Don’t miss this solo exhibition featuring the plein air works of Shannon Thiesen. 

Plein air  \ plān-er; ple-ner \

1: of or relating to painting in outdoor daylight

2: of or relating to a branch of impressionism that attempts to represent outdoor light and air

About the artist:

Shannon Thiesen is an award winning visual artist living in Coquitlam, B.C. She is also a 5th grade teacher at Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts, North Poplar campus. Live painting competitions saw Thiesen representing BC at the 2016 and 2017 Art Battle Canada National Championships in Toronto. She is also the 2016 Young Distinguished Alumni award winner from the University of the Fraser Valley and the 2016 Abbotsford Arty Award winner in visual arts. She recently graduated with a Masters of Education degree from SFU in Imaginative Education and has completed several massive outdoor murals in the lower mainland in recent years. Her favourite subject matter includes West Coast plein air landscapes, portraiture and other organic subjects. Thiesen thrives when painting in a public setting and often uses non-traditional tools and surfaces when creating her wildly expressive and energetic paintings. She hopes to inspire each student she teaches to follow their passion, take risks and use their imaginations to make change in the world. 

“People call my marks expressive, but it is really just the waves knocking me around…” ~Shannon Thiesen

Join us for Paint Mill Lake!

To celebrate the opening of Shannon Thiesen’s Floating on Plein Air digital exhibition, the Abbotsford Arts Council and Kariton Gallery are hosting Paint Mill Lake! on Sunday, August 8th at Mill Lake Park.

Artists and dabblers of all levels are welcome to participate. Simply pick up your canvas from the Kariton Art Gallery between 9:30-10am, find your favourite spot, and paint the day away. Bring your finished piece back to the Kariton Gallery by 2pm to show your artwork in our outdoor gallery from 3-5pm and be entered into a draw to win one of two $25 gift cards to the House of Fine Art (HOFA) art supplies.   

Cost: By donation

To book your spot, RSVP here: https://forms.gle/9CbBygpP8mHTK2qDA

Drop ins are welcome, but canvases are only available while supplies last.