A connection between artists Felicia Joseph and her grandmother Hana Louise Braun runs deeper than their shared talent for painting and love of natural subjects. Joseph was raised by her grandmother and has lived with her since she was three weeks old.
“I grew up with my grandmother,” said Joseph. “She taught me almost everything I know and I’m really thankful to have had that experience.”
Results of that teaching and experience are currently on display at Malaspina Exhibition Centre, which is located inside Vancouver Island University’s Powell River campus. Westcoast Colours, an exhibition of work from both artists, continues until April 3.
Although both artists love painting the outdoors, their styles are completely different. Braun’s paintings are what she describes as super realism, while Joseph is an abstract painter.
“I try to paint the air between things,” said Braun, “so that it’s so real that the depth and qualities of translucence come through as if everything was lit from inside.”
Joseph started out painting realism as well, but found her niche with abstract painting.
“I mainly focused on doing realism because that’s what I thought you had to do to be a great artist,” said Joseph. “Now I try and paint emotions and feelings, and how a place feels to me.”
The process of creating abstract art is not what people often imagine it to be, according to Joseph. It takes the same amount of skill and work to create, she said.
“People think with abstract art you can just do whatever you want, but I have a vision and there’s a balance I’m striving for,” said Joseph. “It takes a lot of concentration. You’re not trying to recreate something, you’re trying to bring life to the canvas.”
According to Braun, the family arrangement with her being the primary caregiver for her granddaughter came naturally and is considered traditional in first nations’ culture. Joseph is from St'át'imc Nation near Lillooet, and Braun is Métis.
“It’s the way it used to be,” said Braun. “Infirst nations’ culture families used to have a gifted child go live with the person they were best suited to, whatever family member could best offer that young person a future.”
For the past 14 years Braun and Joseph have called Powell River home, and among the many things Braun has taught Joseph about is art. Braun said artistic ability appeared for herself and her granddaughter early in life.
“I started painting at around four years old; it was the same for Felicia,” said Braun. “I was inspired. It was always a given that I would go to art school.”
Braun received scholarships and went to Vancouver School of Art, now Emily Carr University of Art and Design, when she was 19 and has pursued painting her whole life. There was a time she gave it up, she said, when she was battling breast cancer. However, after successfully beating the disease, she said she found art was a necessary component in her healing.
“I knew I needed to go inward and do some soul-searching and health searching,” said Braun.
During her childhood, Joseph said she was surrounded by artistic and creative people, including her grandmother, whom she loved to watch paint.
“I was always seeing my grandmother painting and it really fascinated me,” said Joseph. “I was always asking her if I could paint the flowers on her paintings.”
In her teens, Joseph started to take lessons from local artist Susan Forsberg, who recalls teaching her the fundamentals of colour technique.
Forsberg said Joseph was already an artist even as a teen.
“She came to me as a very talented person,” said Forsberg. “I merely guided her in the use of colour and some basics of technique.”
Forsberg said she remembers regarding Joseph as her contemporary when they painted together.
“I felt I was painting with someone who was my equal,” she said.
Seeing the exhibition of her former student filled her with joy, said Forsberg.
“It blew me away,” she added. “I was delighted and amazed.”
Work created by a granddaughter and grandmother makes it notable, said Forsberg.
“This is very rare, and they’re both very special people,” she added.
After graduating from Brooks Secondary School in 2011, Joseph attended Vancouver Island University, completing a two-year program as a medical office assistant. She also recorded a CD of original songs she wrote and performed.
Joseph said she currently dedicates her spare time to pursuing her work as a painter, including building a portfolio of current work and searching for more artistic opportunities. The current exhibition is one of many for Braun, but it marks the first for Joseph.
“It was time for Felicia to come on board,” said Braun.
Braun said she hopes the exhibition will help inspire youth with artistic aspirations to pursue them, whether they have the opportunities for formal training or not.
“I’d like to encourage young people to follow their vision and find somebody to mentor them,” she said. “You don’t necessarily have to go to art school if you can’t afford it, but pursue it anyway.”
Joseph said the world opened up for her when she became involved with art and music.
“Something happened when I started painting and writing songs,” said Joseph. “I just completely changed. I feel free now.”
Westcoast Colours opens from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday, until April 3 at Vancouver Island University in Powell River, 7085 Nootka Street. For information, go to artpowellriver.com.
