MERRILY ALLANSON
British Columbia has always been my home, although I spent time travelling in Canada and Europe.
I studied at Simon Fraser University and worked there until retirement at which time we left Port Moody to reside on Gabriola Island. After some time there we relocated to the seaside town of Crofton in the lovely Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
I did not seriously paint until later in life although I was always interested and inspired by the art of others. My learning came by taking workshops from artists I admired, studying art books and attending art shows and museums.
I am an Active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and every Wednesday paint with the Crofton Art Group. Both of these groups have been most helpful and encouraging in my art journey.
British Columbia has always been my home, although I spent time travelling in Canada and Europe.
I studied at Simon Fraser University and worked there until retirement at which time we left Port Moody to reside on Gabriola Island. After some time there we relocated to the seaside town of Crofton in the lovely Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
I did not seriously paint until later in life although I was always interested and inspired by the art of others. My learning came by taking workshops from artists I admired, studying art books and attending art shows and museums.
I am an Active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and every Wednesday paint with the Crofton Art Group. Both of these groups have been most helpful and encouraging in my art journey.
SHARON ANDERSEN
I joined the Crofton Art Group in 2018.
My background in the arts has included photography for enhancement of group solidarity through a process called photo novella. My current focus is learning the complexities that are part of creating a satisfying piece of art.
I work in watercolours and acrylics. My inspiration comes from the beauty of nature, humour in various contexts and cherished memories of loved ones.
SUE BOSECKER
Sue hails from Coombs Country (with the goats on the roof). She first became enamored with art in high school. Her art teacher, Mr. Dare, brought expression alive.
Life tends to get in the way and it wasn’t until her thirties she delved into painting seriously, first in oils then branching out to watercolours. Recently she has been painting in acrylics.
In Parksville she was a member of the deCosmos Art Group and Oceanside Art Council. She was very influenced by the work and instruction of Pauline Pike and Peggy Burkowski.
She moved to Chemainus in 2003 and became a member of the Crofton Art Group. She has served in executive capacities as President and Treasurer. Sue finds the workshops and demonstrations that are offered to be invaluable in her quest for artistic expression. The camaraderie and support of the group are invaluable.
Sue is presently living in Crofton with her partner Ron and their little dog Samson.
Every morning is a new panorama to be painted.
RITA COOPER
In kindergarten when it was play time, Rita chose to paint stories and amused her teacher with her humorous imagination. When paint nights came into popularity, Rita got hooked as it reminded her of the fun and freedom she enjoyed as a child with the paints at school.
She kick-started her learning with some one-on-one lessons and since then has also sought out a variety of art workshops in different mediums to further expand her understanding of art and quite simply.....just for the fun of it. She is now excited to learn more from the warm and encouraging Crofton Art Group.
Rita is inspired by the many talented local artists. Her favorite subjects are landscapes and she is drawn to bright, bold colours. She looks forward to more painting with acrylics, learning from others and having fun experimenting with art.
BONNIE CRUICKSHANK
Bonnie took an interior design course in Victoria in 2000. She was asked to do some paint blending for special effects on walls. The results of this abstract design in paint sent shivers up her spine. Her internal light bulb was lit! This was her inspiration to pick up a paint brush for the first time.
She joined a Duncan painting group and began taking workshops and getting valuable critiquing from other artists. Living in Ladysmith, she became actively involved with a local group of people who wanted to develop an artistic community and she helped to form the Arts Council of Ladysmith.
She is a longstanding member of the Crofton Art Group and works in acrylics and more lately, Derwent Ink Blocks.
She is always in awe of the endless power of the creative spirit. “Life is short, Art is long.”
She joined a Duncan painting group and began taking workshops and getting valuable critiquing from other artists. Living in Ladysmith, she became actively involved with a local group of people who wanted to develop an artistic community and she helped to form the Arts Council of Ladysmith.
She is a longstanding member of the Crofton Art Group and works in acrylics and more lately, Derwent Ink Blocks.
She is always in awe of the endless power of the creative spirit. “Life is short, Art is long.”
ROSEMARY DANAHER
Rosemary grew up and was educated in Australia and like some of her fellow Crofton members, was encouraged by her high school art teacher. This she did by attending Technical School. In 1961, she immigrated to Canada, she had the opportunity to attend University, both in Montreal and Victoria, where Rosemary earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a teaching certificate.
Rosemary taught in Lake Cowichan and retired early to begin working as a part-time craftsperson. She also taught at night school, both while teaching and after retiring. Her university emphasis was painting and printmaking, she expanded her interests by learning stained glass, silk painting, print making, Ukrainian Easter Eggs and she developed an interest and a love for pottery. Today, Rosemary works predominantly in clay and watercolors and to a lesser extent makes pearls and silver jewelry.
Rosemary's preferred subject matter are cats, landscapes and flowers. Rosemary is an avid workshop taker and is continually learning through this avenue.
Rosemary taught in Lake Cowichan and retired early to begin working as a part-time craftsperson. She also taught at night school, both while teaching and after retiring. Her university emphasis was painting and printmaking, she expanded her interests by learning stained glass, silk painting, print making, Ukrainian Easter Eggs and she developed an interest and a love for pottery. Today, Rosemary works predominantly in clay and watercolors and to a lesser extent makes pearls and silver jewelry.
Rosemary's preferred subject matter are cats, landscapes and flowers. Rosemary is an avid workshop taker and is continually learning through this avenue.
KAREN DEVLIN
Karen grew up in North Vancouver, B.C. and through elementary school expressed an interest in fine arts. Her family moved to Toronto, Ontario where art was one of her main subjects in school. She continued to pursue art through Art History and fine arts every year.
When Karen attended college she took Art History and at university until graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.
During her working career Karen took courses in water colours and developed a love for painting in water colour. She has never tried oil or acrylic, but plans to do so in the not too distant future.
Karen retired and moved to Vancouver Island where she continued to work on water colour painting on her own.
Karen joined the Crofton Art Group in September, 2016.
When Karen attended college she took Art History and at university until graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.
During her working career Karen took courses in water colours and developed a love for painting in water colour. She has never tried oil or acrylic, but plans to do so in the not too distant future.
Karen retired and moved to Vancouver Island where she continued to work on water colour painting on her own.
Karen joined the Crofton Art Group in September, 2016.
KELLY DOLAN
Sadly Kelly has left the group. She is truly missed.
Kelly has always loved drawing and was obsessed with horses as a young girl. There wasn’t a blank space in a book that escaped being filled with her drawings of horses.
Its no surprise then to learn Kelly’s favourite art subjects are horses and dogs but also where she finds her inspiration is animals in general.
After retiring from nursing, she enjoyed some painting lessons in Vancouver and moved to Duncan.
She was fortunate to find this lovely art group in Crofton, all so talented and encouraging people.
Kelly has always loved drawing and was obsessed with horses as a young girl. There wasn’t a blank space in a book that escaped being filled with her drawings of horses.
Its no surprise then to learn Kelly’s favourite art subjects are horses and dogs but also where she finds her inspiration is animals in general.
After retiring from nursing, she enjoyed some painting lessons in Vancouver and moved to Duncan.
She was fortunate to find this lovely art group in Crofton, all so talented and encouraging people.
PAM DYKE
Pam Dyke started painting in oils quite by accident when a friend asked her to join her for an oil painting class. She had no formal instruction or painting experience but she continued to paint and couldn't believe how much she enjoyed it. Her time spent painting landscapes, flowers and birds has brought her much joy.
In 1989 Pam was asked to join the Crofton Art Group where there were a few classes in watercolour and then in acrylics. She had recently tried acrylics and found them to be similar to oils.
Living on the waterfront in Crofton and taking much pleasure in her garden, she finds there is always something to paint. Photography is another of Pam's hobbies, framing enlargments, making greeting cards and bookmarks.
Being a member of the Crofton Art Group has been a great benefit and satisfaction.
In 1989 Pam was asked to join the Crofton Art Group where there were a few classes in watercolour and then in acrylics. She had recently tried acrylics and found them to be similar to oils.
Living on the waterfront in Crofton and taking much pleasure in her garden, she finds there is always something to paint. Photography is another of Pam's hobbies, framing enlargments, making greeting cards and bookmarks.
Being a member of the Crofton Art Group has been a great benefit and satisfaction.
CLAIRE GUILLON
Claire has had a love of the arts since childhood, first with music, then clay sculpture, copper enamel, water colour, acrylic and alcohol ink painting. Her love of rocks brought another facet to her art when she joined the Cowichan Valley Rock Club and learned to cut and polish rocks and to silversmith.
While in college she majored in education and had a minor in art. She married and moved to Montreal and discovered copper enamelling and the Ecole du Enamel where she attended for several years. She taught clay sculpture at a local college in the adult education program.
She moved with her husband and daughter to Vancouver Island in late 1970. She has taken many painting and lapidary classes. She attends William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Georgia most years, where she learned opal cutting and polishing, fine wire wrapping and cold connections.
While in college she majored in education and had a minor in art. She married and moved to Montreal and discovered copper enamelling and the Ecole du Enamel where she attended for several years. She taught clay sculpture at a local college in the adult education program.
She moved with her husband and daughter to Vancouver Island in late 1970. She has taken many painting and lapidary classes. She attends William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Georgia most years, where she learned opal cutting and polishing, fine wire wrapping and cold connections.
MICHELE HEATH
Michele moved to Vancouver Island after a long career as a University science professor but her secondary interests were always art and rocks.
Although science was her life, she has painted since a child in England, first in watercolours, then oils and now acrylics, preferred for their vibrant colours and fast drying time.
As a scientist, her paintings have always been dictated by the need for realism while recording the wonderful colours, shapes and beauty of the natural world. She reserves her artistic imagination for creating unique silver jewelry displaying polished, beautifully patterned and often self-collected, semiprecious stones.
After never having the time to join an art club while working, retiring to Vancouver Island gave Michele the luxury of more time to paint and to join the welcoming and inspiring Crofton Art Group, being its secretary for several years.
She usually paints on board as it allows for the precise detail and photo-realism that she thinks the images deserve.
BECKIE HUTCHINSON
My name is Beckie Hutchinson and I've been with the Crofton Art Group for 19 years now.
My passion in painting is watercolour and acrylics. Favourite subjects are seascapes (including tugboats and lighthouses.). I also like to paint landscapes, florals, birds and animals. I like to use other mediums like texturing and glazing to enhance a painting. I've grown a lot over the years being with our group as we always learn more when we have other artists share their knowledge.
I grew up in a small town called Woodfibre in Howe Sound. It was a pulp mill town right on the ocean with fantastic views. I guess this would inspire me to paint seascapes. The only way out of Woodfibre was by boat so being isolated I took art lessons by correspondence and a little in High School.
I hope you enjoy looking at my paintings as much as I have enjoyed painting them.
SUSAN LAW
Susan Law was born and educated in England where art was part of her schooling. She has always enjoyed sketching and painting but had to wait until retirement to fulfill her desire to pursue this more fully.
Mainly a self-taught artist, Susan has taken art lessons from various teachers in the U.S.A. and Canada. She works in oil, acrylic and watercolour. She has also worked in Intaglio Print Making "Etching". Her subjects are varied although birds and animals are a favourite.
She has been a member of the Crofton Art Group since 1998.
JIM MALO
Jim Malo's parents gave him oil paints when he was a young boy of nine. His mother would sit him down to draw when he became bored. It was she who noted that he had talent and they decided to send him for painting lessons in New Westminster.
He took the bus to New Westminster and then walked up 6th Avenue about five blocks (a steep hill for a young boy) to the studio of Robert Woods, to take lessons from Carl Woods his son.
That is where it all started for him, the love of doing art.
Jim took Art, Ceramics and Applied Design 11 and 12 at high school and Intaglio Print Making "Etching" at Malaspina. His preferred medium is etching, oil painting and more recently, acrylics.
Jim rejoined The Crofton Art Group in 2015, but had been a member in 1984.
KATHY MARVEN
Born on Vancouver Island, B.C. with her formative years growing up in West Vancouver Kathy met and married her childhood sweetheart. Downsizing they moved back to the Island to explore all the benefits Island life has to offer.
Kathy has always dabbled in various arts and crafts. Now time affords to discover the many media forms that art allows us. Acrylic “pours”, zentangles, neurographic art and doodling are her current passions.
Thank you to the members of the Crofton Art Club who have been hugely supportive in encouraging Kathy in her future artistic attempts.
Born on Vancouver Island, B.C. with her formative years growing up in West Vancouver Kathy met and married her childhood sweetheart. Downsizing they moved back to the Island to explore all the benefits Island life has to offer.
Kathy has always dabbled in various arts and crafts. Now time affords to discover the many media forms that art allows us. Acrylic “pours”, zentangles, neurographic art and doodling are her current passions.
Thank you to the members of the Crofton Art Club who have been hugely supportive in encouraging Kathy in her future artistic attempts.
LEVINA (LEE) ROACH
Born in Ontario and moved to British Columbia in 1967.
We moved to Powell River where my interest in painting took hold.
We then moved to Crofton and I became a member of the Crofton Art Group in 1981.
I have met painter's from across Canada, the Island and have stayed life long friends with many of them.
FRANK WYNNE
Frank was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He had a fourteen year career as a police officer in Northern Ireland and Calgary, Alberta.
He moved to the Cowichan Valley in 1977 and worked with youth in crisis.
Presently living in Cowichan Bay, where he has a studio at his home called Ulsterville Art. He is a self-taught artist, painting mainly landscapes and seascapes, in oils and acrylics.
THELMA YUILLE
Thelma's introduction to painting was a gift of a paint-by-number set around age 7 or 8. She loved the feeling of creating something beautiful to behold. Around 1992, she began sketching and painting with her daughter and a friend.
Thelma is a self-taught artist who embraces inspiration from the unparalleled grandeur of nature, which awakens every one of our five senses. She has learned many drawing and painting techniques from one-day workshops, as well as painting with groups: the Gold Country Artists in Logan Lake and the Crofton Art Group. Thelma joined the Crofton Art Group in 2013 and lives on a float home in Genoa Bay.
She enjoys working in acrylics, oils, watercolours, graphite, pencil and pen. Her art is on display at the Country Café in Logan Lake.
Thelma has participated in several art shows in Logan Lake, spring art shows in Crofton, the Kamloops Art Walk, the Art Exposed show in Kamloops, the Merritt Art Walk and the Courthouse Art Gallery Exhibition in Merritt.
IN MEMORIUM
Rona Blackburn
1943 to 2019
"She never knew she was our hero"
We will remember her fondly for her infectious laugh, her fierce independence, her amazing attitude towards living life to the fullest
and her ability to overcome any difficulties that came her way.
She was an inspiration to all who knew her and will continue as an encouraging reminder to live life well.
2022 Door Prize Winner
The Crofton Art Group was very happy to present to Valerie, from Maple Bay, the 2022 Door Prize, "Crooked Shelf" by Rona Blackburn.
THE CROOKED SHELF by Rona Blackburn
