Ann Clow is passionate about art.
“I love vivid colours like bright, fiery reds and Mediterranean blues,” says the Charlottetown artist.
Clow also loves Prince Edward Island.
“I like the ultramarine of the water and the burnt sienna of the soil; the iron coming up through the ground.”
To see how Clow incorporates her passions into her work, all you have to do is visit Sealand Studio for Contemporary Art in Charlottetown where one gallery wall is dedicated to her work.
There’s everything from Island seascapes to landscapes.
For example, there’s “Autumn Walk”, an acrylic painting of the Houston Road near New Glasgow/Mayfield, that invites the eye of the viewer to follow a red, dirt road through an archway of trees that are covered in orange, yellow and red leaves.
“It was commissioned by a lady who had walked this road many times. She asked me to make it vibrant, so I did,” says the Nova Scotia-born artist who now calls P.E.I. home.
In contrast, West Point Lighthouse is a seascape that sets the zebra striped beacon against the blue water. Nearby, a patch of lupins grows at the bottom of a grassy cliff.
“West Point is a long, long drive but when you get there, it’s worth it because the water is surprisingly warm. And the lighthouse has a rich history,” says Clow.
Another painting, “Red Sands”, explores the beauty of low tide when tiny pools and sandbars invite passersby to stop and explore. In foreground shifting sand dunes can be seen.
And, if you stare at the painting long enough, it takes on a life of its own.
“I used thin paint for the sky and thick paint for the sand bars and the background; building it up with thick lines of paint. So, when the light shines down you get a three-dimensional look,” says Clow, pointing to her painting.
Inspiration for her work comes from a variety of sources – from commissions to something that catches her eye.
One fall day she was driving by a pond and spied two boys fishing, so she stopped her car and took a picture. It’s the inspiration for “Autumn Moment”.
“I thought, ‘this is so wonderful. Kids, in their innocence, having so much fun.’ You could see the circular ripples on the surface of the water and one boy getting disappointed because, in spite of a jumping fish, he hadn’t caught it yet,” says Clow.
To give the painting a realistic feel, she took time to create “each and every little rock” and added eight glazes of different colours.
“By overlaying it, it gives you a three-dimensional effect.”
Now she wants to paint more Island scenes.
“I want to get on the road and capture more of P.E.I.”
In the meantime, she paints onsite, at Sealand, when she has time.
“I want to interpret and grab each moment in time, in my work.”
Need to know
- Who: Ann Clow.
- Where: Sealand Studio of Contemporary Art, 151 Kent St; Charlottetown Market on Queen Street, Charlottetown, Sundays, from 11 a.m- 4 p.m.; Seaport Market, Charlottetown Waterfront, the public is welcome to visit any day the cruise ships are in.
- Family connections: Ann is related to the Clows in Summerside. Her great uncle, the late Rev. Randolph Nicholson, was a well-known New Brunswick painter. Her mother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother also painted.
Inspiration: Spiritualism, through meditation. Clow is also moved by events that happen in her life, including First Nations gatherings.
Upcoming: Art lessons to start in the fall.
Getting in touch: Call 902-213-2333 or send email to [email protected].
Twitter.com/SallyForth57
