The Show

Meet the Artists

Your Portraits

Interview with Gerda.

SP: How did you become interested in art?

I have wanted to be an artist since I was three, mainly because I loved drawing and was quite good at it. After beginning my career in the arts in fashion design, I transitioned to painting after moving to Canada in 1969.

SP: Why do you think you are compelled to paint portraits?

The portrait is an artist's most intriguing vehicle for analysis, social observation and expression.

SP: You mention you like to explore the female narrative, explain?

My portraits reveal aspects of people's lives, stories and experiences.

SP: How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it before?

My paintings are what my life's about, I see beauty everywhere.

SP: What is the difference between representational and abstract work?

Artists that combine representation and abstraction use some of the metaphors preferred by the purely representational artists and some metaphors of the nonrepresentational artist. I find that the presence and absence of both representation and abstraction affect the metaphors that artist use to describe their work. This is the kind of paradox that I love.

SP: How do you maintain momentum in your art practice?

I am continually exploring different painting techniques. I am discovering the more I paint the more engaged I become, which in turn deepens and enriches my work.

SP: Was your experience on Star Portraits different from what you thought it was going to be?

It was a great experience having three painters and one story, especially since the artists were the same generation and all three were interested in the narrative potential for figurative painting.

SP: Were you surprised to have Louise Arbour as the celebrity sitter?

Yes I was surprised, and very much inspired!

Artist Stats

Gerda’s career spans over 30 years and, after moving to Canada in 1969, transitioned to painting, experimenting with materials and techniques. Her first abstract exhibit was entitled Tales of Change. She then evolved into a contemporary artist, walking the line between representation and abstractism. Gerda now focuses on exploring the female narrative with a global perspective. Each piece challenges and re-invents the common perception of the woman as self.