ART BY Patrick Irwin      artist cv   Fence Arbutus with Douglas Fir Cathedral Saltspring Operation Untitled Inner harbour Upper Harbour II Behind my house Musgrave Evergreens Ogden Point study Mill study       Edited Landscape Memory has an interesting way of shaping our experiences into something quite different. We reminisce about a relationship and locations that are no longer a part of our lives - often removing the shapes of people and environments that taint that picture. Similarly memory plays a part in our day to day experience, as I gaze upon a landscape, images from the past flood into my mind - altering the visions. These paintings contain imagery from Vancouver Island, mixed with my own personal response from, not just places I've been, but books I've read, historical artwork; wind, light, colour and sound. My experiences include all of these and so do my paintings. This natural response is reflected in my work. I have gathered familiar imagery from the island and infused it with my own ideas reflecting the emotions I feel when immersed in each environment. I used gesture brushwork to create a world that is slightly askew from our real surroundings. The imagery contains elements that allude to, not only calm idyllic worlds, but also forbidden places. The serene becomes peppered with some danger, evoking varied emotional responses. When we admire a view - we seldom consider all of the details and circumstances that complete the picture. We remember the most impressive elements and omit the mundane and miniscule. The light, vastness, and colour take centre stage while those less palatable elements are muted. With these new works, I edit the landscape to focus on aspects that I find intriguing. The sky forms a backdrop for the paintings and sets the mood for the entire image. The brushwork tends to be loose and energetic to capture a dreamlike sense of light to bring the viewer into a more surreal interpretation of our surroundings. Patrick Irwin 2003