Local artists Pat Ridgway and Brian Romer met for the first time when they hung their show at the Arts Centre’s gallery in late August. That was surprising, since the two styles and content fit together well – both depict familiar scenes from the Sunshine Coast.
Ridgway’s acrylics express her love of the forest and particularly of the Gospel Rock area near her home. As an environmental artist she will be hosting a discussion, For the Love of Gospel Rock, on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Arts Centre with the group that is fighting to protect the area. Ridgway has donated a giclee image of Gospel Rock to this group for a raffle, and tickets will be available for a draw in December.
Romer often paints his small acrylics outdoors, then returns to his studio to portray the scene on a larger canvas. For example, his piece Hillside Patterns in small size is a realistic depiction of a landscape with a cloudy sky. The Hill is Alive is his larger version of the same scene that features a muted sky and sea, making the trees come into sharp focus.
Both artists will be involved in Culture Days (Sept. 25 to 27) activities at the Arts Centre. Romer, a self-taught painter, will be holding an interactive demonstration Saturday, Sept. 26 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., creating an original painting from start to finish. The show is up until Sept. 27 at the Doris Crowston Gallery, 5714 Medusa, Sechelt.
