An artist on the move...

By Andy Graffiti

Since his successful exhibition last year at Coast Collective's Havenwood and Mercurio in Victoria, Ken Faulks has been on the move. He's already known among his peers as a painter who will venture out in any and all weathers to portray the beauties of the local landscape "en plein air", and he may frequently be seen at his easel in the countryside or on the shore. Last fall Ken decided to travel somewhat farther afield to find fresh subjects.

Ken took to the road for an extended road trip through BC and Alberta. He has made such tours twice before, although never so late in the year, and it has been a while since he travelled this far from the familiar landscapes of Vancouver Island.

He says, "I love getting out on the road for a painting trip. It's always inspiring to cruise new places; different landscapes, light and skies." Making an art sponsorship arrangement with the owners of Malibu Motors, he acquired a reliable van for a trip through the interior and the Rockies and mapped out a six week painting tour.

Leaving in late October, he stopped to visit and paint in Fort Langley, then headed to Ashcroft, and Mt. Robson for a short studio stay at artist-friendly Tarracana Resort. Throughout November he based himself at Wabamun Lake, an hour outside of Edmonton, at the vacation home of Averie and Carman McNary, and photographed and painted in the area. Some of the paintings from this expedition will be included in his upcoming show of new work, to be held this May at the beautiful Havenwood house at Esquimalt Lagoon, the home of Coast Collective's gallery. The exhibition will be presented by Mercurio Gallery under the direction of proprietor Kym Hill.

Recently, Ken has made another kind of move, relocating his studio from downtown Victoria to the Coast Collective Art Centre. Although the existing studios were filled, a space was found for Ken which, with some upgrading, was suitable for his working needs. Having installed a new floor and glass doors, Ken is busy finishing pieces for his upcoming show.

"Here at the new studio, instead of traffic, you can hear the stream which runs just outside my studio," he says. "There's lots of light...the big sky and the ocean right at the foot of the property. It's definitely more conducive to my creative process."

Wherever he aims his gaze, Faulks' work continues to achieve one of the great goals of landscape painting: to convey the immanent energy with which the visual world is charged. He continues to quietly establish himself as one of the region's pre-eminent painters. In the last few years he has steadily reached a growing audience of appreciators and collectors not merely confined to Vancouver Island.

Ken kept an online journal of his road trip, which can be seen at kenfaulks.com.

("Ken Faulks New Work", presented by Mercurio Gallery, will run from May 16-27 at the Coast Collective Gallery at Havenwood, 3221 Heatherbell Road, Colwood. For more information and directions, see www.mercurio.ca, or www.coastcollective.ca)