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Victoria artist displays mix of whimsy and tranquility

Wendy Oppelt's work will be showcased in Brentwood Bay Empourium's gallery space.
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Artist Wendy Oppelt painting one of her pieces.

Victoria resident Wendy Oppelt will be showcasing her work at Brentwood Bay Village Empourium in a show titled The Gallery at Empourium.

Most of Oppelt’s artwork is based on colour and texture, creating light and vibrancy, something she said that is needed at this time of year.

“Really, where I started out was doing florals and using acrylic medium to build the textures and then also finishing with a really high shiny gloss …” she told the PNR.

Her pieces run through the theme of light and colour, while expressing whimsy from her work of birds to florals and bikes.

She will also be introducing what she started last year, working more with oils and very loose landscape and seascape scenes as well.

“It’s sort of like a balance between the two; that wonderful uplifting light and colour and that more subdued really relaxing kind of style,” she said.

Originally from the prairies, Oppelt has always been drawn to the brightness of the sky, but after living here for a number of years, she’s adapted to the greys.

“Lately I’ve really taken solace from that  and just creating those lovely soft tones …” she said.

Oppelt got into painting seven years ago at the time her father died.

She travelled to Edmonton to collect all of his belongings and later began painting as a result.

“For me it was a process of really going through a bit of grief (and) going through a bit of joy …”

Lately she’s been spending more time outdoors by the ocean, immersing herself in the environment around her.

“I give my paintings a looser kind of feel, more of an emotional feel rather than that technical feel,” she said.

Oppelt will be displaying her work at Empourium beginning Jan. 14 for members of the community to view and potentially purchase.

Also joining her will be artist Wendy Picken, who also has a lot of bright and colourful work. She will bring some of her pieces to showcase in the gallery as well that will run until Feb. 3.

For more information on Oppelt, visit wendyoppelt.ca.