FEATURE ARTIST
Marla DeBoon
Combining elements of nature with
an active imagination, Fernie-based
artist Marla DeBoon’s paintings are an
expression of magical realism layered
with detail and character. As the wife
of a former conservation officer with a
passion for the abundant wildlife of
the Elk Valley, her animal portraits
are both strikingly realistic and
whimsically evocative. and plans to try oils in the future.
Recently she has been inspired by the
surrounding Rocky Mountains to paint
landscapes; her work is evocative of
Montana-based ‘Old American West’
painter Charlie Russell, who she cites
as an early influence. Using vibrant
colour, detailed textures and a depth of
field she creates landscapes that are as
tranquil as they are inviting.
A self-taught artist, DeBoon takes a
very casual approach to her canvases,
starting by simply ‘making marks’ and
then adding and removing elements
and colour in an abstract fashion to
form the background to her artwork.
The formal animal portrait elements
are added later; a process that doesn’t
always go smoothly, she says. On
a recently prepared canvas she felt
compelled to paint a portrait of a
chicken but didn’t give her subject a
beak for fear it would demand to be
finished immediately! Any artist will
understand how a piece of work can
begin to take on a life of its own and
challenge the painter in any number
of ways. DeBoon also teaches, something she
finds both rewarding and challenging.
She encourages her students to use
their imagination and break free from
painting in ‘studies’ of visible subjects.
Discover the work of Marla DeBoon,
along with many other artists, at
the Fernie Arts Co-op in Historic
Downtown Fernie, or contact her
by email at fmdeboon.ca.
Working predominately in acrylic,
she has also practiced in pen & ink,
watercolour, and pencil in the past
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