Marking the Valley: A Juried Exhibition

Elaine Funnell, "Populus tremuloides", watercolour on 300 lb. Arches, 23.5" x 30.5" 

Marking the Valley is a juried art exhibition celebrating the beauty of the Capital Region river valley. It features 28 Alberta artists from Cold Lake, Athabasca, Calgary, and the Greater Edmonton Region. Presented by Visual Arts Alberta - CARFAC and the River Valley Alliance, Marking the Valley promotes Alberta Art while showcasing the North Saskatchewan River Valley.

Funnell says of her process: Nature and native Alberta plants have been the inspiration and focus for my botanical watercolour paintings. Preferring to work from life, using watercolour, allows me to accurately capture the fine detail of wild grasses, mushrooms and leaves among other native plants blending fine art and science reminiscent of the early 18th century botanical illustrators. Many of my seasonal studies show the plant specimen as it changes through the four seasons illustrating life as it truly exists. In my work I often include insects that thrive on the plant, not only to create life and interest in the painting but also to illustrate the environmental connection between plants and beneficial insects.

Marking the Valley is at the Kaasa Gallery in the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (11455 87 Ave NW in Edmonton) from August 28 to October 7, 2014 and at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium ( 1415 14 Ave NW in Calgary) from October 17 to November 30, 2014.