By Andrea Peacock/News staff
Three local artists are being featured at the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula Tulista Park Gallery in Sidney until tomorrow afternoon.
Sara Hansen, Kimberly Reynolds and Melanie Willing have all been painting for most of their lives, but this is Hansen and Reynolds’ first art show. It was scary for Hansen to put her work on display because she did not know how it would be received. However, it turned out to be a success.
“It’s a relief to be honest,” she said.
Reynolds said she also found it nerve-wracking, putting her art on display for the first time.
“But it’s so relaxed here,” she said. “I don’t feel pressure or anything.
Most of Hansen’s paintings are child-themed with bright colours, many with cars and trucks.
“I think it’s important that kids have some sort of appreciation for art too,” said Hansen, who started painting pictures for her kids’ rooms.
She is thankful to be able to paint after having brain surgery four years ago.
“I didn’t know if I could paint again . . . but I didn’t want that part of my life to disappear.”
Hansen said she finds painting to be therapeutic for her. Willing also uses painting as a tool to calm down and relax. After her two kids go to sleep at night, she often pulls out her painting supplies and paints.
“I find it meditative,” said Willing. “It’s always there for my sanity; it helps me calm down.”
When she is working on a detailed painting, Willing said it requires so much concentration that she is able to forget about anything else going on in her life.
Unlike Hansen and Reynolds, Willing has done several art shows before this one. She had a painting in the Sidney Fine Arts Show three years ago, she was in the Sooke Fine Arts Show three times and she also had a solo show in Metchosin. Many of her paintings are inspired by Metchosin.
Hansen, Reynolds and Willing are hoping to do another show together in Sidney next year. Their current show is on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Thursday, July 31. Admission to the show is free.