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visual arts by Julie Prescott Creative Pursuits Through W a r m Days, Sultry Nights H i s d r e a m is t o r e t u r n as often as he c a n , and after a f o r t u i t o u s meetBritish-born K n o w l e s , a member of the C a n a d i a n F e d e r a t i o n of A r t i s t s , creates larger-than-life o i l paintings inspired by t h e e x q u i s i t e details f o u n d in n a t u r e . . . l u m i n o u s petals backlit by late a f t e r n o o n sunlight, a pollen-heavy b e e f r o z e n in m i d flight, w a t e r -- s p a r k l i n g , t r a n s p a r e n t a n d in m o t i o n -- w i t h a p h o t o g r a p h i c reality in t h e i r d e p t h a n d p e r s p e c t i v e . H i s w o r k enhances private c o l l e c tions and is s h o w n at t h e Plaza G a l l e r i e s , in W h i s t l e r B C . A t t h e r e c e n t H a r m o n y A r t s Festival, his w o r k Persistence, featuring m o r n i n g g l o r y b l o s s o m s found in t h e A r g y l e C o m m u n i t y G a r d e n , fetched t h e highest ever bid p r i c e in t h e a r t a u c t i o n . ing, e a r l i e r this year, h e is n o w l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o a m o n t h in his favourite Pacific C o a s t fishing village, B a r r a de N a v i d a d . T w o of t h o s e w e e k s will be spent teaching h o w t o paint w i t h oils. Regular visitors t o this area just n o r t h of M a n z a n i l l o -- o v e r t h e past ten years, K n o w l e s and his wife had w a l k e d along t h e three mile c o n n e c t ing s w e e p o f beach, t o t h e neighbouring t w i n villages o f San P a t r i c i o - M e l a q u e . t o d o their banking and enjoy a coffee at Bananarama, a favourite breakfast haunt o f visiting C a n a d i a n s . T h e o w n e r , D a v i d (originally f r o m t h e Sunshine C o a s t ) , i n t r o d u c e d t h e m t o N a n c y and R i c h a r d L e n n i e . w h o built L a P a l o m a A r t C e n t r e , t e n years ago.That first c o n v e r s a t i o n led t o an invitation t o return and teach at the A r t C e n t r e w h i c h caters t o visiI n t h e g l o w o f t h e Pacific sunset, t h e I s u r f - w e t s a n d b u r n s like m o l t e n b r o n z e . A pelican circles high above the w a t e r , w a i t i n g f o r t h e last rays o f t h e l o w e r i n g sun t o reveal its evening m e a l , s w i m m i n g b e n e a t h t h e bay's surface. S t e p p i n g back, t h e w a r m b r e e z e d r o p s a n d y o u a r e left standing in a studio, t h e image clinging t o t h e wall in f r o n t o f y o u . Barro Sunset w a s i n s p i r e d by a p h o t o g r a p h taken by N o r t h S h o r e realist o i l p a i n t e r James Knowles, on a recent trip t o M e x i c o , a n d n o w p r o v i d e s m o t i v a t i o n , as h e prepares t o return...this time t o t e a c h w h a t he loves b e s t . . . p a i n t i n g w i t h oils. "Tropical countries create these a l m o s t tactile images that a r e s o inspiring," says James K n o w l e s , hesitantly, as he searches f o r t h e w o r d s t o d e s c r i b e his e x p e r i e n c e s in M e x i c o . " T h e vibrancy of the c o l o u r s , the w a y e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d y o u -- f r o m a small detail t o a w i d e l a n d s c a p e -- s o a k s u p that i n c r e d i b l e golden l i g h t T h e r e are certain times of day t h a t a r e a painter's d r e a m . " t o r s w h o o v e r - w i n t e r in t h e area o r w h o are l o o k i n g f o r creative diversions, w h i l e o n holiday. " J a m e s is v e r y t a l e n t e d a n d has a w o n d e r f u l way o f painting light," says N a n c y L e n n i e . "I can't w a i t t o see w h a t he p r o d u c e s , as a result o f being h e r e , this w i n t e r . A l t h o u g h w e offer a w i d e variety o f classes, James' will be t h e only o n e f o c u s i n g o n o i l s . " Knowles'workshops, T h e Pleasure o f O i l Painting will be offered D e c e m b e r 18-22 and December 2 6 - 2 9 . The daily closses, which are three-hours long a n d include lunch, feature the use of water soluble oil paints,"...more pleasant to use than those that require harmful solvent cleanup." Two closses ore also available in North Vancouver, this fall, on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, for more details about James Knowles' art and classes, call 990-SI8S or www.jamesknowles.com