Artist's Statement

Audrey M. Bain

Plein air paintings in oil and acrylics

As a small child in the Maritimes I always had a pencil in my hand. This love of art has been reflected in my consistent involvement with the visual arts; through grade school, high school and early adulthood. I was greatly influenced by the Group of Seven and was largely self-taught.

My first initiation to colour was painting small oil landscapes, done on location, in northern Ontario.

There is a sense of adventure and mystique in the north which always intrigued me. Abandoned head frames, wind, bush and rapids, even old buildings, invited my imagination. I like to roam around old buildings, their interiors and exteriors, to try and visualize the people, their stories and their history. I think of old buildings as portraits, weathered and gracefully aging.

I'm over 100 year's old

Onaping Falls

With a desire to develop further I began taking classes and workshops. My paintings matured and the northern and Algonquin sketches became popular. The desire for a stronger foundation in all aspects of the visual arts led me to study and achieve a Creative and Visual Arts Diploma (With Distinction) from St. Lawrence College, Cornwall.

As old building portraits attract me so also do people portraits attract me. Portraiture presents for me another facet of artistic challenge. In the 70’s and 80’s social awareness emerged in my paintings. My work sought to point out the frailties of the human condition and the triumph of the human spirit.

Little Harbour Newfoundland

Presently I have returned to "plein air" painting. I seek the peace and quiet of the woodland scene, the soft breeze on my face, and the gentle sounds of nature. Although Alan and I travel extensively, from sea to sea, recently I find in my painting I am drawn more and more to my Maritime heritage.

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