Elfrida Schragen

While out doing my steps for the day I was struck by the picture of two enormous ships in dry dock in the middle of the city. They should be in the water, and usually dry docks are in more commercial areas. T o add to the the incongruity of the image was the bright red and blue, brightening up the paled down grey Victoria. After taking a few artistic liberties, now I am very pleased with the finished product. Hope you enjoy it.

Vanessa Simone has been a strong organizer of Victoria's Black Lives Matter march. Originally painted in a fund raiser to acknowledge the work of local youth in advocacy roles.

In spite of unseasonable cold, the daffodils have made their appearance everywhere. Beacon Hill Park is in the middle of Victoria and there are cultured areas and natural areas. To drive along our Dallas Road with the ocean on one side, and the hill of daffodils on the other , is a treat. The sun made a break though, just warm enough and long enough to do this painting.

This painting is something that I received in my imagination and searched out reference photos to put it all together. The ravens evoke feelings of cleverness, mischief, ancient power, movement and slyness in me. The cliffs give me a feeling of massiveness, hardness and immovability and also fear (I have height phobia). Its interesting to me, on reflection, that I have created something with such harsh feelings when I am attempting to move outside my comfort zone.

Casually walking down Fort Street when my eye captures contrasting lights as I gaze upward at the newer buildings. The colours of autumn bring on a warm feeling of love for this "bursting at the seams" city that still leaves room for nature. I am moved to capture it in paint.

I love walking along the sea shore broadwalk in Victoria. There are endless scenes to capture. In this painting I hope to have caught the sense of Victorians' continuous connection with the outdoors through walking, cycling and other modes of movement in some of the most beautiful cityscapes. This is the side view of the Delta Inn. Hope you enjoy.

I don't fully understand why the movement of the tides affects me so deeply. And the tides have been so low of late. This tide is on its way out and provides a view to the sea's floor. perhaps the unveiling of this inner is why I am so touched. This painting was done 'en plein air' on a perfect weather day.

As I walk around the city of Victoria, my home, I am struck by the massive changes as the race to house the population speeds up. There is a certain beauty in this industriousness. I feel the energy in the vehicles and have tried to capture a sense of this in my work

Lately my city has been building very high buildings at an extraordinary rate. Construction is all around, and the designs ,or lack thereof, are a common topic of conversation. I like to record my surroundings and I find there is something of the childhood memories , with all its nostalgia in seeing the large construction machines. So in honour of my childhood memories and those of my two grown boys I present to you the ubiquitous 'Machines ' or 'chines' as my boys used to call them. I hope they evoke a little something in you.