The SS Skye Skagfeld has pulled into dry dock and is getting ready to whet the appetites of art lovers with her Viking Wings art exhibition.
Skagfeld spends much of her time on the water in a boat off Ladysmith and that’s where she’s produced the work for her show that runs Sept. 17 through Sept. 22 at the St. Joseph’s Artists Studios Gallery in Chemainus.
“There’s lots of opportunities and lots and lots of paintings,” said the artist extraordinaire.
Even though she’s not on land that much, Skagfeld showed her diverse talents with an eagle on a par-four while out golfing recently.
A certain American band and a chain of hotels and resorts should have been making contact with her for publicity as well since Skagfeld’s art shows are always connected to the Four Seasons.
This one opens a few days before the next seasonal change and “the last day is going to be the fall equinox,” she pointed out.
Three of her four seasonal shows that happen during the year are in Chemainus, with the conversion to summer event ‘Vein of Gold’ held in her mom’s back yard in Cedar.
“It was wonderful,” Skagfeld said of the summer show. “We had some repeat visitors. We had such beautiful feedback from people.”
It involved walking through a labyrinth and the art was installed all through the trees.
This time, it’s back to the studio gallery at St. Joseph’s where Skagfeld was spending time sprucing up the walls with fresh paint before planning to hang her paintings. She never knows when it will be the last show there, with the building sold earlier this year to the Cowichan Valley Intentional Recovery Community Society.
The pieces Skagfeld has assembled for the Viking Wings exhibit are all done in acrylic, using a soak stain method.
“I painted all these ones I did on the boat,” she said.
“I think these ones are probably more representational, more landscape.”
She’s also done numerous water colour cards and they’re “all different. Every one’s an original.”
The series is inspired by all things nautical from her perspective on the boat and Nordic, with translucent layers of azure, cobalt and French Ultramarine blue – to name just a few – to take patrons sailing.
The paintings feature exposed custom stretcher bars made of reclaimed wood.
“It’s going to be totally different than the last one,” she said in comparison to the spring show in Chemainus.
Related story: Colorful scenery abundant in artist’s spring equinox exhibit
She’s also done some work in collaboration with photographer Chris James Guy, with some unique results.
“He helped me at my last show in Cedar,” Skagfeld pointed out.
He did some drone footage of her painting on her boat and they hope to set up a projector to play a movie of her painting.
Skagfeld is excited to unveil her latest work in this show.
“What’s different this time is I’m having an opening night, but it’s at night,” she said.
The opening will be from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17. Gallery times for the rest of the show are: Sept. 18 and 19, from noon-7 p.m.; and Sept. 20-22, from 5-10 p.m.
All COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place.
“I’ve got a template for the plan,” Skagfeld said. “Everyone knows what they’re doing and everyone’s protecting themselves and I’ve got faith in the people coming to visit.”
