Skip to content

Artist visions come into clear view on tour

Four Crofton studio stops give visitors a look behind the scenes
29991057_web1_220818-CHC-Visions-art-studio-tour-samples_2
Painting and pottery are Rosemary Danaher’s prime artistic talents. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Crofton had four locations on this summer’s Visions Cowichan Valley Art Studio Tour.

Among the artists welcoming visitors to view their work was Susan Jean Whyte, who was joined at her Tatlo Road studio by Rosemary Danaher of Lake Cowichan.

Whyte is a multi-faceted artist who moved to the area from Calgary 15 years ago. She’s self-trained and has always considered her art more of a hobby.

“The paintings were always about the women that immigrated to Western Canada,” Whyte said. “The jewelry has the texture of tree bark.”

The Impressions of Trees jewelry series is inspired from walking through the forest. She makes molds from beautifully selected trees to create the textures to design earrings and pendants.

“It’s new, been doing that for about 10 years,” Whyte added.

Silver, copper and bronze are used to add colour and interest, with patinas on the metals transforming the surfaces to mimic wood.

Whyte’s jewelry can be found in a few stores, including Imagine That in Duncan.

She’s enjoyed being part of the Visions Tour for about 10 years as a great chance to meet people.

Danaher, a painter and accomplished potter, gets together with Whyte on a regular basis.

“Susan and I and another lady we do artist days two or three times a year where we meet and do show and tell of what we’ve been doing lately,” said Danaher.

Her pottery work has practical applications. “These you can cook a salmon on them and serve it on the table,” Danaher pointed out.

She also loves to paint, working with watercolour on landscapes, still life, cats and flowers. “My paintings turn up on my pottery,” Danaher added.

She even does amazing work with pearls.

“Some of them are knotted and some of them are strung together,” Danaher noted.

Others on the tour from Crofton included: Harold Allanson on Queen Street; Jocelyn West on Adelaide Street and Neil Fatin on Atlin Place.

Allanson does realistic watercolour paintings representative of his life experiences and observations. His bold, realistic work expresses strong composition in the use of colour and light.

West captures wildlife, nature and ocean themes in her art. She investigates the relationship between her original photographs and paintings.

Fatin is a photographic artist who transforms images captured by his camera into artistic interpretations, with creative software helping to develop the final vision of the image.

29991057_web1_220818-CHC-Visions-art-studio-tour-samples_3
Susan Jean Whyte with one of her paintings. (Photo by Don Bodger)
29991057_web1_220818-CHC-Visions-art-studio-tour-samples_4
Harold Allanson’s wife Merrily Allanson with some of his realistic art of people in their working environments. (Photo by Don Bodger)
29991057_web1_220818-CHC-Visions-art-studio-tour-samples_5
Immaculate pearl designs are created by Rosemary Danaher. (Photo by Don Bodger)
29991057_web1_220818-CHC-Visions-art-studio-tour-samples_6
Jewelry pieces are also within the repertoire of Susan Jean Whyte. (Photo by Don Bodger)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
Read more