The Quesnel Art Gallery is packed with paintings of furry and feathered critters this month as Bobbie Crane's Fur and Feathers exhibit is on display.
Crane's work primarily focuses on the details of the wildlife she paints, complemented by soft, subtle backgrounds that lend a spotlight to the animals she paints.
"I love, as you can tell, very soft muted backgrounds, soft blended colours," she explained. "When it comes to framing, I have a local fellow that makes my gallery frames for me and then I can paint them any colour that I would like. And most often I paint them black because I think it showcases the artwork quite nicely."
For over 30 years, Crane has been creating art, starting with a class she took with a friend and learning more and more throughout the years. In that time, she became a member of Artists for Conservation and the Federation of Canadian Artists. She now teaches art out of her studio in Lac La Hache.
"It's wonderful therapy. Wonderful therapy. And one of the things that I truly do believe in is listening," she said. "I listen with my ears first and then take a deep breath and then start listening with my heart and then I start listening with my soul. When I start painting something, even if it's in my studio at home, I always pause and start thinking about that."
Much of Crane's work is animals and scenes she has seen and photographed, including the "foxy-vixen," a red fox, she regularly sees at her home.
"We know it's the same one because she has an injury on her flank and the hair (...) grew back black," she explained. That fox has been coming to Crane's property for around five years and has kits most years.
Another fox painting at the gallery is one of the few in the show that has a full, detailed landscape background. Crane said it was based on a photo of her friend's property and she included a fox to give the painting something more.
Within the gallery, Crane has a stuffed owl next to a painting of the same owl. She went through the process to get the owl taxidermied, including getting permits from the Ministry of Environment and used that as the model for her owl painting.
While going through the process of getting it taxidermied, the ministry estimates the animal's age by measuring the beak and talons. Crane said they think the owl was around a year and a half old.
While exploring nature, Crane looks for animals to take photos of to use as references for her paintings.
"Most often I have it painted in my head before I even get home," she said.
As a teacher, Crane proudly said some of her students have gone on to do their own solo art shows. One of the words of wisdom she offered newer artists is to just start creating.
"If a voice inside your head says you can't do it, then quiet that voice and just do it," she said. "It's the practice that will make you a better artist, a more well-rounded artist."
She said she paints almost daily and if she hadn't spent hours honing her craft, she wouldn't be able to create the art she does.
Crane's work will be at the Quesnel Art Gallery until July 17. The gallery is located at 500 North Star Road.
