Vi Plumridge has been a member of the Fine Line Art Gallery here since its inception 10 years ago.
Her ink and watercolour drawings of the historic buildings of Fort Frances, created for the town’s centennial year celebrations, are familiar to many of us.
These drawings are compiled in a booklet commissioned by the local Friends of the Library.
Plumridge has lived in the Fort Frances area for most of her life, but it was only in the last 15 years that she’s focused on her artistic talents.
“In fact, art didn’t even cross my mind,” she says. “I was busy working and raising a family.”
It was while watching the TV art instruction workshops of Bill Alexander, renowned for his “wet-on-wet” oil painting technique, that Plumridge decided “I can do that!”
So she took a number of evening classes offered locally.
“I wanted to learn basic painting techniques, as well as the use of colour,” she noted. “I made a point of taking classes from different instructors to get new perspectives.”
She admitted she didn’t always like what she produced, but there was always something she found useful.
Plumridge has a strong commitment to ongoing learning. “Never stop learning. That’s my motto,” she said. “There is always some new skill to learn, a fresh new outlook.
“It is all part of the creative process,” she added. “I believe that a person is not complete until all his or her talents have been developed as fully as possible.”
Many of Plumridge’s works are on display at the Fine Line Art Gallery on Mowat Avenue. Come have a look—and maybe you’ll be inspired to develop your own talents!
See you at the gallery!
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
