Ian Sheldon: Finding Space

×

Expand

Ian Sheldon, "Medicine Blues," 2020

oil on canvas, 30" x 66"

GFA is pleased to present our first solo exhibition by Jasper-based artist Ian Sheldon. In his latest collection, Ian combines his diversity of subject with a passion for geographical exploration to create ethereal, wide horizon, and big sky paintings that explore a deeper sense of place and colour.

"I consider myself primarily a painter of the prairies. Yet recently, Margo and I moved to Jasper. I find myself now nestled amongst the peaks of the Rockies. And this year we had an even bigger change when we welcomed the arrival of our twins, Sofia and Austin. I am anchored in a beautiful home with a beautiful family. This collection of new works includes my first large scale mountain scene. I don't know if it is the first of many or one of a few. I found my flat horizon in the beautiful aqua colours of Medicine Lake - certainly medicine for my soul. I may be at a turning point or a shift, but right now I am really not sure. My path as an artist is to continually evolve and learn; if I stall then I think my journey is done. Maybe I will go forward and be inspired by the mountains. Or maybe I will even more keenly seek out the vast and empty horizons and big skies of the prairies - an antidote to the mountains that surround me, and to a much busier life. Possibly in Finding Space, I am also trying to find a bit of silence, a silence that I find palpable in some of my most recent oil paintings. I do know that ultimately my soul finds its quiet in the lands of big skies and endless horizons."  

Ian Sheldon, November 2020