The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

ARTS The Canadian Champion, Fniday, November 14, 2008 - B1 Jbe EEHAN3Sm 805e8-71/S7 ien la , ='l - 1 oe Newlove goes solo Rural artist's collect"ion featured in exhibit By Steplianie Hounseli CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF With themes including vulnera- bility and violations of privacy Tina Newlove's paintings might appear somewbat dark at first glance. But give them another look, and you're bound to find an overriding emotion: hope. "Some of the themes are darker, but 1 hope in general my work is hopeful... self-assur- ing, feeling better about yourself," the local artist said. That dark/light interplay is evident in ber most recent collection entitled 'Protection,' which is being featured at the Latcham Gallery in Stouffville until November 29 - her first solo exhibit at a public gallery "'Protection' is very personal... tbere's a lot about self-protection, protests, declarations and secrets," Newlove said. lbhe paintings - mostly oils canvas and paper - vary in size, with everything from tiny smippets of thoughts captured in antique photo albums to a giant protest piece meas- unng six by four feet. Some projects are mixed media, in wbicb she assembles pieces thstitcbing. No shortage of ideas "There are a lot of ideas in my show because my mnd is always racmng around," said the former Campbellville resident. Newlove enjoys trying new things and allowing others to see ber tbought process. On openmng nigbt of the show she did a live painting, starting witb a blank canvas and creating as people looked on. "People find watcbing the process really interesting," she said. Newlove often incorporates wor'dplay into, ber art; for example, she may paint over a dic- tionary page specifically chosen for the words it features. Some of ber paintings are fairly abstract, but oftentimes they stilI have figures in them. For an artist to bave bis or ber work sbown in a public gallery is quite an bonour and sometbing tbey usually must build rip to. Its flot somerhing they'd apply for, it's some- thing they'd be invited to do by the curaror of thbe gallery Newlove said. That's what happened in her case. The curator of the Latcham Gallery saw Newlove's work at a juried show in Toronto and talks began regarding a solo show "Its been really exciting," Newlove said. The fact the exhibit is in a public gallery means Newlove is being paid for the show and doesn't need to rely so much on sales of ber artwork as she would with a show at a private gallery That makes for a more relaxed atmosphere where she can simply enjoy the feedback from gallery-goers. Goes against the artistic grain While some artists think through the painting and then create it, the process is the opposite for Newlove, wbo said she enjoys the surprise of neyer knowing quite what sbe's going to end up with; she doesn't inten- tionally project ber thoughts onto ber paint- ings, but they end up there nonetbeless. I1 do the work and then I reflect on it (and say), 'Oh, that's what 1 was tbinking about,"' she said. I feel like 'm flot in control of the process.- She sometimes refers to ber paintings as "Isubconscious leakings." Highligbts of ber career so far include bav- ing a piece displayed in the City of Toronto's permanent collection. Her paintings have been accepted into more than 70 juried exhi- bitions, from which shes received numerous awards. Newlove spent some of ber teen years in Campbellville, eventually moving away to attend McMaster University and graduating in the Honours Fine Arts program. She now lives in Guelph, but splits ber time painting between ber studio in Guelph and ber studio at ber mothers Campbellville home. Her two greatest fans are ber mom and ber husband, who, as a musician, shares ber artisuic bent. As a mother of a five-year-old son, it'sflot always easy finding ime to paint, Newlove said. But flot finding time isn't an option. I bave to find time to paint or Id go a lit- de crazy," she said. For Newlove, painting is more than a means of expression - it's a way of life. I1 like to escape into my own little world." 1 Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@amiltoncanadianchampion.com. FILE PHOTO 1/Y SABRINA BYRNES / SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION ART1STIC FLAIR: lina Newlove works on one of her pieces, entitled 'Memory Girl.' ITS BETTER HEREI, "I didn't want the kids to worry about me being alune. With a wide range of activities that I share with friends, my retirement has never been this much fun." Join us for a personal tour and a comphimentary lunch with our friendly residents. ~ *~ Free transportation provided! TH-E ROYAL ON GORDON Cail 519-837-3605 1691 Gordon St., Guelph, ON Li