It has been said that painting with watercolours, with its subtle shades, value gradations, and welcomed surprises, makes it the perfect medium for capturing mood.
Jennifer Lawson, who turned 75 in April, has been soaking up the world's vibrant colours from an early age and has spent more than half her life as a fine watercolour artist — 36 of those years with Cowichan as her muse.
Born in Yorkshire, England Lawson has become schooled in the fine art of watercolours since coming over to Canada from across the pond, earning two honours art degrees, one from the University of Guelph, another from Georgian College. Lawson also received a scholarship for being the best student and having the highest achievements — she then furthered her studies at the Ontario College of Art and Schneider School of Fine Art.
The student becomes the master of the craft and over the years she has had her watercolour works exhibited across North America including in Massachusetts, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Seattle. Lawson has received several awards and accolades over the span of her career and has had her work on display in prestigious spaces such as the Art Gallery of Kingston, York Fine Art Gallery, Robert Mclaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, Windsor Art Gallery, Jubilee Gallery in Indiana, and Albany Institute of New York.
Lawson has always had an eye for beauty and said in her younger days she found herself seduced by the sight of Indian textiles and patterns while travelling through the country in the late 1960s, which led to her later finding expression in her own paintings.
For more than four decades Lawson, a dedicated conservationist and heritage lover, has been a plein air painter, painting only with watercolours on pure rag paper. Plein air is a French expression meaning someone who paints in the open air with the artist's outdoor subject being in full view. Plein air artists capture the natural wonders, spirit, and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, colour and movement into their works such as the interplay of light on early yellow aconites or the fleeting patches of mist hovering over green lichen-covered rocks.
Lawson has the pleasure of living the idyllic and serene life she paints in her historic home overlooking the Cowichan Estuary.
“Painting is an expression of my perennial love affair with life and the beauty around me," said Lawson in her online biography. "As I gaze out of my 1863 log house studio down to the Cowichan River, and bay where I swim all summer or up to Mount Tzuouhalem, to a sacred peak where I hike every day, I am in awe of the rich spectrum of compositions that unfold.
"Whether painting an old milk jug filled with sweet peas, a riotous country garden, a Victorian house, or a bowl of sun-warmed peaches, I’m looking to express a wider experience, a vivid harmony, a balance of energy, form and beauty.”
Lawson's works of beauty have found their way into many private and permanent collections both nationally and internationally including those belong to the former Lt. Gov. David Lam, the late NDP leader Ed Broadbent, and the late Judy Lamarshe, as well as the permanent collection of Georgian and Seneca College, as well as many schools, libraries, and corporations.
Just over a decade ago in 2013, Lawson served as the artist in residence at the Bermuda Masterworks Museum. Lawson is not only the founder of the first studio tour outside of Ontario, but also a longtime proud member of the Cowichan Artisans. Lawson, who ran a studio tour around her 75th milestone in April, will be offering a fall tour out of her studio located at 1516 Khenipsen Rd. in Duncan on Oct. 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.
Those looking to discover their inner artist can explore the joy of painting with watercolours while learning the process through one of Lawson's group painting classes that are taught plein air weather permitting at her studio in one of the oldest houses in Cowichan which offers views of Cowichan River, Cowichan Bay, and Mount Tzouhalem.
Lawson will be offering her next set of two one-day workshops on Sept. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with all supplies and a gourmet lunch and snacks are provided. The cost per workshop is $180, visit jenniferlawsonart.com/watercolour-workshops/ to sign up, or email her directly at jlart@telus.net for more info.
Art lovers looking to do some online window shopping or purchase some of Lawson's watercolour works can do so at jennifer-lawson.square.site, and can also follow her creative journey on Instagram @jenniferlawson.art.
