A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Maggie began her career as a fashion designer in the early 1970’s and later a costume designer for theatre and television in Montreal. When she relocated to Vancouver in 1992 her career progressed in film where she worked for many years as a Prop Master. The early ability to illustrate designs and create props led to the desire to paint, and so her journey into painting full time began by the time she relocated to Victoria. The desire to capture the ocean in its many moods took over.
Maggie’s work has been accepted by The Sooke Fine Arts Show for the past three years. She acquired Active Membership with The Federation of Canadian Artists and is featured in the Victoria Arts council On line magazine Until with art inspired on the theme of Esquimalt.
The Coastlines exhibition at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre is her first solo show of paintings and many are newer works developed during the last three years.
Artist Statement
The choice to relocate to Victoria was an easy one desiring as I did to be by the ocean and to ultimately paint the stunning scenery that the island offers.
The seed had been sewn some years ago on a vacation to Cornwall in England where the coastline begged to be painted. Arriving home I continued collecting images when I traveled up and down the coast.
Many paintings were inspired close to home around Saxe Point and Macaulay Point.
And then further afield in Qualicum, Parksville, Ukluelet, Tofino and now more of the west coast beaches. There are no two days the same which is what I love to discover upon each visit.
I paint in acrylic in a realistic style, always looking for colour in the composition as well as drama in the sky sea or land itself to tell the story. When out scouting I look for interesting reflections, drama in cloud formations and atmospheric light and interesting textures.
My admired artists are Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, Lawren Harris and Alex Coleville.
My work has taught me the art of color mixing and draftsmanship and I am planning a progression to newer styles of painting in the near future using the medium to capture the amazing atmosphere I see in every new place I visit. It is an exciting process, and the most important approach I find is to always challenge oneself.
Maggie Wilson
