“YEG Old Houses” Video Interview By CBC Edmonton News
(Credit: All Photos & An Article Original content from CBC Edmonton News)
New art series will focus on Edmonton’s heritage homes
Artist will spend close to a year painting and researching a dozen Edmonton homes
Travis McEwan · CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2020 8:00 AM MT | Last Updated: November 25
An Edmonton artist is turning her appreciation for unique old homes into a pandemic-inspired project.
When COVID-19 led to closures of businesses in March, Aeris Osborne started walking through mature neighbourhoods, which inspired her new art project.
She’ll be working on the series YEG old houses over the next year, which includes creating 12 paintings of Edmonton homes based in Old Strathcona, Alberta Avenue, Glenora, Westmount and Highlands neighbourhoods.
“I just love walking in the mature neighbourhoods and I just enjoy everything. I think it’s because of where I come from,” Osborne said.
She grew up in Hong Kong, where high rise condo buildings and skyscrapers tower over the city. Single unit homes are more of a rarity there, Osborne said.
When she walked through the Highlands neighbourhood in the early spring, the unique details of the homes she came across stopped her in her tracks and led her to taking photos.
She was struck by the creativity and the influence of different architecture styles ranging from Victorian to Scottish and Dutch influences.
She started to rough sketch and paint the homes on canvas based on her photos.
“It started with the Victorian Highlands houses, and then I started a whole series,” she said.
Osborne’s style is described as bold impressionist. Many of the details of the home are painted as they look, but the landscape details and the skies are exaggerated and expressive.
“I capture the soul of the architecture and then it’s interpreted by my own feelings,” she said.
In September, she was announced as Arts Habitat Edmonton’s newest studio resident, which includes a year of free studio space in the historic McLuhan House.
Osborne also researches the history of the homes as well.
“I just wanted to show that the houses can tell their own stories, from the former owner to the new owner, it changes,” she said.
Susan Whitford lives about 10 blocks from Osborne’s current studio. Over a month ago, she had heard that the artist had painted her home, and bought it.
The home is 20 years old, which not as old as many of the other houses Osborne will be painting. Whitford likes the version created by the impressionist.
“We’ll have this painting of our new house that’s kind of like someone’s interpretation of what our house looks like to them,” she said.
Whitford can relate to Osborne’s appreciation for the homes and neighbourhoods of Edmonton, which has been a result of getting outside more during the pandemic.
“We’re going on all these river valley walks to these areas we didn’t even know existed, even though we lived here most of our lives,” Whitford said.
“So it’s good it’s good to see someone’s vision on something that those of us that live in these historic neighbourhoods. That’s why we stay here. That’s why we don’t move far away.”
An exhibit of YEG old houses is expected to be on display when Osborne finishes her Arts Habitat Residency.
About the Author
Aeris Osborne Art C.V
| Awards |
| 2016 The Allied Arts Council of Spruce Grove 2nd in Open Art Competition – The Butchart Gardens Night Pond |
| 2015 1st, 2nd, 3rd in Open Art Competition – Sunset In Winter, Revelstoke Cafe, Fairmont Hot Spring |
| Residence |
| Oct 2020 – Present McLuhan House Studio, Art Habitat Edmonton |
| Media Interview |
| 2020 CBC Edmonton News – YEG Old Houses Series |
| 2013 Breakfast TV |
| Professional |
| Active Member of Federation of Canada Artists, Edmonton Arts Club, Harcourt House Gallery, St. Albert Painter Guild, Allied Art Council Spruce Grove Art Gallery |
| Exhibitions & Group Show |
| 2020 |
| Art Gallery Of St. Albert – 20:20 Vision |
| The Allied Arts Council Of Spruce Grove – Little Gems |
| The Carrot Art Gallery Kaleido 2020 |
| The International Society Of Experimental Artists (ISEA) 29 th Juried Exhibition Artists (Rescheduled to 2022) |
| Edmonton YEG Art WALK- solo displays at CAcao 70 Eatery |
| Edmonton Convention Centre – Art Night |
| 2015 – 2020 |
| Allied Art Council Of Spruce Grove Open Art Competition |
| 2017 |
| St Albert Art Walk |
| 2016 |
| Strathcona County Gallery @ 501 |
| VASA St. Albert |
| 2013-2015 |
| Art Society Of Strathcona County |
| Strathcona County Health Centre |
| Harcourt House – Multicultural Mosaic |
| Edmonton Whyte Art Walks |
| Art Retail |
| 2017 to present |
| Tix On The Square & Art Gallery Of St. Albert Gallery Shop |