Being raised by a busy mom of three children, as a toddler middle child Melissa Bain was plunked down in her high chair and offered paints to keep her busy.
Best thing that ever happened to Bain as those attending her art exhibit, Persona, at Studio 2880, will see as her creativity comes through her expressionism art work.
Persona opens Thursday, May 5, with an artist’s talk at 6:30 p.m.
The exhibit is presented by the Community Arts Council of Prince George & District and will be on display until June 18.
Bain began her art by exploring all genres and would realistically paint horses during her teen years and finds she is often led by instinct to create other works like the most detailed eagle.
But when her dad died in 1997 and she inherited a box of his books something changed, she said.
Within that box was a book written by British philosophical writer James Allen and when Bain read this quote "a man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts," the world opened up for her.
“It's this ideal that intrigues my imagination and inspires my creativity,” Bain explained. “My paintings portray literal ‘thinking’ characters and subjects caught within their own stories; snapshots of their personalities with the traits and thoughts that embody them; and in some cases merged with my own. Persona, by one definition, means the aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others. I encourage you (the viewer) to observe and interpret each of the works presented to form your own perception of its characters.”
Bain was born in Whitehorse, lived on Vancouver Island, tried her hand at art and acting in Vancouver for almost a decade before love brought her to Prince George.
Here she was into graphics and marketing and just last fall Bain decided to do art full time.
She has had her artwork exhibited in many Canadian galleries, private shows, and retail. Her artwork and photography has been licensed commercially allowing for international distribution and recognition of her work. She also does commission work for private collectors.
For more information visit the Community Arts Council website. For more information about Canadian artist Melissa Bain visit www.mbain.ca.
