Uniquely Wild Art Exhibition by Bethany Aiken

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About

"My aim as an artist is to share the joy that I find in nature with others, inspiring passion and curiosity for the natural world, particularly wildlife.

As a zookeeper I am privileged to spend my days working closely with many of the animals that inspire my creations. In this role, I get to know the animals as individuals, what makes them each unique. When I see other animals in the wild, I am therefore curious about how each specific animal experiences the world, what makes it different from its neighbour? By representing animals through bold colours, various textures and an impressionist style, I aim to pique that curiosity in others. My work encourages the viewer to take a closer look, to see something they didn’t notice at first glance, both in the artwork and in the world around them. These works also bring moments of Joy into people’s lives – a break from the stressors of life, a place for their eyes and their mind to rest and imagine something outside of themselves.

My exploration of bold colour in my paintings also serves me on a personal level, as it has freed me from the restraints of realism which fed into my struggle with perfectionism. When my goal was to simply mimic the natural world, I was never satisfied. My current style encourages me to explore the creativity within myself and embrace the joys of creating something uniquely me."

Links

• Bethany Aiken bethanyaikencreations.com

Organizer

Scugog Arts

Scugog Arts is our community’s creative hub: awakening, inspiring and connecting you to all the arts. We are an arts space on Queen Street in Port Perry with Resident Artists, Biidaaban Gallery, monthly exhibitions, workshops for artists and our visitors, and meet-up space. Scugog Arts organizes and holds multi-arts cultural events, literary programs, festivals and tours.