The very first piece created by the artistic trio Lazuline was sold before it had even been painted. Made up of three Shuswap area artists (Lisa Figueroa of Sicamous, Linda Franklin of Sunnybrae, and Tracey Kutschker of Salmon Arm), Lazuline paints various triptychs of landscapes in British Columbia. Composed of three panels, each piece gives three different perspectives on the same imagery.
“The idea behind it was how we feel British Columbia is our home, and there are different areas that resonate with us,” said Figueroa. “It was recognizing that we all paint variations of our home landscapes.”
Of course, with three artists working together there is a need for collaboration on some components of the triptych, such as how the edges will come together. As for how the pieces get started, it varies.
“Sometimes somebody will start on their own panel and [the other two artists] will react to it,” said Franklin.
Once the process has begun, each artist works on her own canvass, providing her interpretation of the landscape being painted.
“It's an awesome process,” said Kutschker.
The three women tell me they haven't seen anyone else doing what they are doing by collaborating on their art, yet still allowing for their personal artistic styles to be represented within the work.
***
Also on display at the arts centre is Celebrating Gardens: A Members Show. The show features the work of 21 local artists, among them Karen Millard.
“I used to exhibit a long time ago,” said Millard, who has a commercial arts background. “I'm just getting back into it. I've been playing with [art].”
Millard was lucky enough to travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico to take classes with watercolour artist Dawn Davis. She also more recently took a class taught by Revelstoke's Donna Naprstek.
“Donna has been great,” said Millard. “I just want to get together and paint with people.”
Skyblue Water: Lazuline and Celebrating Gardens: A Members Show are both on display at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre until August 28.