Three creative new exhibitions are on display at the Old School House Arts Centre in Qualicum Beach.
Visitors to TOSH will find works by three Vancouver Island artists: Rohana Laing, Marion-Lea Jamieson and Juli Rockliff.
Laing's exhibition Marinas to Magnolias was inspired by travels abroad and at home, according to an artist statement on TOSH's website. It includes her favourite subjects, with many influenced by her travels after she retired in 2003.
The artist enjoys using strong colour, especially in the paintings inspired by Mexico.
"Missing colour in Chemainus, she became fascinated by the bright colours of local wildflowers and gardens," the artist statement said. "These paintings began with realism, but soon became more abstract."
Laing is a graduate of the former Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University of Art and Design) and moved from Gabriola Island to Chemainus in 2017.
She paints in her home studio and in plein air locations around the Island and taught textile design, design and drawing at Kwantlen University for many years.
Marion-Lea Jamieson explores the idea of Island Time with her selection of printing ink on wood. The print-maker, painter and sculptor said it feels like there is more time and priorities for how to use it have shifted.
"It is more important to sit on the beach watching otters play than to be on time for an appointment," Jamieson said in her artist statement. "More important to cloud-gaze than to do chores."
Jamieson explained the techniques used in her artwork are quite detailed and labour-intensive ad might take all afternoon to make an almost unnoticeable addition. The drawing techniques date back to a time before images could be mass produced and artists carved images on wood, rolled ink on top and pressed the image onto paper.
"These artists were skilled at depicting the world using cross-hatched lines to convey light, shade, form and texture," she said. "I studied these drawing techniques and for many years used them to create illustrations for editorial, advertising and book publishing. I sometimes carved my drawings into linoleum to make lino-cut prints, but due to the short timelines in publishing, usually used scratch board to create cross-hatched black and white drawings that translated well into print media."
Jamieson graduated with honours in 3D design and fabrication and a minor in printmaking from the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University of Art and Design). She has received numerous awards and her work has been exhibited and sold to public and private collections in Canada, the U.S., France and China.
Open Air by Juli Rockliff is about the freedom of nature and the feeling one has when they emerge from a trail that leads to the beach, according to Rockliff's artist statement.
"My own journey has twisted and turned leading me to the beautiful scene that is my life, taking in all the big things and small, being present and finding the joy in each day," Rockliff said in her statement. "Throughout this journey I have always found delight and solace in the natural world to ease me through life, like a balm to my wounds."
Rockliff grew up in Ladysmith, running and growing wild, exploring rivers, creeks, fishing and tromping around, taking in beaches and mountains.
She was offered an admin job at TOSH when interviewing to teach children's art classes.
"That time spent working in the arts centre awakened in me my need to paint and create," Rockliff said. "The many, many artists that come through these doors inspired me and showed me I could not wait any longer. I am delighted to be able to jump back into the artist world that my soul truly was longing for."
All three exhibitions will be at the arts centre until Dec. 13. TOSH is located at 122 Fern Rd. West in Qualicum Beach.
