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Elaine L Hughes - Fine Art

About Me

Biography

Elaine L. Hughes holds a Visual Arts Certificate from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension, having graduated with distinction in 2018. She now lives in Victoria, BC, where she is an Exhibiting Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, exhibiting in both local shows and their gallery on Granville Island, Vancouver, BC. She was an Associate Member of the Coast Collective, where she exhibited regularly and taught workshops, until their closure due to Covid-19, then spent three years as an exhibiting Member of the Metchosin Artpod Collective from 2020 through 2022.

Hughes works primarily in watercolour, and has participated in many group exhibitions in both Edmonton, AB, and the Victoria area, including both the Sooke Fine Arts Show and the Sidney Fine Art Show. Her paintings are post-impressionistic in style, and are characterized by strong values, intense colours, and variety. Her art is dedicated to showing the forms, moods and beauty of the natural world.

Artist Statement

My journey as an artist began in childhood, with a profound love of both crayons and nature. In my world back then, all that was beautiful was of Nature, and in my grandfather’s studio I first learned to draw using brittle sticks of vine charcoal.

All that is beautiful in my world is still of Nature, and I use my art to try to express the glory and the spirit of life on this planet, our home. I refer to my landscapes as post-Anthropocene, as I focus on the beauty that will somehow outlast our current destructive era. The pressures of human habitation on our world are now immense and dispiriting, but we resonate with a distant memory of a different and happier world, and can envision its blessed return.

“Art is a path on which we honour our world.” - Robert Genn

Solo Exhibitions

2019   Revisions: A Show about Moments in Time, Westridge Gallery, Coast Collective, Sept 11-22, 2019

Selected Group Exhibitions
 
2024    Water 2024, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2024    Fall Exhibition, Victoria FCA, Goldfinch Gallery, Colwood BC (juried)
 
2024    Works on Paper 2024, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2024    Summer Exhibition, Victoria FCA, Fortune Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2024    Moss Street Paint-in 2024, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2024    Landscapes, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2024    Bloom, Goldfinch Gallery, Arts and Culture Colwood, Colwood BC (juried)
 
2024    The Wonder of Water, Metchosin ArtPod, Metchosin BC (juried)
 
2024    Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society Spring Show, Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney BC (members only)
 
2024    Celebrate! 2024, Goldfinch Gallery, Arts and Culture Colwood, Colwood BC (juried)
 
2024    Scenes From Canada, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2024    What the Heart Wants, Transformations, Location and Gratitude & Roots shows, Sooke Arts Council Gallery, Sooke BC
 
2023    Fall Exhibition, FCA Victoria, Fortune Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2023    Nature Trust of BC, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2023    Here Comes the Sun, and Location Location Location summer shows, Sooke Arts Council Gallery, Sooke BC
 
2023    Moss Street Paint-in 2023,  Victoria BC (juried)
 
2023    Expressions, FCA Victoria, Fortune Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2023    Summer Small Works Show and Sale, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Massey Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2023    Bloom 2023, Pendray House at Pacific Landing, Arts and Culture Colwood Society, Colwood BC (juried)
 
2023    Works on Paper, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2023    Step Up, Heartfelt and Equinox spring shows, Sooke Arts Council Gallery, Sooke BC
 
2022    Winter Small Works Show and Sale, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Massey Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2022    Shadow and Light, FCA Victoria, Fortune Gallery & online, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2022    Water, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2022    Volunteer Appreciation Show and Reopening, Sooke Arts Council Gallery, Sooke BC
 
2022    Liminal Spaces: Art At the Threshold, Metchosin ArtPod Collective, Metchosin BC (members only)
 
2022    Nature Trust of BC Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2022    Moss Street Paint-in, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2022    Summer Small Works Show and Sale, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Massey Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2022    Bloom, Pendray House at Pacific Landing, Arts & Culture Colwood Society, Colwood BC (juried)
 
2022    Scenes from Western Canada, Federation of Canadian Artists, online (juried)
 
2022    Works on Paper 2022, Federation of Canadian Artists, online (juried)
 
2021    Winter Small Works Show and Sale, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Massey Gallery, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2021    Passages: Journey Into Art, FCA Victoria, Fortune Gallery & online, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2021    Now, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2021    Nature Trust of BC Artist of the Year Show, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2021    Sooke Fine Arts Show, online (juried)
 
2021    Here Comes the Sun, Sooke Arts Council Gallery, Sooke BC
 
2021    Somewhere in Time, FCA Victoria, online (juried)
 
2021    Landscapes 2021, Federation of Canadian Artists, online (juried)
 
2021    Bloom 12 Transplanted, Coast Collective & Esquimault Community Arts Hub, Esquimault BC (juried)
 
2021    Relations | Island II, Esquimault Community Arts Hub, Esquimault BC (juried)
 
2021    2021 Works on Paper, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2020    Winter Small Works Show & Sale, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2020    Shape and Form, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2020    Scenes from Western Canada, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2020    Light & Dark, Metchosin ArtPod, Metchosin BC (members only)
 
2020    Sooke Fine Arts Show, online (juried)
 
2020    Landscape & Still Life, Gallery Ring, online (juried)
 
2020    Looking In - Looking Out, FCA Victoria, online (juried)
 
2020    Bird & Song, Metchosin Artpod, Metchosin BC (juried)
 
2020    Group of Seven 100th Anniversary, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2020    Mirrors, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2020    Instructor Showcase, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (invitational)
 
2019    Fall Exhibition, FCA Victoria, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    Haunted, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    Scenes From Western Canada, Federation of Canadian Artists, online (juried)
 
2019    Moss Street Paint-in, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    Oceans, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    Bloom 11, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    FCA Victoria, Spring Exhibition, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    Westridge Collection, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2019    Instructor Showcase, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (invitational)
 
2018    FCA Victoria, Fall Exhibition, Victoria BC (juried)

 
2018    Nanaimo Fine Art Show, FCA Nanaimo Chapter, Nanaimo BC (juried)
 
2018    Scenes From Western Canada, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2018    Sooke Fine Arts Show, Sooke BC (juried)
 
2018    Moss Street Paint-in, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2018    Aquarelle et Pastel, Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC (juried)
 
2018    FCA Victoria Chapter, Spring Show, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2018    Coast Collective Shows: Beginnings, Transformations, Bloom 10, Folklore, Galloping Goose & Revealed, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2017    FCA Victoria Chapter, Fall Show, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2017    Sidney Fine Art Show, Sidney BC (juried)
 
2017    Moss Street Paint-in, Victoria BC (juried)
 
2017    FCA Victoria Chapter, Spring Show,  Victoria BC (juried)
 
2017    Coast Collective shows: Red, Associates Showcase, Small Works, Canada 150 & Into the Night, Victoria BC (juried)

2016     and earlier, participant in numerous student and art club shows, including:

2016     Small Treasures, Coast Collective, Victoria BC (juried)

2015     30th Anniversary Spring Show, Art Society of Strathcona County, Sherwook Park AB (juried)

2010     No Story Too Small To Trade, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina SK

2009     Two Dozen, Society of Western Canadian Artists/Scotia Place Edmonton AB (juried)

2003     Open Arts Competition, Allied Arts Council, Spruce Grove AB

2003     Recent Works, Woodbend Gallery and Frame Studio, Devon AB (invitational)

Awards

2023    2nd Place, Summer Show, Victoria Chapter of the FCA
 
2017    Honourable Mention, Sidney Fine Art Show, Sidney BC
 
2017    3rd Place, Fall Show, Victoria Chapter of the FCA
 
2017    1st Place, Plein Air at the Fort, Colwood Seaside Festival
 
2015    Feature Artist, December, Society of Western Canadian Artists

2013    Peoples Choice Award (Newsletter Cover Art), Society of Western Canadian Artists

2010    1st Place, Trees Competiton, Art Trader Magazine (online)

2006    Peoples Choice Award (Newsletter Cover Art), Society of Western Canadian Artists

2003    3rd Place (Intermediate), Open Art Competition, Allied Arts Council of Spruce Grove
 
Teaching
 
2024    Pacific Coastline in Watercolour II, Esquimault Parks and Recreation
 
2024    Simple Mountain Scene in Watercolour, Esquimault Parks and Recreation
 
2023    Pacific Coastline in Watercolour, Esquimault Parks and Recreation
 
2023    Mt Baker in Watercolour, Esquimault Parks and Recreation
 
2020    Mountain Landscapes in Watercolour, Coast Collective
 
2019    Atmospheric Perspective in Watercolour, Coast Collective
 
2019    Value Design and Techniques for Watercolour, JDF 55+ Activity Centre
 
2019    The Mountain Landscape in Watercolour, Coast Collective
 
2019    Mountain Landscapes Using Watercolour, JDF 55+ Activity Centre
 
2018    Atmospheric Perspective in the Watercolour Landscape, Coast Collective
 
2018    The Robust Watercolour, Coast Collective
 
2018    The Mountain Landscape in Watercolour, Coast Collective
 
2018    Tradeable Art: Fun with ATCs, Coast Collective
 
Bibliography
 
2018    "New exhibit inspires artist collaborations," August 8, 2018 Goldstream News Gazette p. A11

2010    No Story Too Small to Trade (Regina: Dunlop Art Gallery, 2010)

2010    “Profile of a Trader,” Vol. 20 ATC Quarterly: An Artist Trading Card Journal p. 5

Memberships

Federation of Canadian Artists, Exhibiting Member
 
Victoria Chapter of the FCA, Member & Newsletter Editor
 
Arts and Culture Colwood Society, Member
 
Sooke Arts Council, Member
     
Education
 
Visual Arts Certificate, University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension, with Distinction
Solo Show (graduating exhibit) June 5-17, 2017; graduation June 8, 2018