Mosquitoes, bears, sleet and blistering heat. These were the various challenges involved in The Carlyle Painters Group’s adventures to the Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park for their second on-site painting expedition.
One year ago, five like-minded artist–Jenny Baillie, Brigitte Desbois, Louise Drescher, Stephanie Gauvin and Mirja Vahala–organized a five-day painting retreat to Carlyle Mountain in the Selkirks. The success of the trip, along with the cathartic experience of painting as part of a group in the wonderful outdoors, inspired the five artists to solidify their ensemble under the moniker The Carlyle Group.
It was not long until their second foray into the great outdoors was planned for Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park in the B.C. Rockies.
A 29 kilometre hike from Mt. Shark to the foot of Mt. Assiniboine led the group to the Naiset Huts where their equipment was dropped off by helicopter. Here, the group made their home in a small log hut for the duration of their adventure; spending six days painting on-site and seven nights huddled in the basic, bunk bed–style accommodation.
En Plein air painting is a French expression that describes the act of painting outdoors, which became particularly popular during the impressionistic era when paint was finally available in easily transportable tubes.
It typically involves the artist hiking to inspiring outdoor locations armed with a compact paint box and a telescopic easel equipped with an umbrella to deflect the ravages of wind and sun. The artists engage in a battle with the elements (as well as time and their own sense of pride), to create studies on small panels that are taken to the studio to be reproduced on canvas.
Studio Connexion Gallery has the pleasure of exhibiting a selection of the works produced by the Carlyle Group’s Mt. Assiniboine expedition and hosted two of the five painters for the gala opening on July 25. Artists Stephanie Gauvin and Brigitte Desbois were on hand to talk about their adventure and share insights into the various landscape paintings that were on display.
“It was all Stephanie’s idea,” Desbois shares, “but we were all very excited about the prospect when she asked us.”
Gauvin was inspired to organize her own en plein air expedition after participating in an Art in the Park project.
“I found myself saying, ‘oh it’s too bad I don’t have a group of people like this where I live,’ and so I approached artists I knew through the art co-op I was part of in Rossland and they were all very excited to participate.”
Desbois added, “Painting is such a lonely thing, it is a solo thing so once in a while it is nice to get together with like-minded people and share in the experience.”
The Carlyle Painters Group series, Paintings from Mt. Assiniboine will be on display at Studio Connexion Gallery from July 22 to August 10.