Natural Impressionism
Dawson City artist hosts a new show in Whitehorse before venturing to South America
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Issue: 2015-10-15 PHOTO: courtesy of Halin de Repentigny
“Fall colour” Oil on Canvas
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Issue: 2015-10-15 PHOTO: courtesy of Halin de Repentigny
“Candy Birch,” one of the paintings Halin de Repentigny will be exhibiting in his new show, Divergence
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Issue: 2015-10-15 PHOTO: courtesy of Halin de Repentigny
Halin de Repentigny painting for his new show, Divergence
The element of light is key when it comes to any form of painting, drawing, or photography. For each medium, the use of light may be utilized differently. A photographer may use extra light to enhance the subject being captured. Someone who sketches may perhaps create contrast between shadows.
For an impressionist painter, the natural light of a scene is preferred. A lot of thought and detail goes into capturing the natural essence of light. At first, you may think it is easy to paint a scene with visually appealing light effects. But start to mix the paints and brush the canvas, and you realize it is not as easy as it looks.
One painter who has a natural knack for impressionist paintings is Halin de Repentigny. The Montreal native has been living in the Yukon wilderness for almost 30 years. He started out working as a trapper in the woods near Dawson. It did not take long for him to become captivated by his scenery and began to paint what he saw.
"Ever since I was a child I had an interest in painting. For me it comes quite naturally," he says. "Sometimes I do not even have to look at my paint pallet - I let my instinct guide me."
Like a true impressionist artist, de Repentigny understands the role natural light plays in oil paintings, and does his best to use his talent to capture it. On his website, he even states, "The right light is like a jewel, I know a painting works when it creates its own light."
On October 16, 17 and 18, de Repentigny will be hosting a show called Divergence at the Old Fire Hall in Whitehorse.
"My impressionist paintings will be there, but I decided to show some different stuff in the form of nude drawings as well," he says.
Unlike his shows in the past, which have run for weeks, this one will only be on for three days.
The Dawsonite is all about reinventing his artwork and evolving as an artist. He feels his paintings are a true reflection of being unique.
"When I paint a scene in the Yukon, it is not a typical scene. My landscapes look as if they could be in a number of places."
If you look at de Repentigny's work over the years, you will notice it is very focused on the nature element, and his statement is true; the Yukon may not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking at a de Repentigny.
After the current show, de Repentigny will be heading to Argentina for six months.
"Unfortunately, the Yukon does not have many months with a lot of daylight. That is why I will head south, and paint."
Despite being at the opposite end of the Earth, de Repentigny's artistic principles will not waiver. He does not intend to paint popular landmarks, but rather scenes that, like like his Yukon paintings, look as if they could have been painted in many places.
For more information about de Repentigny, visit www.halinderepentigny.ca
