Profile of An Artist

Artist:   KAREN BIGELOW


"Pearls with Rose and Baby’s Breath"
"Pearls with Rose…" is a still-life with symbolism and beauty. On my return from San Miguel de Allende March 2011 with the need to paint still-life as a practice bursting within me… I set up my string of pearls cascading over the edges of my treasured old books and beside a rose nestled in baby’s breath offset by a full bottle of Brandy and tipped glass… an expression of my heart in an attempt to perfect the capturing of beauty in light and depth and shadow… artistic talent. The original artwork is softer with deeper shadows… and the Brandy bottle invisible from a distance as it blends into the blue draped cloth of the background…
"Please join me… in a "celebration of life" that threads through all my artwork… even a still-life that offers a warmth and welcome… hope and expectation… memories and hint of success and sharing… smell the rose… backed by clusters of baby’s breath… elegance in the string of pearls… remembrance of tears… and special occasions… loved shared… knowledge in the well worn tomes of leather and linen pages… and the tipped brandy glass… a salute… sharing… the romance… hopes and joys of life… Memories…"
The original artwork "Pearls with Rose and Baby’s Breath" is acrylic on watercolour paper.



"Rushing Waters"

October 28 to November 27, 2011
has awarded
An Honourable Mention Award
A green ribbon is affixed above the artwork

"Rushing Waters" was my second silverpoint drawing. I love the feel of the silver sliding across the prepared gesso surface, creating a mark that is non-erasable, blending, moving, flowing like the water as it rushes onward. All my artwork is an expression and tribute to where I have walked, canoed, rested and most of all explored.


"Rushing Waters" is Egan Falls, Bancroft ON 11 x 14 inches, "Landscape in Motion" Series
The Crowne Gallery Minden ON invited me to "push the edge," create in an ancient and almost forgotten media ─silverpoint. I accepted the challenge with an additional silverpoint drawing "Rushing Waters." My first silverpoint being "Winds Over Lyndock."
 A powerful energy coursed through me from the first stroke of the silver on paper. A love for silverpoint was born. Excitement as the silver mellowed to a bronze patina beneath my hand. A process of silver interacting with the environment. Living art... changing and mellowing. 


"Feel the power of the river water…rushing…pounding…falling. Never still…pushing onward…shaping rock and land. Filling the air with a fine spray…catching the light…creating a beauty all its own. A world of rock…trees…light…wind…Changing, moving. Breathe taking. Energy in motion…Power... Memories surfacing… shared…expressed with quiet voice... against the thundering water… mist on my face."


 

"SnowTrack at Dusk"
"SnowTrack at Dusk" is a familiar winter scene on the home farm in rural Ontario, Canada. I wanted to capture a deep snow track leading toward the dimming light of dusk.
A solitary post that serves as a mark—a turning point for the track in the great expanse of snow. Dusk light accentuates the depth of the tractor tracks and at the same time, reveals the blowing wind, creating a drift to obscure the track. Given time the wind would succeed in painting a different scene, but not on this canvas.

"Join me and feel the cool winter light that beckons. . . Dress warmly . . . Come explore... Follow the track or make a new one. . . before the light fades to darkness . . .
Assurance is in the lone post—a beacon, a guide . . . Feel the wind and the gently drifting snow . . . Rejoice in the mark of track and brushstrokes . . . That proclaim you have been here."

The original artwork "SnowTrack at Dusk" is acrylic on watercolour paper 11x15 in and is available as signed Limited Edition Giclee Reproductions.




"Morning Light"

"Morning Light" original acrylic on stretched canvas, a panoramic scene 15.5 x 60" is for me a dream full-filled. Early morning light gave me the opportunity to capture the essence of the magnificent and historic river.

"Morning Light" is the Ottawa River in Ontario. I love the freshness of the morning light reaching across the sky… over the still-water… on my side of the river.

"Feel the morning freshness… Light… a promise… a new day. Breathe in… Enjoy the light as it reaches out across the sky… awakens quiet still water… reflects the inner islands… trees and rocks. Take another breath… Venture out to faster running water…flowing into morning. Colour barely visible in the distant hills but more pronounced this side. Even the rocks reflect a warmth that belies the cool water…Freshness…a breath of clean air…tension seeps away. Beauty of colour…a promise…expectation… Joy."



"Morning Coffee at Peace Point"

 "Morning Coffee at Peace Point" Kingsmere Lake, SK Canada. Transparent watercolour 11x15 inches.  This location has since been reclaimed by the wilderness.
"Relive once again the wonder of the early morning light… Feel the wind as it crosses the open water to touch your face… Smell the campfire smoke… May your spirit be refreshed and your soul renewed. Another day awaits you."

Look closely and you will see the smoke rising from across the lake where canoeists now make "Morning Coffee."
"Morning Coffee at Peace Point" artwork is available as signed Limited Edition Giclee Reproductions
  

"The Granary"
"The Granary" is the building where the oats were stored for many years at the home farm in rural Ontario, Canada.
A building that survived and in later years house much more than grain. I wanted to give it a place in history. A sunset scene reminded me of the many times I shoved oats as the sun was setting. A winter sunset often cast a warm glow on "The Granary" as I walked passed on the way to supper.
The big old trees have just recently blown down. But the doors of "The Granary" are open yet. The sunset on occasion brings the old boards to life.
Join me in a tribute to a way of life that is fading with the sunset. Smile with me in remembrance.
The original artwork "The Granary" is acrylic on canvas 14 x 18inches and is available as signed Limited Edition Giclee Reproductions.

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I hope that you have enjoyed this bief glimpse into my life.  If you wish to let me know that "you have been here" drop me a note or post a comment.

Please enter... November 10, 2013 from 1-4 p.m. into your calendar... As a reminder to attend my solo Art Exhibition "A Walk to Remember" opening reception.  The exhibition runs from November 10-24, 2013 at Cultural Expressions Art Gallery, 62 Old Kingston Road, Old Pickering Village, Ajax, ON

Or check out the website Cultural Expressions Art Gallery

Have a wonderful day!
Karen



All artwork images and writing in this website is copyright Karen Bigelow June 2011
Do not reproduce without permission