Stir Cheat Sheet: 4 painters to discover at the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour

From stunningly detailed owls to pop-art-hued crows, a small sampling of the strong brushwork at the event running May 9 and 10

By Janet Smith

By Cindy Johnston

The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour runs May 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SOME OF THE SPOTS taking part in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour enjoy scenic settings along the river and by verdant fields. Small wonder it’s become such a thriving artists’ enclave.

At this year’s self-guided event, more than 80 local talents work in a variety of media, from ceramics to woodwork and jewellery—with painting makin a strong showing. Below, we’ve focused on just a few of the participants wielding brushes and paints, with works ranging from pop-hued birdlife to abstract blue inks and hyper-detailed wildlife.

#1

Cindy Johnston

Wild Crow Studio

We can’t think of a more appropriate name for Cindy Johnston’s artist studio on scenic River Road, considering that the regal black birds populate some of her acrylic mixed-media works—and even in Warhol-style repetition, as seen above. Think vivid colours and rich textures in works by an artist who’s president of the Fraser Valley chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists and has shown and sold work from Granville Island to Chilliwack. Beyond her charismatic crows, set against scarlet skies and moody blue backgrounds, her creations encompass ghostly forms and abstract expression. As she puts it in her artist’s statement, “I want the viewer to be drawn to and touched by my work. It should evoke strong emotions.”

By Glenn Bainbridge

#2

Glenn Bainbridge

Bonson Community Centre

Derived from the Italian word sgraffiare (“to scratch”), sgraffito is a painting process that layers paint and then gouges or sands it to reveal vivid hues underneath the top coat. If you’re not familiar with it, head to Glenn Bainbridge’s open studio, where he indulges his love of bold colours through the process, in imagery suggesting expressionistic landscapes. The Nova Scotia transplant has only recently moved to the technique from the realm of watercolours.

By Sarah Still

#3

Sarah Still

Albion Community Centre

Every delicate feather, every strand of fur, and every glistening eye is rendered in awe-inducing detail in Sarah Still’s lifelike wildlife portraits, rendered in muted, natural tones. Created by building up intricate texture and depth through her use of acrylics, the self-taught painter brings each creature to life, whether it’s a wolf or a spotted owl. The intricacy shows the artist’s deep regard for her subjects, as well as her concern for protecting the world’s delicate ecosystems. Still’s work has gained a following around the globe and has been featured on two Canadian postage stamps.

By Diane Speirs

#4

Diane Speirs

Alouette Mountain Studio

Diane Speirs paints acrylic landscapes inspired by the scenery around Maple Ridge—but she also experiments with uniquely challenging alcohol ink, often wielding a blow-dryer instead of a brush. By blasting air onto the liquid, she can create watery effects with beautiful, abstract results; think swirling indigos, cobalts, and purple-blues. 

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