In this time of change,
The Chapel Gallery is delighted to announce a virtual exhibit:
Kirsten Brand "Renewal" http://jillehlert.com/kirsten-brand
Curator Jill Ehlert has created an extensive online exhibition.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Nature and organic elements are the inspiration for my paintings. St. Mary Lake on Salt Spring Island in particular, land forms, geology and the plant ecology of Vancouver Island influence my art practice. The profusion of growth, the cycles and rhythms of flowers and plant life create a visual music for me. My understanding is that nature is a harmony of energies that must work together. I paint to convey this vitality, flow, and movement of the life force. I am in a transitional period. My focus for over a decade was the plant life of the American south west deserts. I was fascinated by the complex, intricate and diverse plant structures, each with their unique shapes and colours. My new interest in Vancouver Island’s ecology with it’s ever changing seasons and varied plants from native to introduced species provides endless inspiration. The varied gardens and trees, both public and private, including Butchart’s Gardens provides continuous, colourful and exciting subject matter. I begin with chalk pastel to create coloured line drawings and then with acrylic paint, I render both line drawing and painting together. The climate is changing and the human population is exploding. Unique areas are impacted up and down Vancouver Island and throughout the province of B.C. Hence, my passion to paint some of this precious ecology.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Kirsten Brand was born and lives in Victoria, BC., Kirsten has studied painting and drawing since she was three years old. Both parents were classical musicians and were instrumental in the formation of and performed with the Victoria Symphony. A strong musical influence is evident in many of her paintings. Kirsten studied at the Vancouver School of Art at age twelve and won the William Townsend Scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts at 16 years old. She decided to support her art by training to become an RN at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Her Fine Art studies include one year in the Visual Arts program at UVIC and a four year diploma from the Victoria College of Art. In her early years, along with her husband Ross, an Archaeologist with the BC Provincial Museum, Kirsten travelled throughout BC, working on various archaeological digs and a BC Petroglyph Recording Project. This experience served to strengthen her love of nature. Kirsten has exhibited in many venues over the years and her subject matter has always remained botanical in nature.
Want to learn more? Please visit Kirsten's website: www.studio222.ca
Please enquire about any sales, directly with Kirsten Brand: kirstenbrand@shaw.ca