Artist celebrating nation’s 150th birthday with 150 paintings
A West Kelowna artist is painting a love letter to Canada for the country’s 150th anniversary of Confederation one landscape at a time.
“I’ve been to some amazing places and I’ve done some pretty neat things,” said Linda Lovisa at New Moon Gallery. “I thought I would share that through 150 paintings celebrating Canada’s landscape.”
Lovisa has lived in many places in Canada, some of that due to her father being in the armed forces.
The 150 paintings depict places Lovisa has lived and experienced in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Some paintings are from adventures such as canoe trips, hiking and backpacking. Others are from experiencing the beauty around her in everyday walks.
Lovisa used inspiration from hiking along the West Coast Trail and in Monashee Provincial Park as well as paddling the Turtle River system and Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario.
Her landscapes include Ucluelet, B.C., as well as Rainy Lake, Ont.
Closer to home Lovisa has paintings from hiking Pincushion Mountain in Peachland and Glen Canyon in West Kelowna, as well as snowshoeing at Telemark above Glenrosa.
Lovisa has even used her neighbour’s backyard for inspiration.
The project has been a trip down memory lane for Lovisa as she has dug through envelopes of decades-old photographs from her youth for inspiration, shot well before there were digital images.
“It’s bringing back memories of when my sister and I used to hike and when my brother and sister and I used to go fishing,” she said.
Lovisa has always felt a connection with the natural world.
“I’ve always been in love with our surroundings,” she said. “Trees in particular, as anyone who knows my work, have always inspired me.”
Lovisa began the Canada 150 project in January and has completed about 20 paintings so far with others in various stages.
While it seems she has a way to go, Lovisa said she’s not concerned about reaching her goal of 150 paintings by the end of 2017.
Working on the paintings has become part of her daily routine.
Lovisa will be hiking Mt. Robson, teaching in Revelstoke and visiting Stanley Park this summer, where she will Ànd inspiration for future paintings.
Each acrylic painting on treated board costs $100. Their Àve by seven-inch size makes the painting easy for customers to frame.
Lovisa will be holding a draw July 1 for one of her Canada 150 paintings.
Drop into New Moon Gallery located at No. 3 1726 Byland Rd. to put your name into