MY STORY: Why I Started Painting...
Me painting in 2014
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The first time I ever painted a canvas was in 2006. At the time, I was pregnant with my first child (my son Romeo - now 14!) and looking for a new hobby that I could do at home. I decided to go to the local art supplies store (Opus) for some "art stuff".
Even though I have always enjoyed creative activities, I had never pursued art as a hobby before outside of high school art classes, so I really had no idea where to begin or what I wanted to make! When I walked into Opus for the first time, it was a surreal experience... I was overwhelmed by the selection of products available, the examples of what was possible on the walls, and the stacks of canvases at the back of the store. It was the first time I had ever experienced such intense feelings of pure, innate inspiration. I was instantly hooked. Needless to say, I spent wayyy more money than anticipated that day and came home with a carload of canvases and acrylic paints! |
When I was first getting started, I didn't know the first thing about painting (if we're being honest, I'm still not sure if I do!)... the only thing I knew for sure was that I had to paint. I felt this inexplicable desire to create that totally consumed me. My journey began by researching different types of art on the internet to see what appealed to me and I was immediately attracted to abstract art. What fascinated me about abstract art was the idea that you could make a beautiful painting about nothing. Ok, let me rephrase that (haha)... Obviously, abstract art is not about "nothing", but rather "without a particular subject matter". I loved the endless possibilities this notion presented.
Artists are generally assumed to be right-brained individuals, but I am definitely 50/50... I overanalyze most things in my life and develop strategies for just about everything! My theory was that a strategic combination of colours + textures = art. I wanted to get it down to a science! My earliest paintings were made with acrylic paints and mediums (mostly gel gloss and crackle paste) on canvas. I was drawn to acrylics because of their ability to build texture on the canvas and because of their quick drying time. A lot of my early inspiration came from Osnat Tzadok's work - another female, Canadian self-taught abstract artist. I loved that Osnat didn't stick to one "style" of abstract and that she incorporated texture and metallic paints into her paintings.
Below are a few examples of my earliest works (circa 2006-2009). I liken my portfolio pages to "report cards" of my self-guided journey through art school. These pages capture my evolution as an artist and demonstrate what I learned during each of these periods of time.
With these early pieces, I focused on exploring how to build surface textures and how to mix paint colours. I worked with limited colour palettes of only two or three colours and I loved "drawing" on the surfaces with fluid paints. I won't lie... anything that turned out during this period was a happy accident! Also, I had not mastered the art of photographing my work yet (I actually didn't invest in a good digital camera until 2014!), so the photo quality is cringeworthy... I apologize.
Thank you for being part of my journey!
Artists are generally assumed to be right-brained individuals, but I am definitely 50/50... I overanalyze most things in my life and develop strategies for just about everything! My theory was that a strategic combination of colours + textures = art. I wanted to get it down to a science! My earliest paintings were made with acrylic paints and mediums (mostly gel gloss and crackle paste) on canvas. I was drawn to acrylics because of their ability to build texture on the canvas and because of their quick drying time. A lot of my early inspiration came from Osnat Tzadok's work - another female, Canadian self-taught abstract artist. I loved that Osnat didn't stick to one "style" of abstract and that she incorporated texture and metallic paints into her paintings.
Below are a few examples of my earliest works (circa 2006-2009). I liken my portfolio pages to "report cards" of my self-guided journey through art school. These pages capture my evolution as an artist and demonstrate what I learned during each of these periods of time.
With these early pieces, I focused on exploring how to build surface textures and how to mix paint colours. I worked with limited colour palettes of only two or three colours and I loved "drawing" on the surfaces with fluid paints. I won't lie... anything that turned out during this period was a happy accident! Also, I had not mastered the art of photographing my work yet (I actually didn't invest in a good digital camera until 2014!), so the photo quality is cringeworthy... I apologize.
Thank you for being part of my journey!
The Elements
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THE ELEMENTS
Acrylic on Canvas, 36" x 48" (tetraptych) SOLD The Elements was inspired by the four elements: earth, air, fire, water. The photo does not do this painting justice! Thick, high-gloss acrylic paints were applied using a palette knife giving it a cascading crystal effect. Each panel is accented by a different metallic colour. I don't like to play favorites, but if I had to choose, The Elements would be my favorite piece from this period of time.
I have drawn inspiration from the four elements several times over the years - most recently in 2019 for an acrylic pour painting rendition of the The Elements. |
Beauty Beneath the Cracks
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BEAUTY BENEATH THE CRACKS
Acrylic on Canvas, 48" x 36" SOLD Beauty Beneath the Cracks was one of several pieces that I created for a Kelowna show home that was participating in the Homes for the Holidays interior design show. The home was beautifully decorated with creamy whites and beiges with accents of dark brown and light blues. The colour and composition of the paintings I created for this home were inspired by the home's existing decor.
The canvas I used for Beauty Beneath the Cracks already had loads of texture on it. I incorporated the canvas's history by building upon it rather than trying to hide it. I added a wide strip of crackle paste to divide the canvas into sections and stenciled hibiscus flowers and leaves on the surface. Dark brown areas were highlighted with bronze metallic paint. |
Dream
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DREAM
Acrylic on Canvas, 30" x 48" SOLD Dream was inspired by a dream one night! I had been playing around with dark red gel gloss and crackle paste on a large canvas and was not happy with how things were going so far. I went to bed thinking about it and woke up with ideas about how to improve this painting. I brushed yellow and teal paints over the red gel gloss sections in the opposite direction - allowing some of the red to peak through, and tied everything together by drawing on top with fluid acrylic paints. I was pleased with way this piece came together. After Dream sold, I was commissioned to make a replica of it a few years later!
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Taboo
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TABOO
Acrylic on Canvas, 36" x 48" (tetraptych) SOLD Taboo was a tetraptych painting done on four canvas panels. I began by applying thick acrylic paints with a palette knife creating a cascading crystal effect, similar to the Elements. Each panel featured two colours (dark red, brown and creamy white) and was accented by metallic copper. I have always loved mandalas and continue to draw inspiration from them in my work today. Taboo was the first time I incorporated a mandala design into one of my paintings. A white and gold mandala design was drawn onto the surface using fluid acrylic paints.
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Bohemian Solstice
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BOHEMIAN SOLSTICE
Acrylic on Canvas, 32" x 32" (tetraptych) SOLD Bohemian Solstice was another tetraptych piece from this period that features a mandala design. I created Bohemian Solstice in an opposite order from Taboo - beginning by drawing a mandala design onto the canvases using thick acrylic paint, then painting over the design with the colours I wanted to use. I used a simple two-colour palette of brown and metallic bronze in this piece. After paint was applied, I outlined the mandala in black and painted over the lines with metallic bronze which gave the design a three-dimensional look.
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Vanilla
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VANILLA
Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 36" (diptych) SOLD Vanilla is a diptych that features a primarily white colour palette. During this period, I was learning everything through trial and error and I was drawing a lot of my inspiration from more experienced abstract artists. I loved abstract work that used a white colour palette - but I had a difficult time creating white pieces that I found visually interesting on my own. Vanilla was the only "white" painting I made during this time that I felt was a success.
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International Passport
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INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT
Acrylic on Canvas, 24" x 48" SOLD International Passport was the first time I created this style of painting. This style begins by sectioning the canvas off and then working on each section independently. The eye is immediately drawn to the wide strip of stainless steel crackle paste and red gel gloss to the left. This section is balanced by the two dimensional background. To finish this piece, I used several prints and markings that I thought were interesting and drew on the surface with black and white fluid paints.
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Conspiracy
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CONSPIRACY
Acrylic on Canvas, 20" x 48" (triptych) SOLD Conspiracy was inspired by Osnat Tzadok's work. I selected a simple three colour palette of black, white and red. The background was applied using a palette knife; the piece was finished by drawing random lines and splatters on the surface using fluid acrylic paints.
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Letter to Myself
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LETTER TO MYSELF
Mixed Media on Canvas, 40" x 30" Donated to Kelowna's Gospel Mission Letter to Myself is a larger mixed media piece that has a lot going on. The background contains sand which gives it a rough texture to the touch. Two sections of three-dimensional elements draw the eye in - a strip of crackle paste and gel gloss towards the bottom, and a collection of seashells (which I collected on a trip to Vancouver island) near the top. It was finished with a series of splatters and symbols.
This painting was originally purchased by my grandmother (God bless her) and hung in her dining room for many years. When she passed away, it was given back to me, so I decided to donate it to the Kelowna Gospel Mission's Dental Clinic. This local charity does absolutely amazing work for Kelowna's homeless population and I couldn't think of any place more deserving. I believe this decision would have made my Grandma happy and I hope Letter to Myself brings a little joy to everyone who sees it! |
Chances
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CHANCES
Acrylic on Canvas, 36" x 36" (triptych) SOLD Chances was special to me for two reasons... First, it was the first painting I made using this dark colour palette and layering technique. This style began by using thick paints to draw random marks on the canvases, then covering them with dark paint after they dried. From there, I brushed on lighter colours (red, green and blue) which allowed the textures underneath to peek through.
The second reason Chances was special is it was the very first painting that I ever sold! Chances was debuted at ArtWalk 2008 (the very first art show I ever participated in!) and was purchased by a lovely couple from Vancouver. |
Urban Rainforest
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URBAN RAINFOREST
Mixed Media on Canvas, 30" x 48" SOLD Urban Rainforest used the same dark style as Chances, but with a single colour (green) palette. This piece was influenced by both Chances and International Passport. It was a "mixed media" piece as I incorporated two strips of studded fabric in the left section. Urban Rainforest was one of many pieces I made that incorporated a damask stencil I made. Someone once said that "clutter isn't clutter if it matches" and I think that describes what is going on here.
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2006-2009 PORTFOLIO OF CANADIAN ABSTRACT ARTIST DANIELLE HARSHENIN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
