Isabelle Jérôme and Roy Whiddon at Da Artisti Gallery

posted in: Member News and Events

Foyer Gallery Artists, Isabelle Jérôme and Roy Whiddon have been accepted into the “Deconfinement” juried exhibition being held at Da Artisti Gallery in Cumberland. This exhibit presents an incredibly diverse mix of mediums, styles and subjects, celebrates local artists’ renewal following a transformative period of confinement and the fact that art galleries are beginning to be accessible. Also, one of Roy’s photos has been awarded third place in the show. Please join me in congratulating both these talented artists. To visit the exhibition, information follows.

Show; September 9 to November 1, 2020

Meet the Artists: Saturday Sept 19 from 11am to 1pm.

Da Artisti juried exhibition link

https://www.daartisti.com/

Roy Whiddon

Roy Whiddon is an award-winning Canadian artist/photographer specializing in fine art nudes.

Born in the U.S., and working for a high-tech company in California, Roy came to Canada in 1975 for a job that required travel across Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia. He bought a 35 mm SLR camera to record the scenery and soon became an avid amateur photographer, taking courses at a local college and setting up a home darkroom. Years later, Roy also took up drawing and painting to balance his technical career, acquiring his Visual Arts Certificate from Algonquin College in the late 1980’s. One of his favourite artistic endeavours has always been life drawing, which he continues to practice regularly.

In 2008, Roy decided to try photographing the nude figure as well as drawing it. The feedback he received from those photographs encouraged him to make this his primary focus in the visual arts. Currently retired from a career in information technology and consulting, Roy is able to devote more time and energy to his art.

Artist Statement

In my photography, I strive to portray the beauty, grace, strength and vulnerability of the human form. I like to challenge the viewer’s notions concerning nudity and the human body. In some photographs I concentrate on the form, using dramatic lighting and occasionally focusing on only a portion of the body. Other photographs explore movement and transition through the use of multiple exposures and motion blur. Although much of my work is done in the studio, I also like to integrate the figure into a contrasting environment, such as a forest, water, rocky landscape or abandoned factory. Many of my photographs in these environments hint at an underlying story, with details left to the viewer’s imagination.

Overall, I find that figure photography offers a unique mix of artistic, technical and interpersonal challenges that spark my creativity.

Email: whiddon@sympatico.ca

Instagram: @roywhiddon

Isabelle Jérôme

Isabelle Jérôme is a bilingual, Ottawa-based, emerging artist with watercolour as her primary medium. As a high school educator, she hopes to spread this passion to younger generations. She is active in the Ottawa art scene, participating actively in many associations. Her works have been accepted in juried exhibitions and her paintings can be found in private collection here in Canada and abroad.

Artist Statement:

“From a young age, I have always been interested in the arts and worked with a variety of mediums including graphite, acrylics and soapstone. Once I discovered watercolour, I immediately fell in love with its transparency, accessibility and challenges. Being mostly self taught, I am still exploring different techniques and styles, but enjoy painting detailed, figurative art. Two of my passions are traveling and food; so I tend to look there for inspiration. My paintings are reflections of the gems discovered while wandering around the globe; whether it being a landscape, an animal or a snack eaten along the way.”

Email: isabelle.jerome@yahoo.ca

Website: https://paintandtravels.wixsite.com/isabellejerome

Instagram: @paintandtravels