Artist Enda Bardell - AIC Interview
Enda Bardell is a Canadian Artist living and working in Vancouver, Canada. She is passionate about watercolour paintings, and creates the most wonderful sunsets using incredible, vibrant colours that command your attention as you look with awe at the pure colours she uses to paint those wonderful big skies!
Enda teaches watercolour workshops from September through to May every year. You can sign up for her classes on her website, www.endabardell.com
Enda has studied at Vancouver Art School, and completed studio courses and workshops with prominent Canadian artists such as Toni Onley and Joan Balzar, both of whom she considers her mentors.
Enda teaches watercolour workshops from September through to May every year. You can sign up for her classes on her website, www.endabardell.com
Enda has studied at Vancouver Art School, and completed studio courses and workshops with prominent Canadian artists such as Toni Onley and Joan Balzar, both of whom she considers her mentors.
Question:
When did you realize you had the need to create and develop your skills?
Answer:
I realized I needed to create when I was very young, kept exploring careers and other creative ventures, visiting many art galleries, being intrigued by the many styles of art and artists.
Question:
How do you know when your art is complete?
Answer:
I never really know when my work is complete but it usually feels right and perhaps could use a brush stroke or two but hen there is the danger of over working the painting.
Question:
Where do you gather your inspiration from?
Answer:
My inspiration is all around me in nature and outdoors. I prefer to paint nature as if it has not been touched by humans, expect when I paint the freighters in English Bay and the Vancouver city skyline.
Question:
Where do you typically create art?
Answer:
I create my art in my home studio.
Question:
Right now, what is your medium of choice and what is your favourite subject matter?
Answer:
My medium of choice right now is watercolour and favourite subject is skies and landscapes with trees.
Question:
All artists at all stages of their career want to try something new, what other medium or subject matter do you see yourself experimenting with?
Answer:
Currently I am enjoying painting fast and loose expressionist watercolours.
Question:
Continuing education, do you partake and if so what did you learn?
Answer:
Right now I am not continuing my art education, but teaching instead.
Question:
Have you ever taught a class or done an artist talk? If so, what did you talk about or teach? Can people sign up for your workshops and how?
Answer:
Yes I teach watercolour classes regularly from September to end of May. I have also given artist talks on my hard edge abstract work. People can view workshop opportunities on my website www.endabardell.com where I have posted various locations for signing up.
Question:
Have you ever painted en plein air? What was the biggest hurdle for you? Environmental challenges, wildlife, people, weather?
Answer:
I love painting en plein air. The biggest hurdle initially was the equipment which I have modified about 5 times to the way I like it now - light and compact.
Question:
Do you do commissions? If so, what is your process?
Answer:
I usually do not take commissions because I find it too restricting. When I have taken commissions in the past, I always let them know that there is no obligation to accept the painting.
Question:
What is your favourite art related quote?
Answer:
"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives other others."
Question:
Do you have a favourite artist and what do you like about their art? Have you ever met them?
Answer:
One of my favourite watercolour artists was Toni Onley who became a good friend until he tragically crashed his small aircraft into the river. My favourite living artist in the Vancouver area is Michael Abraham, who is pure and original and executes his work exceptionally well.
Question:
Did they inspire you to pursue a career as a professional artist?
Answer:
The instructors in the past have been very inspiring, especially Toni Onley in Watercolour and Joan Balzar in acrylic hard edge abstract, both now deceased.
Question:
What is most challenging to you when starting a new project?
Answer:
There is nothing really challenging when I begin a new project except perhaps which 3 primary colours and dark to use for unity and reducing the information to a suitable composition.
Question:
What advice would you give to an artist starting out?
Answer:
Keep doing the work, visit galleries and explore the work of other artists.
Question:
What keeps you going forward with your art in this very competitive industry?
Answer:
I love painting and exploring to see what I can achieve and where it will go.
Question:
In your studio, right now, what is your most important tool that you would be lost without?
Answer:
Music.
Question:
What is your favourite piece of work you have created, thus far?
Answer:
Usually it is the most recent work, when it turns out well, or a location that I have and emotional connection with.
Question:
What is the most well received piece of art you have created?
Answer:
Don't think I have created that one yet, except perhaps "Relief" which was now in KUMU, the National Museum of Estonia.
Question:
Do you have a favourite gallery or museum that you visit?
Answer:
I enjoy the Vancouver Art Gallery in which I have some work in the Vancouver Art Gallery Art Rental and Sales. Some of my favourite commercial galleries are Kimoto Gallery, Ian Tan, Elissa Cristal, Bau Xi, Back Gallery Project, and Equinox Gallery.
