Jane Dow is a Canadian-born artist and contemporary painter who started painting at an early age. Some of her work uses a technique called impasto, which involves layering paint while using a palette knife that places and creates vibrant pieces of artwork. Dow started with birds, bears and boats, then began producing landscapes of personal experiences.
Are you from Powell River?
I am relatively new to Powell River and appreciate the quiet and very friendly community. I grew up in the Lower Mainland, then brought my family up in Whistler before arriving back to the coast.
How long have you been working as an artist?
Art has always been part of my life. I started sketching at age 10 and found it to be my great escape. I sketched with charcoal pencils. My mother gave me her oil paints once she realized I had a hidden interest and talent.
Can you describe your art?
My current work takes me in three directions; the first, impasto, is very satisfying in that it is fast and ends up looking nothing like I thought it would. The second is urethane; I can use it over my sketches. The third is sculpture at the Fine Arts Association here in Powell River.
Can you describe your process?
I find the vast majority judge or want a painting to look exactly like a photo or trigger memory. That body of work is in the past for me; sunsets, dogs, you know what I mean. Illustrations are another wonderful art form, but my paintings are in your face; bright and bold with current Canadian subject matter.
What inspires you as an artist?
Inspiration comes from love. If you love what you are about to paint, the canvas will capture that. I do get angry at times laying down the paint, as doubt will show up. I have to constantly push it down in order to get into the correct mindset and then the wonderful happens. It is a place in which my finished work develops and delivers.
What is your process?
Impasto is a vast amount of acrylic paint layered on with palette knives. Impasto is very rewarding and the paintings are fun. I used urethane in the past to finish my work and seal it, as the elements are always an issue when moving paintings. It can be hard to control the urethane, but it shows something new each time and the values are bright and true. I hang one of each type of painting in the galleries. The sculptures are new and will be posted soon.
Do you have any exhibitions coming up?
I am currently showing at Vancouver Island University in Powell River. My next exhibition is coming up in the spring in Vancouver with the Federation of Canadian Artists.
For more information, go to janedowart.com.
