At Winchester Galleries on Broad Street

November 1 – 22, 2008

Opening: Saturday, November 1, 2008
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Artist will be in attendance

Joan Jamieson is a North Vancouver print maker, textile artist and calligrapher.  Under the tutelage of the Campbell River artist Sybil Andrews, Jamieson focused on woodcuts and linocuts.  In 1982–1992 she participated in Andrews’ Thursday afternoon classes where a still life was drawn by the students.  These sessions provided Jamieson with much inspiration and instruction. At 4:00, tea and Imperial cheese were provided with a critique of the students’ work, all in a supportive atmosphere. She imbibed Andrews’ advice to make something unique and to embrace the artistic process.  Jamieson’s work is in accord with Andrews’ emphasis on a love for nature.  A spiritual connection to nature through visual art is central to their approach.  Even dandelions in Andrews’ yard were left uncut as they were considered worthy subject-matter for portrayal.

Andrews’ strong sense of design was passed on to her students.  She advised them to use large brushes and litho crayons to achieve a bold composition.  Jamieson’s own work features simplified form possessing a sinuous line and flowing sense of movement.  Extraneous detail is absent.  Subject matter is often derived from the immediate environment.

 
Andrews provided Jamieson with homemade linocut tools for her to use before a set arrived from England for her.  The interim one, made of umbrella ribs, remains in Jamieson’s tool kit and attests to the ingenuity of the maker.  Andrews’ approach to innovative use of materials has been adapted by Jamieson to wearable textile designs in which hand-made paper and antique lace co-exist with calligraphy on silk.  Her c2007 discovery of water-based oils heralded a return to printmaking.  The exhibition at Winchester Galleries is comprised of eleven early prints (woodcuts and linos) and two recent prints (woodcuts).