CARLA FLEGEL
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I grew up stretched between the Bay of Fundy Coast in Penobsquis, New Brunswick working at the family tourist business in the summers .... to the Steel City of Hamilton, Ontario in the winter months. My original training and work was in the medical field. Marriage and two children eventually led me to settle 30 years ago in the rural town of Bowser, British Columbia on Vancouver Island. Always near water. That inspires me!
Being creative has been a significant part of "Who I am" for most of my life. I am self taught painter starting with the Folk Art Craze of the '80's. I have taken numerous classes and have chosen to learn from technically skilled instructors, especially in Watercolour. The style in which I paint has developed with those skills. I always find the humourous side of situations, and that is reflected in my work and my teaching style. My paintings are described as ‘painterly, colorful and happy’. I am a skills focused instructor and love to encourage beginner painters to really look at the world and experience the joy and pleasure of a creative lifestyle.
I am a member of the Canadian Federation of Artists and Arrowsmith and Nanaimo local chapters . Early work was in oils and acrylics. I have recently settled on WaterColour as the medium of choice. Im fascinated by the unpredictability as water, paint and paper meet. Watching how it paints itself... if you let it.. is magical. I am part of the School for Creative arts as an instructor for ArtBites and offer skills classes for watercolour, gouache and urban sketching at The McMillan Art Center ( MAC) Parksville, B.C., Canada. I offer paint parties, sketching journal outings and pleine-air adventures in the Oceanside area as well as in Mexico ( RoamingArt.ca). I have won awards in pleine- air painting competitions, and recognized shows. I am represented by the Salish Sea Gallery, Sandbar Cafe and Gallery, Bowser Automotive, The Georgia Park, the MacMillan Arts Center Gift shop and The Butchart Gardens in Victoria BC