Artist Donna Huber comes from a family of artists, most prominently, her mother and grandmother.
For many years she shared a studio with her mother in Lund, where she grew up. Eventually, Huber created a studio of her own, in her home in Westview, where she lives with her husband, who does the framing for her work. In the cool, quiet space below her main home sits her drawing desk, a printmaker, and seemingly endless colourful prints, drawings and paintings.
"My style evolved over time," said Huber. "It was when I looked at some First Nations artwork, when I was at art school, it's spatial, with a lot of empty space, and I like that."
Huber said she is influenced by many different individual artists but it was Japanese printmaking and ceramics, plus seeing a collection of BC First Nations masks, that sparked her journey of creativity.
"I have to wait for them [ideas]," said Huber. "It's mostly in the wintertime when things slow down; summer is busy and there is too much business in the mind.
"When it comes to winter, then I can start to let things grow."
Last winter Huber created a series of hand drawings based on the book Grimms' Fairy Tales.
"I had that book as a child," said Huber. "When I get an idea, I sketch it out and once you can get what was in your mind down [on paper] it's very satisfying."
Her signature style comes from her prints of people or cozy cabins, with a visual style reminiscent of old-world folk. She uses a hand-operated printing press, where she inks, then rolls her linocut images onto paper.
"I like contrast and I do alot of art with contrast between outside and inside," said Huber. “It's [her artwork]about people in the world."
Although Huber is influenced by other types of art and artists who came before her, she said she tries to channel her own sensibilities into her work.
"I find the ocean inspirational and it's quiet here," said Huber. "There is rain and fog, but I don't mind that; it gives me time to think."
Donna Huber Art Studio is number 25 on the map for this year's qathet Studio Tour 2024, which takes place on Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25.
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