Mairead Sikkes
Born in Belfast, N. Ireland, I've always been passionately interested in drawing and painting. My parents encouraged me by arranging oil painting lessons with a local artist when I was about fourteen and showing off my work to every visitor who came to the house!
At Teachers’ College, I specialized in Art and Crafts and taught Art at an inner city High School, in Belfast, for a year. In 1971, I volunteered for a two-year stint at an independent elementary school in Smithers, northern B.C. and ended up meeting my husband Nick there and staying on in Canada.
I was overwhelmed by the colour contrast of the landscape in the north particularly the changes in light on the mountains. In the long winters, snow scenes were a favorite topic and I learned much about painting the light from local artist, Dave Nehring. Later, workshops with numerous artists helped expand my technique and knowledge of composition and design. I’m particularly taken by the effect of strong light contrast in a scene, whether it be it landscape or floral.
Shortly after retiring from teaching in 2008, we moved to the Okanagan in 2012 to be near family. I am enjoying a more varied type of scenery with rocky outcrops, long-needled, airy pines and vineyards – quite different from the dense coniferous forests and mountains of the north. I also appreciate the wider variety of floral subjects here. Working with the Palette Club, gives me inspiration, support and motivation.
Over the years, I have been influenced by the work of the French Impressionists, and the Group of Seven, especially the early work of Lawrence Harris. Landscape remains my favorite subject and hikes with the Okanagan Naturalists provide me with much subject matter. I am filled with wonder at the beauty and never ending variety of the Okanagan landscape. It points to the palette of the ultimate divine Artist and my hope is that my work leads others to notice, appreciate and protect our beautiful natural world.
At Teachers’ College, I specialized in Art and Crafts and taught Art at an inner city High School, in Belfast, for a year. In 1971, I volunteered for a two-year stint at an independent elementary school in Smithers, northern B.C. and ended up meeting my husband Nick there and staying on in Canada.
I was overwhelmed by the colour contrast of the landscape in the north particularly the changes in light on the mountains. In the long winters, snow scenes were a favorite topic and I learned much about painting the light from local artist, Dave Nehring. Later, workshops with numerous artists helped expand my technique and knowledge of composition and design. I’m particularly taken by the effect of strong light contrast in a scene, whether it be it landscape or floral.
Shortly after retiring from teaching in 2008, we moved to the Okanagan in 2012 to be near family. I am enjoying a more varied type of scenery with rocky outcrops, long-needled, airy pines and vineyards – quite different from the dense coniferous forests and mountains of the north. I also appreciate the wider variety of floral subjects here. Working with the Palette Club, gives me inspiration, support and motivation.
Over the years, I have been influenced by the work of the French Impressionists, and the Group of Seven, especially the early work of Lawrence Harris. Landscape remains my favorite subject and hikes with the Okanagan Naturalists provide me with much subject matter. I am filled with wonder at the beauty and never ending variety of the Okanagan landscape. It points to the palette of the ultimate divine Artist and my hope is that my work leads others to notice, appreciate and protect our beautiful natural world.
