“Always inspired by Nature. Always experimenting. Creating art always lifts my soul.”
Elaine has been living and creating art in the Comox Valley for over 30 years. Her creative spirit finds inspiration while exploring the natural landscape, whether it’s colors and patterns observed while kayaking, hiking, cycling, or simply walking in her neighborhood. She is passionate about the abstract process, feeling it allows the true artist in her to create art in a personal and intimate way.
She developed her style through many hours of painting, playing with materials, looking at other’s art and sorting through what she loves. “Through this practice I started to realize that I’m in love with translucence, layers and texture and wanting my images to have a sense of a visual story. I hope for that ‘second look’ and that people will be intrigued. Freedom is a key word for me and that motivates me to strive for something that isn’t always grounded in reality.”
“Creating art connects my inner self with others and I love that. It does this through the stories my art tells them. Of course, I’m always hoping that viewers experience some pleasure. I also hope they are intrigued. I like to talk about my inspiration for my art rather than a definitive explanation. Hearing what others see in my art or what struck them personally is always an interesting conversation. That’s the most exciting piece for me.”
Organizations
- Comox Valley Arts Council, member
- Active member of Studio 211 in Courtenay, BC
- Federation of Canadian Artists – Exhibiting Status, https://federationgallery.com/artist/5068/elainesmith
- Pearl Ellis Gallery, Comox – member
- The Old School House Arts Centre -Qualicum Beach
- Oceanside Community Arts Council
Education
- 2025-Abstract By Design with Michael Shemchuk2024-2025 Vision and Voice – Cheryl Taves and Kerry Schroeder
- 2024- Confident Composition- Sally Hirst
- 2023- Rob Szot Studio: A Work In Progress, Online Work On Paper Workshop
- 2023- Complete Collagraphy, Collage Creations and Monotype – Materials and Methods – Sally Hirst
- 2022- Intuitive Composition with Pauline Jans
- 2022- Intaglio Printmaking, Fall Semester; North Island College
- 2022- Intro to Printmaking, Spring Semester; North Island College
- 2022- Water Colour Jumpstart, Angela Fehr
- 2021- Find Your Joy, Louise Fletcher, 12 weeks
- 2021- Abstracted Landscape, Lewis Noble
- 2021- Expressionism – Julie Prichard
- 2021-2023- Art Tribe, Louise Fletcher
- 1995-2021 – a variety of community education art classes
- 2000 and earlier- BScN with and specialty in Mental Health Nursing (Retired Nurse)
Exhibitions
- The Pearl Ellis Gallery, Member’s show, Awakenings, March 2025
- FCA Shape and Form Exhibit, 2024
- FCA Limitless Exhibit, 2024
- https://federationgallery.com/exhibit/2024_october_november_december_curated_collection/3816
- https://federationgallery.com/exhibit/fca_arrowsmith_square_foot_show/3827
- https://federationgallery.com/exhibit/2024_chapter_challenge/3787
- Artful the Gallery, The Octet Salon, May 8 to June 2nd, 2024
- Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce/Comox Valley Arts Invitational Art Showcase, Duo Show with Laurie Martz, May 9 to August 18th, 2024
- Comox Valley Airport Art Collection, ‘Comings and Goings’, May to October 2024
- April 2024 – Identity and Expression, juried show at Pearl Ellis Gallery, Comox, 2nd place winner of People’s Choice Awards
- Campbell River Art Gallery Members Show, January to March 2024
- January 2024- Our Earth, juried show at Pearl Ellis Gallery, Comox
- November 1, 2023 – April 15, 2024, Polarities and Junctions juried show at Comox Valley Airport, organized by Comox Valley Arts
- Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes International Art Competition, October 21-December 20, 2023
- October 2023 – Limitless Exhibition, Federation Of Canadian Artists
- September 2023 – Nanaimo Fine Arts Show, Nanaimo Chapter of FCA
- September 2023 – Federation of Canadian Artists, Abstracted Exhibition, FCA
- August 1 to the26th, 2023 Duo show with artist Miriam Myers. ‘Finding Our Way’. At Pearl Ellis Gallery, Comox, BC
- July – 2023 – On The Edge Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Juried International Show
- April 2023 – Arrowsmith Spring Exhibition (FCA), (artwork sold from this show)
- March 2023 – Federation of Canadian Artists, Bloom Exhibition
- December 2022 – Federation of Canadian Artists, Ten Squared Exhibition
- Fall 2022 – Rural Decay, The Old Schoolhouse Arts Centre; (artwork sold from this show)
- August 2022 – BC Culture Days; Exquisite Corpse
- August 2022 – Federation of Canadian Artists, Abstracted Exhibition. Juried show.
- July 2022 – On the Edge Exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Juried International show. (Artwork sold during the show.)
- April 2022 – Federation of Canadian Artists, Arrowsmith Chapter: Juried Spring Show
- January 2022 – Pearl Ellis Gallery Members Group Show
- December 2021 – Square Foot Show, Artwrx Gallery, Comox Valley
- December 2021 – Climate Conversations Community Art Show – Weird Church Gallery, Cumberland.
- November 2021 – Federation of Canadian Artists, Ten Squared, fundraising exhibition
- July 2021 – Online exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, Annual International Representational Exhibition, Juried exhibition
- June 2021- Online exhibition, Federation of Canadian Artists, The Curated Collection
