Short Bio

Barb is a Victoria based mixed media abstract artist deriving much of her inspiration from nature.

Statement

I love to explore different ways to apply and remove acrylic paint and use mixed media in my work such as paper collage, markers, graphite, ink, watercolour to name a few. I also find scraping, sanding and making line into the paint so exciting, using an intuitive process of call-and-response.

Biography

BARB DEROUSIEMIXED MEDIA ABSTRACT ARTIST

Artist Bio—Training & Experience Barb is a self-taught artist who started her art journey in 2013 by taking watercolor classes and painting in representational style. She soon started showing and selling her work, including a solo show at the Coast Collective Art Centre. She began to explore the world of abstract mixed media in March of 2020 when she took a twelve week online art course called the Creative Visionary Program, led by artist and founder of Art2Life, Nicholas Wilton. Barb has just completed her third year as an alumni in CVP and continues to stretch her artistic muscle. “The artistic insights I gained through this course completely changed everything—in my art and in my life and, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had making art!” Another influence in Barb’s art/life has been Louise Fletcher, UK abstract landscape artist and founder of the Find Your Joy online art course which Barb completed in August, 2021. Barb has shown her “new” work in many venues including several Federation of Canadian Artists shows, the Metchosin ArtPod, Coast Collective and Arts & Culture Colwood Society shows, ECAH gallery, the Sooke Fine Arts Show 2021, and she proudly hosted her first first solo art show of her mixed media abstract work, aply named “The Turning Point” in February, 2022. Barb joined the Scattered Artists group this year and participated in their Spring Art Tour, and is signed up for the Urban Art Tour, Art on Gorge and Arts & Music in the Garden, hosted by the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific. Meanwhile Barb was juried into the Sooke Fine Arts Show 2022 and will be showing two of her most recent works in person this year, from July 22-August 1st at the Sooke Fine Arts Gallery.

Resume / CV

CURRICULUM VITAE-BARB DEROUSIE, ARTIST

EDUCATION & TRAINING 2013-2020—Watercolour classes and workshops led by artists and instructors Greg Swainson, Jennifer Olsen, Linda Anderson, Elaine Hughes and Joanne Thompson.March-May 2020, 2021 & 2022— The Creative Visionary Program—a 12-week intensive online art course with internationally acclaimed artist Nicholas Wilton, founder of Art2Life, exploring not only the principles of art, but more importantly, what “brings us alive”, both in our art, and in our life.Art2Life Academy 2021—an annual online membership to a self-paced learning hub with access to featured guest artist interviews, art demonstrations and community.June-July 2021— “Find Your Joy”—an 8-week online art course led by UK Abstract Landscape artist Louise Fletcher, demonstrating the principles of art with a focus on self-discovery and exploration.

EXHIBITS & SHOWS 2021 January-February 2021— “The Curated Collection” exhibit at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery, Vancouver, BCFebruary 7-20, 2021— “Bloom Transplanted” exhibit for Coast Collective Art Society members at the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub, Victoria, BCFebruary 22-March 7, 2021— “Abstracted” exhibit at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery, Vancouver, BCMay 17-30, 2021— “Peace & Trust” exhibit at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery, Vancouver, BCMay 30, 2021— “Pop Up Spring Art Show” sponsored by Arts & Culture Colwood, exhibit at 365 Latoria Road, Colwood, BCJuly 2-August 29, 2021— “Fusion: Exploring Mixed Media” exhibit at Metchosin ArtPod Gallery, Metchosin, BCJuly 23-August 2, 2021— “Sooke Fine Arts Show 2021” virtual exhibit, Sooke Fine Arts Society, Sooke, BCSeptember 12, 2021— “Teechamitsa Fall Art Show” sponsored by Arts & Culture Colwood, exhibit at 365 Latoria Road, Colwood, BCNovember 5-December 24, 2021— “Mighty Fine Affordable Art Show” exhibit at the Metchosin ArtPod, Metchosin, BCNovember 27-28, 2021— “Gifts & Wishes Art Showcase” sponsored by Arts & Culture Colwood and Coast Collective Art Society, exhibit at Pendray House, 3221 Heatherbell Road, Colwood, BC EXHIBITS & SHOWS 2022 January 26-February 13, 2022— “The Turning Point—One Artist’s Journey”—my first solo art show featuring my mixed media abstract work from 2020-2021 at The Arts Centre at Cedar Hill, Victoria, BCMarch 6-June 30, 2022—Juan de Fuca Art Space—Westshore Parks & Recreation, Colwood, BCApril 1-May 29, 2022— “Sub Text-The Message in Art”—a juried art show and sale at the ArtPod, Metchosin, BCMay 5-June 30, 2022—“The Earring Show”—Virtual Fundraiser & Exhibition, sponsored by the Craft Council of BC.May 21-22, 2022—“Scattered Artists Spring Art Tour” at 3390 Maplewood Avenue, Victoria, BCMay 28-29, 2022— “Bloom 13!”—the 13th annual juried art show and sale sponsored by Arts & Culture Colwood and Coast Collective members, at the old Pendray House, 3221 Heatherbell Road, Colwood, BCJune 25, 2022— “Urban Arts Tour”-Victoria, BC—my artwork will be on display at a local Victoria garden (look under Shows & Events on my website for details).July 1, 2022— “Gorge on Art 2022”-A Showcase of Local Artists-sponsored by Gorge Tillicum Community Association and Saanich Arts & Recreation, Gorge Road between Tillicum and Admirals Roads, Victoria, BC.July 22-August 1, 2022--“Sooke Fine Arts Show 2022-Live!”-Returning to a live format for its 36th anniversary, the Sooke Fine Arts Show provides the opportunity for the finest artists from Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands to showcase their work. Sponsored by the Sooke Fine Arts Society and held at the SEAPARC Leisure Complex, 2168 Phillips Road in Sooke.July 23, 2022--“Summer Art Show”- hosted by the Arts & Culture Colwood Society and held at Meadow Park, Colwood, BC-an outdoor art show featuring 20 local artists.August 6-7, 2022--“Arts & Music in the Gardens”-featuring 50 local artists, live music, food trucks, plant sale, and family activities at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria, BC. September, 2022--Bastion Square Market—vendor at the Thursday night market and Saturday market at 19 Bastion Square on the Inner Harbour, Victoria, BC.October 1, 2022—Joined the Gage Gallery Artist Collective, 19 Bastion Square, Victoria, BCEnd October, 2022—Independent Artists Group—showing work at the Coastal Offices, 328 Wale Road, Victoria, BCNovember 12-13, 2022—Gifts & Wishes Christmas Art Showcase, Juan de Fuca 55+ Activity Centre, 1767 Island Highway, Victoria, BCNovember 19-20, 2022—Upstairs Artists Joy to the Arts, 4495 Happy Valley Road, Metchosin, BCNovember 25-December 24—Mighty Fine Art Show & Sale, 4495 Happy Valley Road, Metchosin, BC