Sally Milne

My work is a study of transparency and reflected light, colour and the movement of fluid shapes. Inspiration has come from subjects such as glass, ice, water and reflective surfaces. I paint in watercolour, finding it an ideal medium to represent the qualities of light and shadow, soft shapes and crisp edges which define my paintings.

I often approach a subject from a close-up perspective. As a result, the subject is only partially defined and stretches beyond the limits of the composition. This allows the viewer to focus on the abstract shapes within the forms, their reflections and shadows. In this way, my work can be described as a study of the concept of abstraction within representation. The subject is instantly recognized, but it is the play of light, colour and abstraction which add depth and excitement to the experience of the painting.






Working as an artist it is important to me to invite new forms of inspiration and challenges which will allow my work to grow and evolve. Until recently, in my work with glass objects, the compositions were largely representational, with an emphasis on fluid shapes and light.
In my new work I am looking more deeply into the forms within the glass objects and making these the focus of abstract compositions. Without points of reference the success of the painting relies on the use of colour, structure and, as always in my work, movement.
   


The paintings in this group represent some of the themes I have been working on in 2003 and 2004. In 2003 I returned to working with my version of still life painting. Slices of fruit placed on a curved metal tray explore familiar shapes and their abstracted reflections. Once again, I am drawn close to the subject and, in many cases, it is the distorted shapes, the soft blending of colours in the reflections that become the focus in the work. They are an important element in the composition, encouraging the viewer's eye to travel and providing a contrasting element to the clearly defined fruit shapes.

Towards the end of 2003 I returned to my love of glass as a subject, this time placing slices of fruit inside the glass bowls and studying the effects of light shining through the glass and translucent fruit as well as the fluid distortion of the fruit shapes as they take on the liquid aspect of the glass.



The sight of icebergs, seen off the coast of Newfoundland, and waves off the west coast of Vancouver Island are the inspiration for the paintings in this group.

On trips to Newfoundland in 2000 and 2001 I was able to observe icebergs from small boats. The scale, colour and surface textures of these natural sculptures tell the tale of their travels from the glaciers of Greenland. The transparencies of ice and water, along with the fantastic sculpted contours of the ice provided exciting and challenging elements for expression in watercolour.

From September 2001 to April 2002 I lived in Vancouver and was able to continue my exploration of the theme "moving waters". Rolling waves off the west coast of Vancouver Island offered abstract, fluid shapes to inspire my work.

 

SALLY MILNE
C.V.

Education 1987-1989 Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, Geneva, Switzerland
Studied Drawing and Painting
  1982-1984 Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Graduate Diploma in Translation (French-English)
  1976-1980 Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
BA (honours) French and History
     
Selected Exhibitions Gallery at the Playhouse
Thousand Islands Playhouse,
Gananoque, Ontario		 May 30- June 20 2003
READ THE REVIEW
  Windmill’s Café,
Kingston, Ontario		 Solo Exhibitions 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition,
Toronto, Ontario		 Annual Participation 1993-2007
  Kingston Studio Tour,
Kingston, Ontario		 1994-2001 and 2003-2007
  Canadian Federation of Artists Gallery,
Vancouver, B.C

 Juried Member’s Show, February 2002
Awards 2004 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Best of Medium
  2002 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Honourable Mention for Watercolour
  1997 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Terry Martel Watercolour Purchase Award
  1976 Ridley College, St. Catharines, Ontario
Nan Cassels Award for Contribution to the Arts
Memberships Organization of Kingston Women Artists (OKWA) 2003-2004, 2007 - Organized 2004 Members Exhibition, January 2004
  Interconnected Art 1991-2004  
  Kingston Artist’s Association 1999-2004  
  Federation of Canadian Artists 2001-2002

  
Teaching Experience and Presentations Toronto Watercolour Society Presentation
September 2000		 - “Painting Glass in Watercolour: From Still Life to Abstraction”
  Kingston School of Art, 1994-2001 - Watercolour painting classes and workshops
  Queen’s University Elderhostel Program, 1995-1996

 - Watercolour workshops
Articles and Reviews International Art Treasures, online magazine
August 2007		 SUMMER AT THE SQUARE
http://www.iatwm.com/200708/TOAE2007/index.html
  The Gananoque Reporter
June 4, 2003		 - “Reflections: Sally Milne’s Moving Waters, Fruit Reflected”
by Heather McAlpine
  Profile Kingston Magazine
January 2001		 - “Sally Milne, Colour and Composition” by Ann-Maureen Owen
  Kingston Whig Standard
April 1, 2000		 - “ Milne’s Work Glows with Light” by Melanie Dugan
  Kingston Whig Standard
March 13, 1999

 - “Artists Explore New Territory” by Richard Moll
Donations Big Sisters, Kingston 2000 and 2001  
  McMichael Collection, Kleinberg 1999

  
Collections Switzerland, Scotland, England, U.S.A., Hong Kong and Canada
 

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