Sep
3
by Anne Hansen
The James Bay Art Walk in September will be the first time Kenna Barradell has shown her work publicly other than at art school shows. Months ago, she told me, "Now I have to get down to work creating the pictures that have been stored up in my head waiting for release."
She sees the process of creating visual art as "like pianists practicing a piece until it is as good as they can make it. I like entertaining myself as I imagine a musician does."
Early in her life, Kenna loved drawing. "I will always remember a large painting I did in highschool. It is the colour and movement that I remember, the first product that I felt good about," she says. Since then, she has also delved into print-making and sculpture.
Kenna feels an affinity for the Expressionist artists, especially the portraits of Chaim Soutine (1893-1943). "I love Jim Gordaneer's work and am so happy there is a retrospective show of his work at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Paul Peregal , also in this year's James Bay Art Walk , encouraged me to do larger format work and to work faster and freer. These two changes really made a huge difference to my work."
Kenna's subject matter is portraits and the figure in action. She did a "short stint at the Vancouver School of Art, which was a waste of time," she recalls. "I wasn't comfortable with the medium at the time, which was painting. I completed a year of art school here in Victoria in 1967, and that was a lot of fun and a little learning. I learned how much I loved playing with colour and recognized the work of others that I wished I could produce. One student in that class produced work that was very similar to Jim Gordaneer's paintings. I really admired that student's work."
Love of art often runs in families. Kenna's grandfather, cousin and brother were graphic artists and her cousin's son is a very successful illustrator. She remembers, "My mother always loved to draw. My original inspiration to be creative came from her."
"My biggest challenge is making myself work for prolonged periods of time to produce the best results. My biggest success was when my biggest critics, my children, liked my work. My oldest son, Torr, who died in June 2009, was my greatest encourager and supporter. I miss him terribly."
Besides her art, Kenna is happily involved in dancing the tango several times a week with local clubs. "What a wonderful dance," she says with a passion. She also sails, belongs to a book club, and loves the outdoors and classical music.
See Kenna Barradell's work on the James Bay Art Walk (September 11th and 12th, 11am - 5pm) at 569 Michigan Street, (250) 380-1302, ()