When the Ice Breaks

Karole Marois exhibits at Cressy home studio

The theme of water runs through many of Karole Marois’s paintings, and her current studio exhibition doesn’t flow too far off that same course. When the Ice Breaks is the second exhibition visual artist Karole Marois has put together in the time of COVID-19, the first being For the Love of Water which was held last summer in downtown Picton. As a painter, Marois usually works from photographs she has taken from the sights and scenes that inspire and interest her in and around Prince Edward County, or those that simply capture her attention. The current series of paintings speaks to the time of year, where as the weather warms up, the ice breaks and the water is free to flow, and she notes how the exhibition is a metaphor for renewal and hope.

Those familiar with Adolphus Reach and the Cressy landscape may recognize Marois’s work as she bases many of her pieces on the seascapes around her home, but she also includes a few surprises, such as the path the Glenora ferry takes. She said in her paintings The Crossing and The Passage, she wanted to express what is felt when crossing on the Glenora ferry. “For residents and visitors, it means different things, but for everyone, there is something magical about the crossing,” says Marois.

“In a way, this current exhibition continues to explore our deep connection with water through the seasons,” she explains. “For this series, many of the photographs were taken during my long walks along Cressy Bayside or Cressy Lakeside; some, like the Glenora ferry, were taken a couple of years ago. When something excites me visually, I try to photograph it as future reference for paintings.” In her younger artist days, Marois says she painted with watercolours, later switching to acrylics because she enjoys painting large scale on wood or canvas surfaces. “I love water and water mediums, but now I use acrylics in a quasiwatercolour style, with a lot of transparency.”

“A couple of years ago one spring, I was returning home to the County on the Glenora ferry and I was mesmerized by the thought that nothing was stopping the ferry from bringing me home,” she says. “It was the unlocking of the passage, crushing the ice to bring me across and it was that concept that inspired me to paint this series: the ferry breaking the ice is symbolic of determination, renewal and hope for me, where nothing, including a pandemic, is going to stop it from moving forward.” Technically, she says she likes to simplify shapes to emphasize the design. “This creates a sense of calm,” she adds. “Simplicity and silence were important in this series.”

While the pandemic has resulted in different things for different artists, where some have struggled to find inspiration or motivation, she says in terms of productivity, the pandemic has allowed her more time to paint. “Motivation has never been an issue with me,” she says. “Having been a full-time artist for so long, I have learned to adapt to the challenges along the way in order to remain positive and creative.” She says during the pandemic, people have expressed that the arts have helped them cope. “As artists, we have to stay upbeat and healthy, so we can remain productive and inspire others.” For Marois, the past year of living within the constraints of the pandemic has actually meant she has connected more with other artists, something she attributes to improving her online skills and by learning to use social media. She has also been able to connect to the public with a quarterly newsletter she created. “I have kept in touch with the wonderful artists in our community and discovered others all over the world,” she says. “What I miss, of course, are the hugs, the laughs, and the gatherings with friends and family.”

This exhibition was made possible by an Ontario Arts Council exhibition assistance grant which helped pay for the presentation expenses, such as framing and promotion. “The Arts Councils have been very open to supporting artists in new situations created by the pandemic,” explains Marois. “Receiving a grant is a good feeling because you know your peers decided your exhibition was worth funding. Also, when you receive any grant you are then committed to completing the project.”

Marois is known for her large art pieces, the subjects of which often lend themselves to a larger format, but you can also find smaller works in her collection. The current exhibition, for example, includes two seven-foot wide paintings (The Power of Water and The Magic of Water) from her last exhibition, but there are much smaller works available too. “The ice is gone in those and the water is flowing,” she adds. Marois likes to experiment with different materials: as well as canvas, she will use birch panels for the larger pieces, and wood too, depending on what look she is trying to achieve.

She explains that during the pandemic, she had a little more time to experiment with materials, such as Claybord and Aquabord, which are wood panels with a smooth clay surface that are highly absorbent. “They are ideal for working in a watercolour style, keeping the surface whites. However, my preference is painting on wood panels with a birch surface,” explains Marois. “I love the feel of the wood surface and how I can emphasize the fluidity of the paint by allowing drips to happen.” By comparison, she says canvas has a texture, so the feel is quite different, and is ideal for working bigger than four-foot because it is lightweight and portable.

Karole Marois’s two-week exhibition When the Ice Breaks runs at her home studio until Saturday, April 17 (daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). KAROLEM Art Studio is located at 241 Prinyers Cove Crescent, Cressy (east of Picton). Shipping to anywhere in Canada is free for the duration of the exhibition. Full COVID-19 safety protocols are in effect with a maximum of three visitors permitted in the studio at one time. For further details and to view the exhibition online, visit karolem.com.

The Passage (acrylic on birch panel 30 x 48) forms part of Karole Marois’s current exhibition.