This month the Foyer Gallery exhibits a mother-daughter' duo, Lynsey and Molly Paterson.
On the walls, folk-artist mom Lynsey Paterson presents an eclectic mix of acrylic paintings inspired by family and West Coast everyday life. Her lighthearted imagery describes a local, humble lifestyle - gardening, bears, fruit stands.
"I love being Canadian. In my art I depict the great life that we live here - life rambling in Volkswagen vans," says Lynsey, who paints on canvas or board in a na茂ve style that pairs perfectly with her imagery.
Lynsey, mother of four, has been creating art and remarkably making a living as a full-time artist for more than 15 years. Her acrylics are mounted in aged frames or salvaged windows from her accumulative collection of reclaimed casings, installed with the help of her right-hand man/carpenter husband.
Early in her career, after art school, Lynsey taught ceramics for many years in Vancouver before moving to the Paradise Valley with her family in 2000. Her artistic priority has evolved from ceramics to the more candid, direct process of painting, which she is mostly doing now. In this series she explores "ordinary life."
"The reason that I like to do this kind of exhibit is that is pushes me to come up with new ideas," she says. "It has been super fun!"
Lynsey's creative process is quite spontaneous as well as her recognizable style of washy, playful colours layered under intense, fluid outlining.
She admits that once she gets an idea, she doesn't overthink it. "I just run with it. Nothing about my art is too prearranged or calculated. I skip that part and move right into the creation."
Beyond family and art, Lynsey is also passionate about gardening, which inspires much of her raw imagery, capturing innocence and simplicity.
Lynsey sells her pieces at festivals, markets, gallery shows and at Skitch, a great little shop in Whistler featuring 100 per cent Canadian handmade products.
For more information contact her at (604) 898-4258.
The gallery display cases feature daughter Molly Paterson's mixed-media art of clay and wood. Three-dimensional mini-mushrooms, clay gnomes, clay dome houses and candle holders are presented in a variety of sizes. Coated wooden candleholders have been created out of weathered, gnarled driftwood gathered near Howe Sound.
For her entire life, Molly has grown up in an art-filled home, but she has only personally been immersed into making art for the past few years.
Enveloped in this creative atmosphere, Molly describes her broad stimuli.
"My mom being a full-time artist has given me inspiration and direction wherever I need it," she says. "I am inspired by the natural beauty of the Sea to Sky environment where I live."
Daughter Molly's work continues to evolve, enhancing and creating more refined pieces. This collection is characteristic of the type of art that she makes, with her focus on improving and trying different techniques.
Molly isn't quite sure how to classify herself as an artist, but her creative process is focused and uninterrupted. Like her mom, Molly is intuitive and doesn't like to dwell on over-planning.
"Whenever I spend time thinking or have an idea on what to make, I create it right away," Molly says. "I hope to just learn and grow and go with the flow, and let my art take me wherever."
Molly is a passionate "Westcoaster" who enjoys hiking, biking and snowboarding. She adores animals and loves spending time with friends and her family of course!
She can be contacted at (604) 815-3704.
"Mother and Daughter," a mixed-media show featuring Lynsey Paterson's acrylic paintings and Molly Paterson's wood-and-clay creations, is in display from Nov. 5 to Dec. 2 at the Library Foyer Gallery.
Toby Jaxon is curator of the Library Foyer Gallery. She can be reached at [email protected]
