Druh Ireland

ABOUT

Druh Ireland is a painter based in Lions Bay, British Columbia.

I worked in the film industry for over 30 years, and have been an avid painter for decades. My 'aha' moment as an artist happened when I opened my first tubes of oil paint, and now I paint almost exclusively in oil on canvas. Oils are luscious and lustrous, and I really love the depth I can achieve with them. I'm largely self-taught, but have taken courses along the way in painting, drawing, color theory, image making, etc from ECIAD, Cap U and more.

I've been painting so long, and have so many paintings in storage, it occurred to me to make them available to the film industry (and others) to rent. After so long working in film, I'm well schooled in the demands of the film industry. I will do what ever I can to help you get your art on time!

ARTIST STATEMENT

I feel incredibly fortunate to live in this spectacular West Coast landscape. I draw a lot of inspiration there, but I think my fundamental inspiration is internal and comes from personal challenges I've faced. My paintings are built up in layers, sometimes years of layering. Seriously! And sometimes I scrape away some of those layers, revealing bits and pieces of the past. A profound representation of the process of life itself.

My paintings speak to our daily struggles, moments of happiness, the ravages of time, elusive joy - and seek to elevate them to the beautiful and the sublime. You can see in my artworks a search for harmony and balance, set against a rugged West Coast backdrop of mountains, sky, city, ocean. Most of my paintings are abstract, with nods to landscape and the environment. My focus is color and texture, and occasionally I paint 'Art Brut' style portraits.

I love my time in my studio overlooking beautiful Howe Sound. Lately I've been busting out my pencils, fibers, sprays, and all sorts of other fun materials to play with. Art is a never-ending exploration. At this point, I feel I have arrived at a place where my paintings successfully communicate my feelings about the world, and art is now a way for me to connect with my community.

I have participated in many art exhibitions around the Greater Vancouver area, and consider myself an 'emerging artist'.

And finally, if you were wondering, Druh is pronounced like drew.

Selected Exhibitions

2020 - 2023

Focus on spinning, dying, yarnmaking, fiber arts

2018

Art auction for South African village: donated a portrait to this highly successful fundraiser. (nice work Deghan!)

North Shore Art Crawl: March 10-11. Studio open to the public

2017

Art In The Garden Tour - Lions Bay: Showed 10 paintings. May 28

North Shore Art Crawl: March 4-5. Studio open to the public

2016

Use your Words: Solo Exhibition - Leigh Square, Coquitlam, BC. April 7 - 27. Displayed more than 50 paintings

North Shore Art Crawl: March 5-6. Studio open to the public

2015

Harmony And Discord: Harmony Arts Festival, West Vancouver, BC. Juried group exhibition. July 31 – Aug. 9.

Delany's - The Village at Park Royal: June 8, - July 28. Solo exhibition of 14 paintings

Art In The Garden: May 31. Showed 18 recent paintings in an outdoor gallery setting - Lions Bay, BC

The Blank Tank Gallery - The North Show: March 15 - April 30. Group exhibition featuring the best of the North Shore. 148 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC

North Shore Art Crawl: March 7 - 8. Studio open to the public

Cerulean - Group Exhibition: CityScape Gallery, 335 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, BC. Juried exhibition. Jan - Feb

2014

Open Studio: Dec. Studio open to the public

You Are Here - Solo Exhibition: Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Avenue Coquitlam, BC – Jan 9 – Feb 22

2013

Painting On the Edge: Aug 13 - Sept 1. Federation Of Canadian Artists Gallery. Juried group exhibition. Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Art On the Pier: Aug 3. Foot of Lonsdale, North Vancouver, BC. 9 recent paintings exhibited in a juried group exhibition.

North Shore Art Crawl Showed many recent oil on canvas works. April 19 – 21

Faces of Israel: Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery 950 West 41st Ave. Vancouver, BC – Juried group exhibition. April 11 – May 5

U8: SOPA Fine Arts 2934 South Pandosy St. Kelowna BC – Juried group exhibition. Showed 6 paintings. April 2 – 28

Discovery – Earth: Seymour Gallery 4460 Gallant Ave. North Vancouver – Juried group exhibition. Jan – Feb

2012

Ensemble: Maple Ridge Art Gallery. Juried group exhibition. Showed four paintings. – Nov – Dec

Anonymous Art Show: CityScape Gallery, 335 Lonsdale Ave. N. Vancouver, BC. Contributed 2 paintings – Nov – Dec

Lions Bay Culture Days: Exhibited 12 paintings. Sept

Sans Brush: CityScape Gallery, 335 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, BC. Juried group exhibition. Sept - Oct

Solo Exhibition: District Library Gallery, Lynn Valley, North Vancouver, BC. Showed 16 paintings. June – Aug

Art Rentals: CityScape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC - My painting “The Path” was selected for the Art Rental Program (SOLD)

2011

Art Rentals: CityScape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC - My paintings “Circulation” and “Sunset Marina” were accepted into the Art Rental Program (SOLD)

Lions Bay Banners: Winner of the banner design competition

Solo Exhibition: Blenz Coffee, Horseshoe Bay. Showed 17 paintings. Sept. – Dec

2010