Near & Far | Adele Derkowski

During my youth, I undertook two years of art school, focusing mostly on figure drawing. In 2009, I discovered The Bay School of Art in Collingwood, which renewed my interest in art, but this time mostly painting in oils and acrylics. Since then, I have played with various subject matter (i.e. portraits, still life, landscapes and abstracts). 

The Matilda Swanson Gallery in Collingwood and Stratford represents some of my work: portraits of David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Jimi Hendrix (to name a few). Linke’s Local Arts in Stayner also has a collection of my portraits and abstracts.

Artist Statement

My work is of objects looked at closely: portraits, kitchen items and rocks.

 I began with painting portraits, which are about details and precision, and then wanted to try abstracting something. I started using simple items as my subjects, like bowls and spoons.

 Instead of changing the object to abstract, I started looking at it in a different way - from above - and began to see the shadows that formed around the object. I studied the shadows with a light source from one direction and noticed how they moved and changed shape as they circled around the object with time. The changing shadows was the abstraction I wanted, while the subject stayed recognizable. 

I then wanted a simpler subject matter, from bowls and kitchen utensils to rocks - a long way from portraits! The materials I used also began to change, from painting to drawing, with graphite utilized to draw a series of rocks with shadows that have a variety of marks inside. Again, abstracting the shadows - giving them substance when they have none. 

During this creative journey, my eye site became a factor in my process. I developed light sensitivity, making it difficult for me to work with certain colours, as well as high contrast values. I experimented and produced much art that was thrown away. My work became more subdued. 

With that, it was a struggle to know if what I was making would be of interest to others. Such is art! 

– Adele Derkowski 

Self Portrait | $350 | 20x16” | Oils
Sitting Under Beach Umbrella | $350 | 24x18” | Acrylic
Helen with Roses | $175 | 24x12” | Oils
Me… Painting You | $350 | 20x16” | Acrylic
Cups & Saucer with Teaspoon | $150 | 11x9” | Oils
3 Plates & 2 Utensils | $325 | 18x24” | Acrylic
Cup of Coffee with 4 Utensils | $250 | 24x12” | Acrylic
Warm Brown Rock Shadows | $425 | 25x19” | Acrylic
Green Rock Shadows | NFS | 15x19” | Acrylic
3 Utensils with Cup of Juice | $250 | 22x18” | Acrylic
Shadows in Colour | $325 | 24x20” | Acrylic
Marked Shadows 3 | $150 | 17x14” | Mixed
Marked Shadows 4 | $150 | 17x14” | Mixed