Should I go into that Gallery?

It took me years to actually set foot in a gallery, for some reason I had it in my mind that galleries were only for ‘serious’ artists, and for people who could afford to spend thousands on artwork. At that point I did not know how amazing galleries truly were! 

I find Art galleries to be a great place to check out local artists and find inspiration for you art. I am now obsessed with checking them out wherever I am in the world. It’s amazing to walk into a gallery in a foreign country where there is a language barrier, and be able to still understand the artists process. It’s interesting to see  how a common interest can create a bond between strangers.

Now that I am raving about galleries it’s important to note that not all of them are created equal. There are some where you will walk inside and the staff will completely ignore you. It’s really unfortunate when you run into galleries like this. Regardless of the fact, I still walk through with my head held high and enjoy the artwork. I’m not going to let someone intimidate me or make me feel unwelcome, I’m just there to check out the artwork! On the other hand there are galleries where the curators love talking to you about the artists that they are featuring, and some galleries even have artists doing demos which is always interesting. These are the places that I keep going back to every chance I get to see what new pieces are being showcased! 

Bottom line get out and start exploring local art galleries in your area. They are full of surprises and it’s a great place to be exposed to other local artists. You will also be exposed to other mediums that you may want to try. At one gallery there was an artist doing scratch art demo, this was the first time that I saw this medium. Right away I tried it and actually hated, but at least I can say I tried it! 

Even if you aren’t an artist or into art, galleries are a great place to find colour inspiration for your home! You may not think that certain colours work together until you have seen them in a painting! All that you need to do next is create a colour inspiration Pinterest board, that way you’re ready to hit the stores to find accent pieces! I don’t know how many times I’ve seen colours in artwork and then gone home and change out my entire bedroom decor to incorporate the new colour scheme. 

Here are some galleries on Vancouver Island that I really enjoy checking out whenever I can: 

Qualicum Beach: 

• The Old School House Art Centre: They often have featured artists doing demos in the studios at the school. There is also a wide range of classes and workshops being offered during the year.  

Greater Victoria: 

• Coast Collective Gallery & Art Centre: This is a great gallery that connects local artists with community members. They also offer a variety of classes and workshops throughout the year. The gift shop here is amazing, offering local handmade items that are priced to suit all budgets. 

• Gallery at Matticks Farm: It’s a great little gallery with really welcoming staff. They feature local artists and routinely change up the artwork.

• The Village Gallery and Frame Shop: This is a fun little gallery in Sidney that features local artists. They also have a variety of prints that you can purchase if the original work is not in your budget. You can also purchase art cards here. I sometimes buy these cards and frame them when I want to add some colour to a space, but I'm not willing to commit to a larger piece. 

• West End Gallery: This is one of my favourites because they have so many colourful pieces! The windows of this gallery are almost intoxicating, you’re instantly drawn in.