The Old Firehouse Wine and Cocktail Bar in Duncan will be turning up the heart this summer, as they host a bold and colourful exhibit of figure drawings from Cowichan Valley artist Jennifer Lawson.
Lawson, who began her art journey at the University of Guelph, said she has incorporated life drawing throughout her creative career, though she is most known for the plein air watercolours. After five decades of capturing the essence of nature, and landscapes in watercolours, a medium Lawson has been working with since she was a young, she is heading into new territory with her debut series of pastel figure drawings, featuring expressive, playful works drawn from live model sessions with the Cowichan Valley Arts Council.
Last winter Lawson spent two afternoons a week on life drawing sessions with 90 year-old master Victor Arcega.
"His course was absolutely marvellous for upping our game," said Lawson. "He is now living back in Duncan after teaching at both the University of Victoria, and Vancouver Island School. I was honoured to be able to study under him."
Lawson also studied life drawing at an array of studios in the Toronto area where she joined a group of local art teachers for weekly sessions. Lawson said there were once a lot of groups in the Cowichan Valley, but many folded after the pandemic so she feels much gratitude that the Cowichan Valley Arts Council (CVAC) started offering a figure drawing series.
"It’s become a great creative colleague activity for us professionals at the Arts Council for the last year and a half or so," said Lawson. "It was a great space, with great people and models and generally, lots of fun."
The opening night of the exhibit at the Firehouse is on June 26 from 8 to 10 p.m. The exhibit will run until Aug. 4 as a compliment to the 39 Days of July Festival.
"It feels exciting to be able to share this other side of my 50 year art career," said Lawson. “Pastel is fast, colourful, and so rewarding, I love its directness and bright and wild colours."
Lawson will also be hosting an open house from July 11 to 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1516 Khenipsen Rd. Lawson will be giving art lovers the opportunity to learn the craft themselves as she hosts a learn how to paint with watercolours workshop which will be held on the weekend of Sept. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fee for the workshop is $390 which includes all art supplies as well as gourmet organic lunches and snacks. For more information, or to register for her upcoming workshops email Jennifer at jlart@telus.net or visit jenniferlawsonart.com. You can also follow the creative works of Lawson though her Instagram account at #JenniferLawsonArt.
