych done on three cradled wood panels. This piece was inspired by the colours and rolling landscapes of the Okanagan Valley and was created using a flip-n-drag acrylic pour technique. This technique slowly releases cups filled with colourful paints onto the surface between two sections of solid colours, resulting in a stream of mesmerizing cells framed in by a beautiful lacing effect. These pieces were challenging because each section had to be completed before it started to dry, so I had to work very quickly. Photos do not do this masterpiece justice... You really need to stand in front of it for a period of time and allow your eyes to explore everything it has to offer. This large original painting is available.
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KALAMALKA LAKE SERIES
Yes, there is a bit of a theme here... I live in Lake Country and I am very inspired by our many beautiful lakes! Kalamalka "Kal" Lake is located between Lake Country and Vernon. During the warmer months, calcium carbonate in the lake forms crystals that reflect sunlight resulting in a captivating array of blues, greens and teals. There is a longstanding rumor that Kalamalka means "lake of many colours". It is one of the many natural wonders that the Okanagan Valley has to offer.
My Kalamalka Lake paintings feature a colour palette inspired by this lake. They were created using a "dirty pour" technique with a non-cell-forming pouring medium. All pieces are relatively small (under 24") and are done on cradled wood panels. Their water-like patterns are reminiscent of what you see when you open your eyes under water and look up towards the sun. Some originals are still available from this series, and some are also available as paper prints, canvas prints and merchandise.
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DUALITY
Mixed Media on Canvas, 12" x 48"
Available
Mixed Media on Canvas, 12" x 48"
Available
Duality was created using a flip-n-drag acrylic pour technique. It began with two solid colour sections of black and white. These sections were united by a collection of colourful cells. A cup filled with shades of blues and teals was inverted onto the canvas at the intersection between the black and white areas. As I dragged the cup along the intersection, the paint slowly released itself leaving a path of mesmerizing cells and intricate lacing in its place. The word duality means "a contrast between two aspects or two points of view". When I look at this painting, I see what can happen when we open our minds and consider different points of view. The original painting is still available.
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THE ELEMENTS
Earth - Air - Fire - Water Mixed Media on Canvas, 48" x 36" (tetraptych) Available The Elements is a large four-panel (tetraptych) painting inspired by the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. I have drawn inspiration from the four elements before, but this is the first time I have used acrylic pouring to represent them.
This large original abstract painting was created using a flip-n-drag acrylic pour technique. Two colors representative of each element were selected and applied to each canvas: Green and Brown for Earth; White and Light Grey for Air; Orange and Brown for Fire; Blue and Dark Blue for Water. Cups were filled with additional colors and metallic paints, then inverted onto the canvases at the intersections between the two solid colours. As I dragged the cups along the midlines, the paint slowly dispersed and left a collection of vibrant cells and intricate lacing in its place. Each panel has unique surface texture and features a unique metallic accent color: Bronze for Earth; Silver for Air; Copper for Fire; and Pearl for Water. The original painting is still available. |
2019-2020 PORTFOLIO OF CANADIAN ABSTRACT ARTIST DANIELLE HARSHENIN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
