If it hadn't been for a bit of prodding by their loved ones, it's likely both Lindsay Watson and Angela Gooliaff wouldn't be back to creating - never mind showing their work at Coquitlam's Place des Arts this month.
Several years ago, Watson's 16-year-old daughter came across her dusty, old portfolio in the attic that Watson had put together while taking a drawing class at university. "She said, 'Mom, these are really good,'" Watson said, "and that was my rebirth into the art world. I longed to do it."
The Coquitlam resident signed up for an acrylic painting class and, since then, she has sold to private collections in Canada and Germany, taken part in juried group shows and become a member of Art Focus and the BC Art Teachers' Association.
Her display in the Mezzanine Gallery at Place des Arts, titled Everyday Treasures, is her first solo foray and features 18 still life pieces painted over the past year, showing ordinary objects in beautiful, daily settings: a slice of cherry pie on a plate; red and white geraniums in a vase; and an open jar of peach jam.
Gooliaff, too, was inspired to get back to her artwork by fellow Emily Carr graduate Tony Chu, a Richmond resident who will be showcasing his multi-media pieces with Gooliaff in the Leonore Peyton Salon at Place des Arts - their first joint exhibition.
Gooliaff said she finally picked up her pencil after two years of pressure from Chu because, she said, he had asked her, "'Do you want to be artistic or do you want to be known as an artist?'"
For her new show with Chu, titled The Joy of Drawing, Gooliaff, who has a biology degree, will present nine drawings focusing on ants.
"I have a huge interest in tiny things and how amazing they are," she said, adding the name of the exhibit "is about slowing down and paying attention to what's happening every day.... It's an exploration."
The opening reception for the two exhibits - plus the Place des Arts' annual student show in the Atrium Gallery - will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at 1120 Brunette Ave. The three exhibits are up until July 9.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
