Brenda Milne has been creating art longer than she hasn’t.
There’s no such thing as a mistake when you’re painting, says Milne, a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists based in the Qualicum Beach area.
Her latest exhibition of colourful paintings and sculptures was inspired by the West Coast and fantasy. It’s currently on display at Qualicum Art Supply and Gallery (206 First Ave W).
“My work evolves as I go,” Milne said. “They talk about mistakes, well there’s no mistakes — there’s just detours. If it didn’t happen the way you wanted it, then you change what you want and change the direction the painting takes you.”
Some of the paintings depict local spots such as Cathedral Grove and the Dashwood Loop, while others come from her imagination.
One shows a medieval castle, which is fantastical but based off several reference photos of real places, she said. Another shows a girl walking through the woods and is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, though not intentionally, Milne said.
“I take inspiration and creative ideas from many sources in various mediums. I love the fantasy world where I create my own environments based on real places or things,” she said in her artist statement.
Trying out new art forms keeps things interesting. Milne is a talented sculptor and recently has been working with cement clay. She tends to have quite a few projects on the go, starting a new one while another cures.
READ MORE: Field of Crosses to again be on display in Qualicum Beach
Several colourful mushroom sculptures were made around bases of reused empty containers, and a wizard sculpture was made with paper mache.
“I like trying different things, so I started making my own frames for the canvases that are narrow,” she said.
Milne said she prefers working with oil paint more than acrylic, which requires more layering.
“I like the opacity of the oil,” she said. “It’s hard to be spontaneous when you’re going over the same thing five times.”
Milne was born and raised in Saskatchewan. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honours from the University of Victoria.
Over the years she has had many exhibitions, entered numerous local art shows and received various awards. Her artwork can be found in collections across Canada and internationally.
Milne’s exhibition will be on display until the end of November.