To truly appreciate Tom Godin's craft at the Showcase Gallery on 475 Birch Ave., one must look at them from a distance.
Only then can you really appreciate the four wonderful canvases portraying the Cariboo landscape on display until Aug. 1.
The large oil paintings are reflections of what Godin has seen while living in the Cariboo for 36 years. The local landscape is part of the reason he moved to 100 Mile House from his home in Ontario.
“The [100 Mile House] landscape drew me here. The landscape here is far superior to where I used to live in northwestern Ontario.”
One painting that truly comes to life when you take a step back is In the Shade of the Hill.
The painting is of a large shaded area that Godin routinely walks his dog.
“It's a place near my house in Forest Grove where I like to walk my dog. There is about a whole kilometre of trail that is always in the shade, which makes for a really nice walk.”
The fine details of the piece are incredible to behold. The details in the flowers amongst the tall grass to sun touching down on the adjacent landscape are remarkably elegant.
Godin has been painting with oil ever since he picked up a paintbrush out of boredom 30 years ago. Oil helps him capture natural subjects. He also likes it because it's easy.
“I like to go big because it's easy,” Godin jokes.
“I get to use my “rest your wrist” technique. But at the same time, you can only paint oil in the summer. Otherwise if I paint something in say October, it won't finish drying until May.”
Definitely the most eye-catching piece of the four is the Glorious Sunrise. The painting is of Godin's former landlady's backyard. The use of dark blues for the buildings counters perfectly with the surrounding green and yellow of the landscape.
Godin even went one step further and added a robin to the painting. He is known for painting wildlife.
To fully capture the essence of nature, Godin sets up his studio behind his house and sometimes inspirations just come to him.
“I just put my canvas on the back of my house and then I paint. Sometimes squirrels come and visit me.”
Godin's artwork at the Showcase Gallery will be on display until Aug. 1.
Other pieces of his work are also on display at the Cariboo Artist's Guild 36th Annual Fire Art Show and Sale exhibition at the Parkside Gallery on 401 Cedar Ave.
That exhibition is running until Aug. 13.