PRESS
Valley Voice, August 24, 2023
Sean Arthur Joyce
Toronto artist Grace Croughan to exhibit at Studio Connexion
Grace Croughan, an artist based near Toronto, will be exhibiting at Studio Connexion August 23-September 9, with an opening reception Thursday, August 24 from 5 to 7 pm. Croughan’s imaginary mountain landscapes, with their finely textured detail, will meet with the real thing while she visits the Kootenays for the first time.
Croughan was born on the island of Okinawa in Japan, with the family living in the United States, Canada, and Japan. From an early age, art became a constant in her life, a sanctuary that helped her stay grounded during the family’s frequent moves. She describes her artistic style as “mountain dreams,” a blend of representation and abstraction, straddling the line between what’s real and what’s imagined. Her mountain landscapes don’t belong to any specific place or time, but are born from her imagination and dreams. By “dreams,” she means creative imagination, “because it can look familiar but you can’t quite put your finger on where, but it brings warm feelings and memories.” Her preferred medium is acrylics, working with them layer by layer to create textures that make the mountains come alive.
“These mountains are the main characters of my art, and they’re set against these calm, smooth waters below. Mountains have this incredible allure, and I use that attraction as a way to invite others to join me on this creative journey. When I paint, my main goal is to capture feelings of happiness, calmness, hope, and gratitude – all inspired by the beauty of nature.”
She says she can’t really claim a singular artist as a mentor or inspiration, but rather “a collection of inspirations that I picked up along the way.” She took every art class she could in public school while growing up, with the encouragement of friends and teachers who recognized her talent. However, as a young adult she chose a somewhat more commercial path, studying Graphic Design at Andrews University in Michigan and then Advertising Design at Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). Croughan’s education led her to a career in advertising as an Art Director at Jerry Goodis’ agency, Goodis Inc., but after a decade she decided she needed more time with her kids and stepped back from her career.
As her kids got older, life took an unexpected turn. Her father was diagnosed with dementia, and she became his primary caregiver. She enrolled him in a watercolour painting class, recalling his enjoyment of drawing as a young man. “Little did I know, it would rekindle my own love for art. I’d sit in the back, reading a book, but soon I was right there painting alongside him.”
Art became Croughan’s refuge during the ten years she cared for her father. Amidst hospital visits and day-to-day caregiving, her home studio became a place where she could focus on her own well-being. “Even though it was a challenging time, it transformed me in ways I never expected.” In 2019, her father passed away, but his life inspired her to “embrace each day with a renewed passion.”
Croughan dedicated herself to learning more about art technique, and in addition to studying watercolours with Canadian landscape artist David McEown, has also trained in the use of soft pastels, studying pastel portraiture with Toronto artist Guo Yue Dou. In 2012, she took a workshop with Richard McKinley, an accomplished pastel artist. “I was really drawn to his soft and atmospheric approach to colour in his scenes.” In 2015, she attended a workshop with Bianca Guna, an abstract artist who introduced Croughan to various mediums for acrylics, opening her eyes to the “vast possibilities in acrylics.”
“Growing up, art was my constant companion, and it’s something that has stayed with me into adulthood. Now, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to pursue my passion every single day. It’s not just an interest or profession – it’s an integral part of my life that I hold dear.”
Croughan says she is excited to be visiting the Kootenays, and can’t wait to see what impact the landscape here has on her creative work.
Studio Connexion hours are 11 am-4 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Private showings can be arranged by contacting gallerist Anne Belliveau at 250-265-8888 or studioconnexion@ telus.net. For more information, visit www.studioconnexiongallery.com.
Croughan was born on the island of Okinawa in Japan, with the family living in the United States, Canada, and Japan. From an early age, art became a constant in her life, a sanctuary that helped her stay grounded during the family’s frequent moves. She describes her artistic style as “mountain dreams,” a blend of representation and abstraction, straddling the line between what’s real and what’s imagined. Her mountain landscapes don’t belong to any specific place or time, but are born from her imagination and dreams. By “dreams,” she means creative imagination, “because it can look familiar but you can’t quite put your finger on where, but it brings warm feelings and memories.” Her preferred medium is acrylics, working with them layer by layer to create textures that make the mountains come alive.
“These mountains are the main characters of my art, and they’re set against these calm, smooth waters below. Mountains have this incredible allure, and I use that attraction as a way to invite others to join me on this creative journey. When I paint, my main goal is to capture feelings of happiness, calmness, hope, and gratitude – all inspired by the beauty of nature.”
She says she can’t really claim a singular artist as a mentor or inspiration, but rather “a collection of inspirations that I picked up along the way.” She took every art class she could in public school while growing up, with the encouragement of friends and teachers who recognized her talent. However, as a young adult she chose a somewhat more commercial path, studying Graphic Design at Andrews University in Michigan and then Advertising Design at Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). Croughan’s education led her to a career in advertising as an Art Director at Jerry Goodis’ agency, Goodis Inc., but after a decade she decided she needed more time with her kids and stepped back from her career.
As her kids got older, life took an unexpected turn. Her father was diagnosed with dementia, and she became his primary caregiver. She enrolled him in a watercolour painting class, recalling his enjoyment of drawing as a young man. “Little did I know, it would rekindle my own love for art. I’d sit in the back, reading a book, but soon I was right there painting alongside him.”
Art became Croughan’s refuge during the ten years she cared for her father. Amidst hospital visits and day-to-day caregiving, her home studio became a place where she could focus on her own well-being. “Even though it was a challenging time, it transformed me in ways I never expected.” In 2019, her father passed away, but his life inspired her to “embrace each day with a renewed passion.”
Croughan dedicated herself to learning more about art technique, and in addition to studying watercolours with Canadian landscape artist David McEown, has also trained in the use of soft pastels, studying pastel portraiture with Toronto artist Guo Yue Dou. In 2012, she took a workshop with Richard McKinley, an accomplished pastel artist. “I was really drawn to his soft and atmospheric approach to colour in his scenes.” In 2015, she attended a workshop with Bianca Guna, an abstract artist who introduced Croughan to various mediums for acrylics, opening her eyes to the “vast possibilities in acrylics.”
“Growing up, art was my constant companion, and it’s something that has stayed with me into adulthood. Now, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to pursue my passion every single day. It’s not just an interest or profession – it’s an integral part of my life that I hold dear.”
Croughan says she is excited to be visiting the Kootenays, and can’t wait to see what impact the landscape here has on her creative work.
Studio Connexion hours are 11 am-4 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Private showings can be arranged by contacting gallerist Anne Belliveau at 250-265-8888 or studioconnexion@ telus.net. For more information, visit www.studioconnexiongallery.com.
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‘Morning Perfection’ by Grace Croughan, showing at Studio Connexion August 23-September 9 |