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In a world often surrounded by ugliness, artist Margaret Chwialkowska defies common thought and strives to emphasize beauty instead.
“We’re just surrounded by beauty and people are so busy, they don’t pay attention to it,” said Ms. Chwialkowska. “It’s not lasting and if I bring this beauty closer, maybe people will notice and take care of it.”
With this goal of preservation behind all of her magnificent landscapes, she is donating a portion of the proceeds from her exhibit, Landscapes of Ottawa and Beyond, to the Ottawa Riverkeeper, an organization dedicated to the ecological protection of the Ottawa River.
Moving to Canada in 1979 after escaping communist Poland, Ms. Chwialkowska was focused on raising her family and providing them with a better life. It was not until seven years ago when one of her daughters purchased art supplies and signed her up for classes in the city that she started to take it more seriously.
“I always loved art and spend eight years studying with artists and taking private classes in Poland,” she said.
Ms. Chwialkowska said she enjoys walking along the parkway and hiking in the Gatineau Hills to give her inspiration. “I really like the way Ottawa is set up and the landscape around it,” she said. “The Ottawa River has an extreme impact on me, there’s just something about it.”
In one instance, she awoke at 5 a.m. to watch the sunrise over the Ottawa River. She was captivated instantly she says, and created a series of paintings from the moving experience.
Painting alla prima, by mixing colours on the canvas with a palette knife, Ms. Chwialkowska’s pieces are bold and bright with deep textures.
“Some people say they are unique because up close they appear to be patches of colour and abstract, but when you step back, the paintings look realistic,” she said. “I don’t use paint thinners or brushes at all, so the colours stay true and don’t muddy.”
Ms. Chwialkowska added that she must work fast before the paint dries because she cannot go back to make alterations. Before beginning a piece, she spends weeks planning and visualizing, often painting all night.
“When I paint, it’s like going to a different better world, I lose touch with time and cut myself from reality,” said Ms. Chwialkowska.
“I’m so focused that after I step back from the canvas, I don’t recall what I just did. The whole creative process is just an unexplained experience and it’s a very wonderful feeling. I wish everyone could have the experience.”
As Mozart fills the room, she tends to paint in the late afternoons and evenings, never in the morning. She attributes her need for classical music to her husband who has written a book on the subject. Overall, Ms. Chwialkowska said she aims to take viewers on a journey through her work.
“I have the image of taking someone on a walk to show them the beauty and share the experience with others,” she said. “It’s hard to live without beauty.”
The Landscapes of Ottawa and Beyond exhibit is featured at the Centrepointe Theatre Gallery, at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr., now through April 30.