Two Okanagan artists are sharing their passion for the beautiful views of the valley in Naramata for the next month.
A joint exhibition, Colours of Joy, featuring the works of Robyn Lake and Anne-Marie Harvey, is on display until July 12 at the Naramata Heritage Inn on 3625 1 St.
Lake and Harvey met doing plein air painting a few years ago.
“When I go out and paint with a group, I’m a bit of a loner. I go out to paint and not to
socialize and I think she is the same way. We both had gone off and ran into each other out in the bush,” Lake said. “We each go off into our own little world and actually get some work done.”
They started talking and now go painting all the time together.
“We have a similar philosophy about painting. For me, I don’t consider it a job, it’s something I do. Like eating or breathing,” Lake laughed. “I think of it as my job is creating joy. That’s what I try to put into my work, and when I talked to (Harvey) about that, she feels the same way.”
She and Harvey go out, usually on bicycles, and as she puts it “cruise the countryside looking for material.”
“I just love the colours here. I love the contrast of rich greens of the vineyards against the desert hills,” Lake said. “It’s probably one of the best views in the world right here.”
The painter with 25 years of experience does most of her painting outside when she is able.
She said the Harvey’s work offers somewhat of a counterpoint to hers. The two differ mostly when it comes to brushwork, with Harvey using slightly larger brushes, but both work in oils and acrylics.
“I think Ann-Marie’s work is much different from mine, but they seem to compliment each other. That seems to work well,” Lake said.
To preview some of the work visit www.lloydgallery.com.