| Light Magic:Dean Francis - February 9 – April 1, 2009 |
Reception Thursday February 12, 2009 at 7pm
Free Admission, all welcome
Light Magic, 2009
Dean Francis is a master of the art of looking. His deeply felt and keen observations of the prairie landscape, its light, forms and textures, its birds and animals, are unparalleled. His paintings encompass all that is most unique and wondrous on the prairie: from fresh, green, early morning light to the dusky murk of evening; from drifting river valley mists to the tumultuous roil of advancing thunderclouds; from expansive vistas of late afternoon autumnal tones, to the intimate detail of deer camouflaged in dimly lit underbrush.
This exhibition of works produced in 2008 and 2009 presents almost exclusively images of the wild prairie, sought out by Dean for their unique diversity: brush, gorges and gulches, rivers and steams, rolling coulees with solitary trails, treed copses, valleys, marshes. Wild occupants of the western Canadian prairie are acknowledged, even quietly celebrated, in their natural habitats: the Great Horned owl and its rabbit prey, White Tail deer, bison.
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Drama on the Prairies, 2008
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Dean Francis’ observations are based not only upon living wholly within the landscape that he portrays, but upon his early life growing up on a farm near Mantario, SK, and upon the deep understanding that came from at one time hunting the animals that he now only tracks to paint. Dean continues to spend as much time as possible outdoors observing, photographing, and recording life studies as landscape and wildlife reference material, while painting primarily in his studio in fall and winter.
Dean Francis has evolved a very personal and painterly style over the 30 years of his practice, distinguished by loose, textural and suggestive brushwork which nonetheless conveys a convincing sense of detail. His colour palette stays true to that of a realistic rendering of the prairie landscape, ranging from subtle gradations to vivid oppositions, but is also saturated and warm, and imbued with the lustrous richness of oil.
While Dean Francis’ paintings fully convey the often magical light of the prairie, his work is also a kind of light magic in itself, an alchemy that transforms his deep love of, and commitment to this prairie land, into stirring painterly art.
Joanne Marion
Curator of Art
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Timeless, 2008
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Artist Biography: Dean Francis
Born in Mantario, Saskatchewan, painter Dean Francis and wife, ceramist Fran Hartsook, reside near the South Saskatchewan River, 20 km east of Empress, Alberta, and 13 km north of Leader, Saskatchewan, surrounded by the land and wildlife that inspire his art. Dean Francis began painting full time in 1978. Largely self taught, he attended one year at Medicine Hat College in the late 70s, and since that time has continued to work intensively on his own drawing and painting, as well as teaching local classes, exhibiting at art shows, sales and at galleries.
In 1996 he developed Sagebrush Studios, a home studio set within 20 acres of landscaped prairie. It has grown to include three restored churches from the area: one a seasonal gallery as of 2001; one working studio in 2006, and another gallery to be fully completed in 2009. Each spring a release of (80-90) new paintings fill the galleries and visitors are welcomed at any time through the season, especially at the Sagebrush Studios annual open house on the first weekend of June.
Dean has been showing in solo and group shows for 30 years, and has attended a booth at the Calgary Stampede Western Art Sales Salon each year since 2000. He has completed many private commissions and public murals, as well as exhibition dioramas for the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina. A recipient of numerous recognitions,
as well as newspaper and magazine articles, (including Gardener for the Prairies, Alberta Land and Life and Folklore magazines), Dean was the selected artist for the 2007 Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Calendar. He was featured in November of 2007 on the Prairie Farm Report television production. His paintings are enjoyed in both corporate and private collections throughout Canada, USA, Europe, and Australia. Please see www.deanfrancis.ca for more information.
The Milk River, 2009
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