Dramatic art with a sense of mystery

We are lucky to have many gifted artists in the North Bay area, and Claire Domitric is one of them.

Claire creates expressive paintings, drawings and prints, with which she aims to "evoke thought and discussion".

I recently visited her home studio to learn more about her work. Here are the highlights from our discussion:




How did your interest in art begin?
CD: I've always been drawing and doing art, and I always enjoyed school art projects. I started painting in high school and moved on to get a Fine Arts degree, and later a Bachelor of Education. For some years, I was teaching art and drama to high school students.

Underwater, acrylic on canvas, 16”x 16”.

What is it about painting and art that you're attracted to?
CD: I like the materials and I like colours. Painting is a good way to process things you see and experiences you have. I like the discovery part of the artistic process, and never know what my pieces will look like in the end. I like not knowing. I follow a narrative and let the story develop as I'm painting.

You describe your work as “representational with an expressive brushstroke”. How do you achieve that style?
My art is representational but not photographic. There's a story behind every painting, about the place and the people. The starting point is almost always a photo, or various photographs, which I transform into a painting. There is often a sense of mystery and stillness in my pieces.


“Cards”, acrylic on canvas, 12” x  16”.

How are those feelings noticeable in your art?

CD: I don't think about it so much when I paint. That's more what I see in the painting in retrospect. The sense of mystery comes from the fact that I leave some things out, I don't completely finish parts of the painting.



"Dog Day", acrylic on wood, 6” x12”

Your pieces often include water, sky and outdoor activities.
CD: Yes, I'm drawn to water and I like being outside. I also think it's good to follow a general theme and limit the colour palette - it keeps things together. People and animals are also often in my paintings.



Waterfall, monoprint on paper, 17” x 20”.

“Meet you at the Horizon”, monoprint on paper,
20” x 26”. Monoprints are made by applying oil based inks to a plexiglass plate. After a process of rolling, brushing, scraping and wiping inks on the plate, Claire puts the plate through a printing press to transfer the image onto a prepared sheet of paper. In this way, she creates one original print at a time.

The series of paintings “Summers spent” have a very impressionistic feeling. How did that collection come about?
I found photographs from my childhood summers, which my family and I often spent in northern Ontario. They were taken by parents and friends and depict a carefree, relaxed summer feeling with youth playing in nature.

"Hide and Seek", acrylic on canvas, 30” x  30”.

"The Raft", acrylic on canvas, 16” x 16”.



Claire, with Pepe, in front of "The Cutting Garden",

acrylic on canvas, 30” x 30”. Claire likes to use

big canvases.

Can people buy your paintings directly from you?
Yes, my paintings are available on my website. I'm also open to commissioned work, I like the challenge.

Claire is a member of the North Bay Art Association, and frequently participates in art exhibitions in North Bay and area. Make sure to visit her website www.clairedomitric.com.

Also check out my previous post "Looking at art from the start". Claire's colourful, contemporary paintings make for wonderful "jumping off" pieces for any room!

Art and fashion at The Farm

Peek through the windows of the FARM in downtown North Bay and you know you've found something unique. Inside, the place is buzzing with creativity. That's what happens when you combine a retail boutique with an onsite workshop. The artists of this fashion and art collective are right here, working on their creations, and their energy is contagious. 

The idea of the FARM's retail store is to provide products that are handmade, locally made, Canadian made or eco conscious. Perfect for us who appreciate something out of the ordinary! If you are shopping for one-of-a-kind artwork and accessories for yourself and your home, this is definitely a place to visit. 

Here are a few shots from the store:

The open-space environment where the FARM is located
is worth a visit in itself. Wooden floors, textured brick
and white, illuminated walls are a nice backdrop for
fashion and art. 

Fresh and expressive pieces by Gillian McLaren
and Jaymie Lathem. 

Photography with a local connection by Liz Lott.
Lis is one of the FARM's member artists. She owns
Hibou Boutique, northern Ontario's first
bring-your-own-bag shop, which shares the space
with the FARM!

Interesting, large photography on vinyl by 
Louise Goulet. 

Canadiana pillows by graphic designer 

and screenprinter Nicole Tarasick. 

Danielle Fraser's decorations in mixed media.

When did you last see a beautiful mosaic detail on 

a floor in downtown North Bay?

Well, that's a way to add a splash of colour!

A painted chandelier with paint chips in my 

favourite colour.

And if there was any doubt, the FARM = Fashion 

Art Retail Market and not pick your own produce;-)

One-of-a-kind at Art on Main

Bruce Cull is one of the artists
represented at Art on Main.

There is a special satisfaction in buying "one-of-a-kind": nobody else will have the same thing. In addition, if you know that the piece you just brought home is made by a local artist, the sense of pride and contentment is double. What a great starting point for creating a personalized and unique space! 


Art on Main in downtown North Bay boasts a wide range of original objects. The artists' collective has paintings, sculptures, photography, pottery, wood, weaving, basketry and more. I am amazed at how the gallery always seems to offer something for every taste. Here you find contemporary art alongside traditional images of northern Ontario. And inventive jewellry shares the shelves with functional pottery. Eclectic! 


These are some of the items that caught my eye during my most recent visit:

  

                          Sergio Golod's colourful glass plates are absolutely stunning.

I love the combination of objects in this cheery wall tapestry by multi-media artist Rachel Robitaille.  "Bollywood Salsa".

Another decorative wall tapestry by Rachel Robitaille. "Sapphire Adventure".

Rachel Robitaille also creates beautiful jewellry, like this necklace made of green stones.

One-of-a-kind wooden bowl by Michael Mathieu. The wood is taken from locally harvested trees.

This pottery set is so different and fun! Rosemary Thomas.

Pat Stamp's pottery (above and below) is genuine with a hint of whimsical.