People who attend the Barrhead Art Gallery this month will get a chance to see something unique — eastern artwork done by a westerner.
Sangudo resident Hilde Keller is June’s artist-of-the-month and her showcase, entitled “East Meets West” displays more traditional acrylic and watercolour paintings alongside Taiwan-inspired art.
“The technique is referred to as inkwash in older books but I just call it ink-on-rice-paper,” Keller said, adding in her experience, the eastern painting style is harder to accomplish than even watercolour painting can be.
Keller, who started using the technique in 2014, said it stemmed from a trip to Taiwan for personal reasons.
“There aren’t many artists who do this kind of thing around here. I took my first classes in [inkwash] that year and I have been back to Taiwan five times in the last three years for the same purpose. The biggest challenge for me was the language barrier. I don’t speak a word of Mandarin and nobody there spoke English. I learned everything by just watching what the others were doing,” she said.
Keller started painting with more traditional mediums 16 years ago as a way to meet her neighbours.
“My neighbours had a little art group at the time and we still get together to paint. I’ve taken courses at Red Deer college, attended workshops and other things and I’ve been a member of the Barrhead Art Club now for around six years,” she said, adding prior to taking up inkwash, acrylics were her favourite go-to medium.
“They are a very versatile medium that dries fast and that’s one of the reasons why I like it so much. With oils you can just scrape off the excess and make a piece new again but with acrylics, once they dry, you know, unless you paint over it you get what you get.”
Keller said she is not afraid to let things go.
“That’s the biggest thing with art. Your first piece is not going to be a masterwork because that’s not how it works. You’ll get better with each and every piece you paint. Find a good teacher and have fun with it. If you enjoy what you do and you find that others enjoy your work as well, that’s really all that matters.”
Keller’s artwork will be on display from June 2 - 24 and a reception is planned June 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
