Valerie Kent
Little Epic Red Canoe
Name of the Paddle: Little Epic Red Canoe
Display Location: Sunblockers, Lakefield
Artist Name: Valerie Kent
Medium: To create the Little Epic Red Canoe Paddle I used several kinds of additives to build up the various textures, including heavy and light gels, and pastes such as fiber paste. I used different additives for the water and the shoreline and then prepared the silky look for the red canoe. I painted the scene and layered the water with acrylic paint. As a final touch I used a two-stage epoxy resin to create the three-dimensional look to the finished painting. I painted a glossy oil-based red paint to complete the rest of the paddle.
Artist Bio: Valerie Kent lives in Cavan, Ontario and is a full-time art practitioner, painting and exhibiting her work in galleries locally and internationally, working as an art director at Galerie Q in Millbrook, ON and teaching art courses online at www.trentu.ca, www.curiousmondo.com and at several art societies, sometimes in person. She is also an art juror for various art organizations. What I like about The Trent-Severn Waterway is that it is a living network reaching into nature and joining communities and their peoples. I like to paint in all media and I enjoy driving around this beautiful area I live in.
Paddle Description: My paddle design is a pretty red canoe close to a shoreline. It is a beautiful sunny day and there are light waves lapping against the sand. It is the ideal day to use a paddle and head out into nature skimming the water. I love watching canoes, so graceful and melodic! My artwork symbolizes freedom and a personal little bit of heaven out on the water. I was very happy painting my paddle and I am very happy with the completed paddle. I hope it brings as much joy to the viewers of the paddles in the Trent-Severn Trail Town Paddle Art Project as it has already succeeded in bringing to me. I cannot wait to see as many of the paddles as possible.
Where to find more of Valerie’s artwork: www.valeriekent.com Miskwaa Art Studio and Outdoor Gallery www.galleryonthelake.com www.cavan_arts.ie www.galerie-q.com
