Submitted to the Castlegar News
The Kootenay Gallery spring season opens with an exhibition of work by Kelowna-based artist Julie Elliot.
Elliot’s working process has evolved to encompass, separately and in combination: painting, print making and drawing. She tests and manipulates a medium in order to better express the ideas that challenge and delight her.
As she states, “I’m striving for paintings that are complex and simple, meaningful for me and open-ended for the viewer, painted with abandon and built slowly over time with much reflection.”
Elliot has developed a style that is marked by strong flat shapes, line and pattern within a richly textured surface. Her paintings often reflect the balance she has achieved in her every day life; raising children and helping to manage a large orchard with her husband, Jim and yet finding time to work in her home based studio. She has exhibited throughout the Okanagan and her work is included in national and international, private and public collections.
The opening reception for this exhibition will be held on Friday, March 6 at 7p.m. Both the curator, Jane Ritchie, and the artist will be in attendance. You’re invited to come and join in the discussion about the challenges of being a working artist and how it can direct the creative process.
Also an arts educator, Elliot will conduct a paper collage workshop on April 11, incorporating mixed media to explore the concepts of chaos and control.
For more information on the exhibition and workshop contact the Kootenay Gallery at kootenaygallery@telus.net or visit the Gallery website at kootenaygallery.com.