Inspiration is the fuel on which creativity thrives. When the muse strikes, there's no pulling back the floodgates of the imagination as the artist strives to translate an intangible sense of wonder into a finished work of art.
Christine Gollner likens this feeling to a spirit or aura. Her role as a painter, she says, begins by heading outside, where she can behold natural beauty that has captivated her since childhood in Metchosin. It was in her youth, soon after her family moved from Trinidad that she developed a sense of place remaining with her to this day.
鈥淭o observe the land and ocean all day, every day, gave me more than an appreciation; it gave me a built-in connection,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e all are connected to our home or our land. It can鈥檛 be described, it's just there. It is a feeling the viewer receives from a painting, an object or a place.鈥�
While exploring favourite sites around Victoria, such as Cattle Point, Mt. Douglas Park, McNeil Bay and Gonzales Hill, Christine admits to sometimes feeling overwhelmed by all the beauty. 鈥淥nly nature can put it all together so perfectly,鈥� she says. She'll often capture a scene with a camera or in a sketchbook before returning to the studio, where the painting will emerge.
鈥淚 paint until the remembered spirit is found. The painting leads me through this process,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 sometimes paint two similar large paintings at a time. I listen to the radio or music. I always have a vision but am happy to adjust my vision as the painting evolves.鈥�
Before moving to Oak Bay in the early 1990s, Christine spent much of her life on the road with her husband in the military, frequently on the move to new postings across Canada and throughout Europe. With three children in tow, it was a lifestyle that offered little time for painting, yet Christine fed her interest in art by enrolling in courses whenever an opportunity presented itself. The Emily Carr University, the University of Manitoba and the Ottawa School of Art are where Christine studied art when postings allowed.
鈥淲hen studying art history at the University of Manitoba I was influenced by many amazing artists,鈥� she says. 鈥淥f course, Emily Carr, her bold simplified shapes have influenced me. When at Emily Carr College, abstraction was a favourite of mine. All of this helped to form my visual language.鈥�
Moving so often afforded Christine the privilege to take in diverse and distant landscapes that further expanded her creative vision while simultaneously reinforcing that original sense of place she'd developed as a girl on the shores of Metchosin. Wherever she and the family found themselves sightseeing, sketchbooks and painting supplies were always close at hand.
鈥淲hether it was in Europe, England or Canada, the landscape was profound and shaped the towns and people living there,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ellowknife was so special for me because I started painting full-time. The cold yet beautiful lands, northern lights and amazing people were immediately my subjects.鈥�
Around this time, Christine set out wholeheartedly as an artist with successful shows at the Arctic Art Gallery. Soon afterwards, she and her newly retired husband returned home to the West Coast's familiar forests of fir, cedar and arbutus.
Christine settled into the local arts community almost as soon as she returned to Victoria in 1991. While participating in summer art courses at Pearson College, she met members of the Victoria Sketch Club who urged her to apply for membership in the group. 鈥淚 did and I never looked back,鈥� she says. 鈥淧ainting is a solitary activity, it is so important to have like-minded friends with whom to learn and share the painting process.鈥�
She's now the group's most longstanding active member and enjoys spending time among such a supportive group of experienced artists. The VSC hosts its 116th Annual Art Show from March 18 to 23. Christine is currently working on a series of paintings for the event. She has also held solo art shows at the Union Club and St. Matthias Church in addition to a few other galleries around town. Her art is sometimes displayed at the Oak Bay Open Studio sessions held in the spring and fall.
鈥淚t's always a pleasure to welcome folks into the house,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey are so appreciative, and my journals of the North are always a big hit.鈥�
Throughout her painting career, Christine has enjoyed the freedom to experiment. An interest in abstraction transformed into landscapes and she's currently painting in more of an impressionistic style of late. Similarly, she's shifted from her early years of working primarily in oils to embracing acrylics.
鈥淢y paintings are more impressionistic these days. I started working in oils years ago when we worked in a turpentine soup. Today I work in acrylics which, I think, are safer. Colours are difficult but adjustable鈥�. Since she set out, however, she's never sought to be a prolific painter, preferring instead to enjoy the process and take her time.
鈥淚 like to experiment, change styles and feel free to paint the way I want to paint,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was once told by a professor that consistency was the product of a small mind. I don鈥檛 believe this for a minute, but I like that attitude.鈥�
