Discover Beautiful Abstract Art
We’re excited to introduce you to Campbell River, BC abstract artist Colleen Rieu. Check out the interview below to get to know Colleen and see more of her artwork.
Dramatic and energetic, abstracts.
I think it is mainly about painting my feels…sometimes a mood comes over me that I can’t quite put a name to and sitting in my studio helps to bring it to the surface and onto the canvas…I like to call myself a “Moodist” that sort of sums up my style.
I paint for myself first, so I suppose it is my own personal form of therapy…opening up and expressing my thoughts when sometimes there are no words.
Just having the freedom to play with no rules.
I paint realism as well, scenery, people, pets but it doesn’t give me the same release as abstract art, I do like to switch it up in between slumps where my creativity is asleep and I will use one of my thousands of photos as a reference and I find this takes some of the pressure off…Certain photos call to me to be painted and those are a lot of fun too, they are often of friends or family and I will gift those…
Expressive, moody, chaotic.
I have stage fright and freeze when someone watches me paint….something I’d like to get over!
I have always enjoyed being artistic in all my doings. As a child the usual, coloring, Then onto paper dolls and designing their clothing…I remember drawing my own comics and being fascinated by Archie comics as a young girl, ( my father was a cartoonist by trade).. I made and altered my own clothing as a teen and found gardening and decorating our homes to fill my days in marriage and child rearing years. I was a hairdresser for many years and later on I began designing homes, 6 of which we built and a few I designed for friends and family. Painting didn’t really take hold until 2018, a year after we retired to Vancouver Island.
Guts and creativity.
Paint for yourself first and be authentic.
I love to listen to Louise Fletchers podcasts, but music is my choice when I’m creating.
I love the ocean, we can’t see it from our home and living near is not in our budget so I thought how can I be where I feel the most alive, without actually living there… I got this crazy idea ( I get lots of these) hubby always rolls his eyes when I say i have an idea, anyways I bought a 12 foot long cargo trailer that we set up the inside with hanging racks and shelves, I pull it to the ocean near the tourist areas and hang all my artwork and greeting cards, I have a small table, umbrella and 2 lawn chairs for outside, one for company or anyone who just wants to sit with me and chat, I also use it at art fairs and markets…so to answer the question, my most fulfilling experience was Canada Day Celebrations where I had two collectors that literally had tears as they viewed and purchased my paintings…If I can touch someones soul I have accomplished the ultimate.
I am always trying to grow and achieve that signature style, and hoping that my GirlStreetGallery cargo trailer will gather many more miles and collectors…
To learn more about Campbell River, BC abstract artist Colleen Rieu and see more of her paintings, head to her website here.
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