Enda Bardell presents a stunning portfolio of watercolour paintings that express the grandeur of the Canadian landscape. See more by visiting her website.
“Ceaseless,, Kluane, Yukon” watercolour, 11″ x 14″
My life as an artist began in Sweden at the age of eight. I was a refugee child, wanting to belong. We fled Estonia, the country of my birth, when the former Soviet Union occupied our country. We later immigrated to Canada when Stalin demanded the return of the refugees, then considered to be the property of USSR.
“Sojourn, Vancouver, British Columbia” watercolour, 11″ x 14″
While living in Sweden, my mom worked in a paper factory. There I had access to paper and cardboard with which I created paper dolls. I designed back to front wardrobes. These I gave to girls at school, in hopes of making friends. (Something I had lacked while living in an isolated community in Estonia, and which I dearly desired in Sweden.)
“On Guard, Bowen Island, British Columbia” watercolour, 11″ x 14″
These early stirrings of my artistic talent were supported when we eventually moved to Vancouver, Canada. My sixth grade teacher encouraged me to send one of my drawings of a family of dogs to an interschool art competition. It won a book for the school library. I was now an artist!
“Opening, Pacific Rim, British Columbia, watercolour, 11″ x 14”
During my teenage years, I continued with my art by attending Saturday morning art classes at Vancouver Art Gallery. The classes began with landscapes in oil. Marriage and family delayed my art for a while until I discovered hard edge art in acrylics and studied with iconic Vancouver artist Joan Balzar. This resulted in two of my works being in the Estonian Art in Exile Exhibition in KUMU, Estonian National Gallery of Art, and permanent collection.
“Regal, Kluane, Yukon” watercolour, 11″ x 14″
My curiosity then took me down another path: fabric art in batik and designing my own fashions. A short stint as costume designer in the Vancouver film industry was followed by a few other careers. Eventually I was catapulted back into art, now in watercolour, my current medium.
“Defence, Point Grey Foreshore, Vancouver, British Columbia” watercolour, 11″ x 14″
I love to wander in nature, where I see old trees interacting with each other in the forest, a family gathering of rocks by the shore, or clouds performing in the sky. Each tells a story. I see the title of the inspiration right then and there. And I don’t begin to paint until my title is in place, which keeps me focused on the vision.
“Monarch, English Bay, Vancouver, British Columbia, watercolour, 11″ x 14”
I personify almost everything, even the freighters in the bay (the only manmade subjects I paint.) They are “guys” to me, being manipulated by the tides and vying for position to get into the harbour next.
“Mighty, English Bay, Vancouver, British Columbia: watercolour, 11″ x 14”
Sometimes I just paint sea and sky, allowing the watercolour to just flow while tilting my painting board back and forth. Occasionally I dab out a few clouds with tissue. Sometimes I get hooked on a stormy sea, where I use salt or sandpaper to create an effect.
“Frazzled, Jericho Park, Vancouver, British Columbia” watercolour, 11″ x 14″
Sometimes I just go for it by spattering in multiple layers to achieve the effect of fallen autumn leaves. If it is too much, I glaze the work to soften it a bit. I love exploring various methods with watercolour, the least forgiving medium. And if it doesn’t work, I have discovered something in painting fast and loose!
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