Parksville artist Muriel Bush loves to paint scenes from the West Coast.
She takes her inspiration from its ocean views, several of which are depicted in her exhibition at Qualicum Art Supply and Gallery (206 First Ave W). And she couldn’t imagine not living near the water.
“It’s kind of in my blood,” said Bush, who added her father worked on deep sea freighters and passenger ships for many years.
Bush paints mainly from memory, although sometimes she will paint straight from her imagination. Her paintings represent her thoughts and vision about places she has seen and remembered, such as the Englishman River estuary or Sidney Island, one of the southern Gulf Islands.
“It’s part of my life. And I want the viewer to see that also,” she said. “I get what I want out of my paintings when I’m painting them and then after it’s hung up like this — the show, it’s then for the viewer and I want the viewer to see what makes them feel something about the painting.”
She hopes her artwork will trigger imaginations and remind people of a place they’ve been or would like to go.
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Bush has been a painter all her life and knew this was what she wanted to do when she was in elementary school. She began with a few night courses, then a UBC fine art night class, where she received first class standing.
Bush went back to school as a mature student, enrolling at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where she graduated with honours in painting and print making in 1985.
After graduation, she moved into a studio in Yaletown with four other artists.
“That was really a big stepping point because we had galleries coming to see us,” said Bush, who has sold pieces abroad, to corporations and rented to movie sets in the past.
Most of her paintings are done in acrylic, but she does oil paintings as well. She prefers acrylic because it dries faster, which makes layering easier. She does most of her work in her studio, although she sometimes will do sketches at places like Rathtrevor Beach.
“When I’m painting, I’m just focused on that. Everything else is way back,” Bush said. “You’re just focusing on this, you forget about everything else that’s happening.”
She moved to Parksville about seven years ago and enjoys the arts-friendly atmosphere.
“There’s so many people who appreciate art here and there are so many artists here,” Bush said.
Her paintings will be on display at Qualicum Art Supply and Gallery until the end of September.