BIO
Calgary based artist Rita Thorp paints abstract art using acrylics and mixed media. Rita enjoys the process of spontaneity and listens to her intuition. She begins with an overall theme, inspired by feelings from experiences or nature or people and chooses a palette that speaks to her from these feelings. With several brushes, tools and media, a painting will emerge responding to the layers built on each other. Canvases are displayed around Rita’s studio and house so she can view them from different perspectives and when they are called to be played with or adjusted, they are put back on the easel. A painting is done when it feels done, sometimes taking weeks. Rita’s love of colour and free style expression is evident.

ARTIST STATEMENT
I am passionate about creating work that resonates with the viewers own experiences and feelings. The paintings that are in the Shadow Exhibition are a collection of art work applying the hues on the warm side of the colour wheel. This palette is bright with reds, oranges, pinks, yellow and of course black and white, derived from what we see in nature at times. Embedded in the layers of texture, paint and mark making are the deep emotions we all feel at some time in our lives. When looking at a red sky or orange sunset, colour evokes a response in our hearts. The imperfect lines and squiggles in my art, may suggest to the viewer that although our lives are lived imperfect like these marks, these painting offer beauty and awareness to what nature gives us.