Nov 11, 2017 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

For those who have not yet had the pleasure of visiting Greenwood, British Columbia, a delightful taste of the place can be had through the paintings of B.C. artist, Diane Paton Peel. From her home studio in Penticton, Diane travels all over the province, painting landscapes and capturing historic buildings and small town scenes. Greenwood, with its many picturesque Victorian storefronts, City Hall and Post Office, would please any painter with a blank canvas, and we're fortunate that Diane set her easel up here.

Fortunately for those of us living in Greenwood, the four paintings shown here can also be enjoyed in person. They hang in the Copper Eagle Cappuccino & Bakery, which is featured in the largest painting.

"Greenwood Fire Hall" by Diane Paton Peel

Next time you stop for a coffee, have a look at the big Copper Eagle piece on the front wall by the window. On top of the piano (at the moment) sit the three smaller framed pieces. Each one offers a beautifully captured scene of Greenwood.

The painting at top of page is titled "Winter in Greenwood BC", and perhaps by chance, the other three paintings depict Spring, Summer and Fall scenes. The artist describes her work on her Facebook page:

"Diane Paton Peel paints sweeping landscapes in oil of the North Cascades of Washington State, as well as lush vineyards of British Columbia. Having lived in the Yukon for many years she also portrays the North's wilderness."

The Copper Eagle, Greenwood by Diane Paton Peel

A large collection of her work can be seen in Penticton, at the Lloyd Gallery. Her work is described in more detail in this Artist's Statement:

"I enjoy oil paint because it does not dry very fast, allowing the blending of paint edges and fluidity of brush stokes. It also allows a sculptural effect with the use of undiluted paint.

I prefer wilderness scenes for subject matter, or any old buildings with character. The majestic mountains in the early morning or late evening light are a favorite. The vineyards in the Okanagan are an enjoyable challenge, especially in the fall when some turn bright red. The Vaseaux Lake area is my favorite.

I have been gathering subject matter by back packing around the Stehekin Valley and as far as Lyman Lake and Image Lake, WA as well as around the Yukon, Canada. The wildlife and wildflowers I encounter along the trail are also included in some scenes. I use a portable painting kit in order to paint in remote places. It is a half size French easel packed with small oil paint tubes, 11" x14" canvas, in a back packing case.

For the past 40 years my paintings are a celebration of Nature and I strive to portray beauty on each canvas."

Diane has been shown in many exhibitions since 1978, including a display of works at the Yukon Pavillion in Vancouver during EXPO '86, and since 1993 she has shown regularly at the Calgary Stampede. Her formal art training includes workshops with Lilias Farley, Diana van Loock, James Marshall, Alan Wylie and Steve Mills, as well as a course at the Banff School of Fine Art."

"Greenwood City Hall" by Diane Paton Peel

As one Boundary Creek Times_[1] editorialist put it:

"Every great landscape artist is both a poet and a painter. The imagination, the intuition, the interpretation, the sympathy, the reverence, the love, kinship and communion with Nature of the poet, filtering through the mind of the artist, find their medium of expression in brush and colors. Every great painting is a poem in paint instead of in print."

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Boundary Creek Times — Jan 06, 1911, p. 3
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172051