Art can give people the chance to delve into their imagination, channel their creativity and explore what makes them tick. For a Blackie artist, her craft allows her to mix two of her passions – off-roading and art.
Pieces from Christi Tims' paintings and pastel artwork will be on display at the Sheep River Library in Turner Valley this month, as part of the library's art program.
Tims' ATV pieces are bright and colourful, she explained.
“ It's sort of about the fun and the speed and that kind of part of it, but also there's definitely an element of nature in there as well,” she said.
She works from photos she takes, but Tims said her art doesn't copy the photographs exactly.
“ The backgrounds and the scenery more come out of my imagination and some of them aren't realistic at all,” she added.
Tims said her work is unique because it doesn't necessarily fit into the traditional art or ATV world and it would be interesting for members of both groups to view them.
“ It's kind of cool, especially people that are into off-roading and ATVing, I'd love for them to come and see it and appreciate it from a different standpoint,” Tims said.
It could also be a way to include people who are not traditionally part of the art crowd, she added.
“ For me it's a mix of my passions so I like to share that with both communities – the art world and the off-road community too,” she said.
Tims is an art teacher at Oilfields High School in Black Diamond and said it can be challenging to find time to do her own art work.
“ My emphasis has shifted a lot in the last couple of years because I've been so focused on teaching,” she said.
Tims said it is great to work with her students and help them develop as artists, but she is not producing as much work as when she was focused on art full-time.
The exhibit at the library will also include her pieces depicting monochromatic human figures and patterns. Tims said she took the idea of patterns, relationships and communication between people literally to come up with the series which she started while in university.
Tims said she is not finished adding to either the human figures or ATV collections, but is starting to consider new ideas. She hasn't completed enough work to discuss it yet, but said her art could become less realistic moving forward.
Tims' work will be on display at the Sheep River Library in Turner Valley until the end of the month. For more information contact the library at 403-933-3278.
