​Marney Ward presents: The Tangible Presence of Light

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Marney Ward, "Diaphanous," 2019

watercolour on paper, 21" x 20"

Marney Ward presents: The Tangible Presence of Light

Opening is Friday April 26, 5-7pm Artist’s Talk at 5:30pm

Artist in Attendance on Saturdays.

Making a painting is a multi-step process that can take several months for Marney Ward. Each artwork evolves from a photo taken by the artist with a macro lens. She tries to backlight the flower with horizontal sunlight whenever possible. Her own garden, local parks, and Butchart Gardens are favourite haunts. After the photo and watercolour paper are gridded, she draws details on to the paper. “I like to work late at night when there are no distractions,” she says. “Once the paper is wet, you can’t leave it.” The artist uses wet on wet for background settings and flowers. For detailed work on blossoms she works wet on dry. The unpainted white areas of the watercolour produce the illusion of light, so it's important to leave these areas untouched.

Ward finds the multiple layering of transparent colour perfect for rendering blossoms. Their delicate beauty emerges from subtle gradations of hue and value. Flowers combine the fragility and strength of nature’s bountiful variety. 

“Each type of bloom emits a unique presence I try to capture,” she says. 

The artist uses her painting skills and emotional acuity to focus the viewer’s attention. Like buzzing bees, we are invited to perceive, and perhaps sip, the mystical nectar at the heart of creation.

http://www.artopenings.ca/marney-ward.html