In May of 2023, I began upon a project of learning to paint. I started out doing loose plein air sketches of landscapes in a cheap little book using dollar store water-colour paints. Over the course of the Summer, these paintings became increasingly complex, and once I had filled the first book, I immediately set out to bind a new book out of dollar-store water-colour paper and began on the next iteration of landscapes, which were even more complex than the last. I titled these two books “In The Spaces” I & II, respectively. The name comes from my interest in how painting can largely exist in the spaces in between brush strokes, allowing one’s imagination to fill in the details, creating an image far more pleasing than a fully literal, realistic depiction of the original scene, since it comes from your own hopes for what that image could be. Additionally, I was trying to recreate the experience of being in those places where I sat down with my pipe to paint on some sunny afternoon, as well as playing on the idea of these little books being a kind of mini art gallery – all spaces within spaces, within spaces.

In 2024, I began my next iteration of ITS, but instead of a bound book, this new series of paintings would take on a different form…

IN THE SPACES III: JOURNEYS BETWEEN

During my trip to Finland at the end of the Summer in 2023, I picked up a tin of watercolour postcards from an art supply store. Since I was in the process of creating “In The Spaces II”, aside from one card that I tried out while I was there, these cards would have to wait several months to be used. The first two iterations of ITS were about creating a micro space that held within it so many precious places – within time and space – that came in the form of a little book. In this, the third iteration, the book format is replaced by the tin of postcards, and the space that is created is to be sent out into the world to different recipients. So many fleeting moments in life go un-preserved anywhere outside of the memory of those who experienced them, and these moments in this collection, while preserved in paint, will leave me so they can be shared with others. There is a common thread among a number of the paintings of shared elements that affect us all across whatever space we might be in – the light, the land, the culture. Now these spaces can go out into the world and effect others as an element shared between us. Just as the original idea behind the name “In The Spaces” lies in my belief that a painting’s image truly exists in the spaces between the brush strokes, my life, this earth will now exist in between all these other spaces that been scattered across the globe. The space created in this iteration is both a micro-space and a macro-space. You, me, all of us, are now within the space that I have created. We all exist within a shared work of art. But then, we always have in one way or another, haven’t we?

#1: CHILDHOOD’S VIEW

Gabriola Island, 2023

Painted from a tripod video I took in late 2023 of the beach of my childhood during the cold of December in a similar manner to how the last few paintings of ITS #2 were completed. I generally try to paint plein air so as to capture the feeling of being there in the moment, but working from a looped video gives a similar feeling of movement much better than a still photograph can. I have so many fond memories of Summer afternoons playing and swimming here, but the beach in Winter always feels a little melancholy, perhaps not unlike looking back on childhood well into adulthood – a tantalizing vision of something that is ultimately unattainable. Especially since this was one of the earlier paintings I started in this series and I was still finding my way, I kept this one loose, which looking at it now, I feel allows my my memories of every season fill in the view as needed.

#2: CRABBY CAFE

Vancouver, 2024

The port, Crab Park, and the northshore mountains as seen from a ratty hole-in-the-wall cafe my wife introduced me to in early 2023. The food and coffee are vending machine grade or worse, but the atmosphere and view are perfect for my sensibilities. At that time, I was coming out of a bit of a low point in my life after struggling with chronic pain and stiffness since 2022, which made me question my future as an artist and which ultimately led me to explore painting as a gentler art practice that I could do even if my wrists hurt. During the creation of this painting, I was once again upset, but this time because I was worried that I had inadvertently offended a friend. Partway through, I received much welcome confirmation that I had not caused offence, and my worries were all in my head.

#3: DINNER IN AMERICA

Vancouver, 2024

Painted from a photo I quickly stopped to snap on my way home for dinner one chilly but sunny evening in early 2024. It was cold, and I was hungry, but I just had to stop and photograph that golden light of sunset cast upon the north-shore mountains. I had recently watched an excellent film titled Dinner in America, which greatly affected me and inspired me to name this painting after it. I thought about how that film captured a powerful shared sense of “American culture” that transcends national borders. Most of the time, my sense is that I do not wish to be connected to America’s frightening power and influence, especially these days, but I also thought about how that same beautiful light on the mountains shines on us all – that everyone on this continent could experience the same light on any given day, just as we are all affected by the same culture, history, and politics.

#4: CRANE AFTERNOON

Vancouver, 2024

One Friday afternoon in Spring, I decided to take some time for myself and hop on over to city hall to paint the view there. It was a brisk but sunny day, and while I enjoyed my time painting, I found myself growing tired and needed to go home and take a nap before the painting was completed. If memory serves, I believe I woke up feeling ill with the only cold I would get all year. While this painting was not completed within that one session, I wanted to preserve as much of the naive looseness that was originally present. So much of painting’s power is in the looseness – those spaces in between strokes – so to get caught up in the precise details of the crane might have taken something away from the casual nature of the initial session.

#5: AUTUMN MORNING IN NEW ZION

Utah, 2022

In the Fall of 2022, I went on tour with my friend, Sophie, who also hosted me in Finland. We drove around the Western USA in a loop that began and ended in Washington state, and which took us on 15 stops in 14 days across Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Oregon. After an event on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, Utah, we rose with the dawn to drive up the scenic roads in the nearby hills. I think it can be difficult for anyone who hasn’t visited Utah to imagine why the Mormons are able to see it as their promised land, but after having seen the rolling hills bathed in Autumn colours and a golden sunrise, I can understand a bit why someone might think they had found a place they could call home, especially after travelling across the sparse plains that the region sits at the edge of.

#6: MAGNIFICENT MESSENGER

California, 2022

On our Western USA tour, Sophie and I stopped in Joshua Tree national park and hiked up the mountain there. At the top, we were rewarded with spectacular views of the Coachella valley, but best of all was an enormous raven who was croaking vigorously – no doubt trying to coax some food out of the visiting tourists. We both felt incredibly lucky to be in the presence of such an excellent bird – especially since I never expected to see a raven in the desert – but there were tourists there complaining about how noisy it was – the nerve! I find desert landscapes difficult to paint, as they tend to contain a smaller variety of much more muted hues, but the presence of our raven friend made for a nice point of interest to bind the scene together, and the inclusion of glittery paint helped to capture that sparkle that sand makes in the sunlight.

#7: MIRROR ISLAND

Oregon, 2022

Near the end of our tour, Sophie and I stopped in Crater Lake, Oregon, for a quick hike. The waters of Cater Lake are so still and so clear, they make a perfect reflection. At this first point of interest with a clear view of the island at the lake’s centre, all of us hiking tourists were gathered, first in amazement at the lake’s waters, but then at what we all could only interpret as a wake caused by the swimming of some sort of large animal. Could it be some sort of Oregonian Loch Ness? No, it was merely an airplane leaving behind a vapour trail, perfectly reflected by the lake’s waters. I find it interesting that even in a “crystal clear, perfect reflection” we still see what we want to see; we can only interpret things based upon what is present in our minds. Every image that you see is ultimately created in the space within your mind.

#8: LIFE’S STAIRWAY

Oregon, 2022

Later on along the hike at Crater Lake was a beautiful stone stairway leading up a ridge to a cafe that was closed when we arrived. When I look at the composition, which features the stairway front and centre, I think of how far I’ve come since that 2022 tour and since starting this project of painting landscapes. Much of my artistic life, I have felt inadequate, and there are many projects that have been stalled or abandoned or never started because I didn’t feel I was “good enough”. For years, painting seemed like an unattainable, utterly foreign skill-set that I didn’t feel I was capable of even beginning to understand. But part of what eventually drove me to pursue painting was the sense that things could be loose or rough or imperfect, and that would be an asset, rather than a detriment, and if I’ve learned anything in the time since I started these painting projects, it’s of the value of consistent effort building up over time. Never stop climbing, even if it is difficult, and even if you are just at the beginning, or if you’ve been at it for ages but feel like you aren’t making progress. But also don’t become too fixated on the destination, and don’t be afraid to stop and take a look around to survey how far you’ve come so far. Not only might the teahouse at the top be closed, but even halfway up, there are beautiful views to be seen all around.

**IMAGE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE** – My friend needs to send me a photo!!

#9: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC

Finland, 2022

Painted from a photograph from my trip to Finland and also sent off before I understood exactly what I wanted to do with these postcards. The scene is the view from the cable-car leading up to the first hike Sophie and I went on when I arrived in Finland (documented in The National Landscape from ITS #2). It reminded me of good times with my friend, and so I sent it out to cheer up another friend as a sort of vanguard of this project.

#10-12: THE FELLS 1, 2, & 3

Finland, 2023

Near the end of my visit to Sophie in Finland, she drove us 12 hours up north to the Arctic Circle to hike on the Fells and see if we could find the Northern Lights. A fell is like a large hill that isn’t quite big enough to qualify as a mountain. We got a bit lost and ended up hiking over 10 hours and never did see the Northern Lights, but I did get tons of great photos that will inspire paintings for years. The first of these fell paintings is on the way up the fell, where there was more trees and greenery.

The second is well up the fell and on to the other side, offering a sweeping view of forested valleys and bogs.

And the third fell painting is high up on the fell when we were good and lost. 

#13: HARBOUR PLAYGROUND

Vancouver, 2024

East of where I used to live in Strathcona is the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood. Out this way is a route that offers many opportunities for novel views of the harbour and the North Shore. This view comes from one of the many playgrounds and parks along this route. Just passed swing sets and benches, is harsh industry juxtaposed with splendid natural beauty. It is a land of many contrasts and its views stir in me bittersweet memories of my early 30’s, when I was a hopeful young artist striking out truly on her own for the first time in her life.

#14: THE NORTH IN THE EAST

Vancouver, 2024

Farther along the Route out in Hastings Sunrise is a little spot I long wished to stop with my pipe and sketch. This view of familiar mountains from an unfamiliar (to my daily life) angle and which I have to cycle a good ways to reach, always reminds me of some faraway, exotic land. In the summer of 2024, I had agreed to attend the Dyke March for Pride, but feeling socially burnt out and not in the mood to be surrounded by throngs of people, I played hookie and sought solitude through sketching. It sounds like they had a great march without me, and I got my wish.

#15: THE NORTH TO THE WEST

Vancouver, 2024

If you ride your bike to the top of Stanley Park, you will be rewarded with a tourist trap full of screaming families and school groups. But if you aren’t afraid to sneak a smoke in between gawkers, you can get some gorgeous views for painting. This rickety old rusted railroad Bridge runs past the First Nations reservation in North Vancouver and it’s intriguing to get a view of it from on high across the inlet. But my favourite subject is capturing the shadows cast upon the peaks in different seasons, especially if there’s some mist billowing off the ridge and across the slopes.

#16: NEW DAWN OF JUSTICE

Lake Louise, 2024

In summer 2024, just after my wedding, my friend, Celeste, and I went on a road trip to Calgary. That crazy girl planned for us a jam-packed itinerary that included driving for over 12 hours, stopping for the night at a truck stop and getting up at 3:00 a.m. to go on a hike up Lake Louise at dawn. This craziness paid off with some of the most stunning views I have ever seen. Celeste is an incredible young activist and I felt very lucky to join her on this trip during the scary time politically. I feel invigorated to be in the company of such inspiring people as my friend Celeste and this gorgeous view at dawn reminds me of all the brave young people I know who are just at the beginning of what they have to offer the world. A better world is possible, but it will only come with hard work and maybe some crazy plans

#17: ROADSIDE IN THE ROCKIES

Alberta, 2024

During our trip to Calgary, Celeste and I were shown around the surrounding Alberta countryside one afternoon by our Friend, Sophie (different Sophie). The Alberta Rockies have so much beauty that all manner of random photos snapped from a moving car are worthy of becoming paintings. Today Alberta seems to be a bit of a scary place for transgender people, but I’ll never forget when three trans women drove around the Alberta Countryside for an afternoon without anyone raising a stink.

#18: THE MAGIC BOG

Finland, 2023

Finland is known in Finnish as Suomi; the land of the bogs. When I visited in August the land was still bathed in a long Twilight for much of the day the bogs were full of this magical light bouncing off of the trees this painting was reserved for my friend, Meika, who took the reins of co-directing CampOut! 2024 – the 15th year of the camps operation. The theme was “15 Years of Camp Magic” and I can’t think of a better person than Meika to hold the camp’s magic, and since Meika refers to themself as a “Swamp Goblin”, this magic bog is the perfect picture for them to receive.

#19: THE MOON THAT SHINES ON THE LAUGHTER OF QUEER CHILDREN

Gambier Island, 2023

This painting was made from a photograph taken during the end of Camp celebration for CampOut! 2023, so you must imagine Hearing in this scene the singing and laughter of several dozen queer children all celebrating together in what was, for many of them, the first safe, affirming environment they had ever experienced. In other words; the most heartwarming sounds imaginable. CampOut! is nothing short of magical and its life-changing and transformative service that it provides to 2SLGBTQI+ youth is needed now more than ever. We are entering scary political times for the 2SLGBTQI+ community, and if you have never had a thought about our community before, I ask that you do so now, because the same moon that shines on you, shines on all of us, and the same laws they might use to control and harm us may just come back and be used to control you. While CampOut! is a group effort that depends on paid staff, volunteers, and tens of thousands of dollars in donations, it was largely made possible by the incredible efforts of one person; Anna White. She is like the bright, shining full-moon, whose radiance conjures the magical atmosphere of camp. If we had more Anna Whites on this Earth, then the world would be a brighter, more magical place, and if you ever doubt the ability of one person to change the world, just look up at the moon and think of Anna.

#20: THE VIEW FROM THE HILL WITH MY FRIEND

Williams Lake, 2024

Shortly after CampOut! 2024 I had the honour of being invited by a camp friend to go up to Williams Lake to teach karate at “Living Out Loud”, the first ever pride festival to happen there. At the end of the trip, my friend showed me around his hometown and we spent a lovely afternoon sitting and chatting up on a hill at the nature sanctuary in the middle of Williams Lake. Although places like Williams Lake are often thought of as being inhospitable to queer and trans people, folks like my friend are working to make the places they call home more hospitable for members of their community, and as far as I can tell, there is a vibrant and caring community up there, indeed. Just as we work to preserve and rehabilitate natural habitats, it is capturing this natural beauty of hidden or otherwise un-thought of places that motivates me to paint.

#21: THAT SHIMMERING AFTERNOON

Squamish, 2024

A week after my trip to Williams Lake, my wife and I visited another Camp friend in Squamish so they could both celebrate their 40th birthdays together. To mark the occasion, my wife and I both took some psilocybin mushrooms and walked down to the river for a lazy afternoon by the water. I tried my best to paint the beautiful scene there, but, truthfully, mushrooms aren’t the best for painting, and before long I was too distracted by feeling increasingly convinced that some rambunctious teenage boys playing in the river nearby were sizing us up so they could rape and murder us. Even at the time I thought the notion was absurd, but I also felt like I couldn’t fully trust my senses under the influence, and so we played it safe and called our friend to come and rescue us from what could otherwise have been an entirely pleasant afternoon. From now on I’ll stick with my pipe for painting!

#22: COMING BACK DOWN

Squamish, 2024

The next day after the birthday mushroom debacle, our friend drove us back down from Squamish. The route along the highway is littered with spectacular views that seemingly get ignored by most as if they were so much road litter. What I like most about working from a photograph like I have here with this image snapped from the car driving down the highway, is the greater opportunity to capture those dynamic moments of atmospheric movement effects, like mist billowing out from behind a peak. It somewhat paradoxically gives some movement to the still image.

#23: A YEAR-LONG HUNGER

Gabriola Island, 2024

Last year, in July 2023, I came upon this beautiful field on my way with my mom to go to a garage sale at which I would end up buying what would become my “painting purse”. We didn’t have time for me to stop and paint the picturesque scene, but little did I know that I would not get another chance to paint it until a little over a year later, in the summer of 2024, after a year of feeling a deep sense of PAINT LUST. I wanted that field. I thought of a painting it all the time, and now I have not just that scene or the beautiful sunny afternoon I spent painting it, but the entire year I spent chomping at the bit for it commemorated in paint. All of these things are now enclosed within the space of this picture. Quite the sandwich to quench one’s hunger!

#24: A STILLED WORLD

Vancouver, 2024

My favourite thing about when it snows is how, for at least a little while, everything becomes completely still and quiet. The world physically metamorphoses into an entirely new landscape that is too much trouble for most to go out in, but if you take the time to go out and explore this new world, you will be left in a deeper peace than can be found there at any other time. What I also like about painting snow is the opportunity to use glittery paint, as snow often glitters when you look at it. By adding glittery paint you add a little bit of movement and realism and it feels that much more like you’re there – unfortunately, much of this effect, along with the glitter effects presents in the other paintings, was muted by a miscalculation in choice of protective top-coat. Painting remains an ongoing learning process.

I am still figuring out what exactly I am doing with these, and with my painting practice in general. I would like to have a galley show of perhaps these cards before I send them out. I would also like to create postcard reproductions of them to sell.

Would you be interested in a printed reproduction of one of these paintings?

Would you be interested in buying one of the originals?

Would you be interested in buying another painting by me or commissioning me to paint a landscape close to your heart?

Comment on this post or email me at lifeofbria at gmail.com and we can talk. Otherwise, keep an eye out for future announcements of where I take my painting next!

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