Mary Ann Laing AFCA

 Mary Ann Laing was born in 1953 to parents, Walter and Myfanwy Zellinsky. Her childhood years were spent living on Vancouver Island in Ocean Cement Plant Employee’s village called Bamberton. At the age of 11 the family relocated to Victoria, B.C. Upon graduation from Mt. Douglas Senior Highschool, Mary Ann always hoped to persue he artistic potential, but chose to work instead of attending post secondary school in fine arts education. It wasn’t until after her marriage to Gerry Laing in 1979 that she began to paint seriously, and after their first child, who was born in 1980, she began to take courses at the Victoria College of Art. Juggling her busy life as a mother of three, as well as being an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, she kept painting and learning, always ambitiously motivated to achieve professional skill in producing works in oils. In 2008 she was awarded with Signature Status of Associate Federation of Canadian Artists. Her subjects are derived from her memories of childhood while living in Bamberton. She often finds her inspirations for paintings in those dreams of playing amidst the woods that surrounded that tiny village situated on the side of the malahat just north of Victoria, as well as many visits to our natural beauty surrounding us on Vancouver Island.

 “The painting process I go through now in my oil paintings is done in various stages of layering the pigments. I begin the first layer with deep colours. As I build up the layers, I try to work with bright colours over top of the dark, which creates an illuminated effect. I am drawn to back lit subject matter. I suppose this is part of trying to catch the “spirit” of the subject within it’s own scenario. I try to imagine myself in the moment that I have captured on canvas. A small creature deep inside a world that is glowing with beauty, kind with solitude, and safe from darkness. These are the little beings I drew on as a child. They never left me, and for that I am so grateful.

Each painting has it’s own spirit, but is painted in almost the same manner. I do let the work take me on the journey as opposed to me forcing it to be something it’s not. That element of surprise is a constant draw to my canvas for me. I never really know how they will turn out until I have signed them and let them go.”

Exhibitions:

Sidney Fine Arts 2006, 07, 08, 09

Sooke Fine Arts through the 90’s, and until the last one in 2009

Federation of Canadian Artists Victoria Chapter group shows locally from 1989 to present

Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery in Vancouver, B.C.

Marshall Gallery, Victoria, B.C. Group show 1992

Nunavut Gallery, Victoria, B.C. Group show 1994, 95

Lighthouse Gallery, Victoria, B.C. 2002,03