WEYBURN - An exhibit of coffee-painted art works by Torquay artist Lauren Daae, “Collected and Caffeinated”, has opened in the Weyburn Art Gallery, and will be on display until Oct. 31.
There will be an artist reception on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at the gallery.
Daae’s exhibit is a personal collection of western highlights; a look at the world through the wide, dreaming eyes of a Saskatchewan girl, featuring some of the iconic imagery of the western-prairie experience. This series is created in a medium to match.
Pouring onto the canvas are coffee-coloured cowboys, pioneers, broncs, bison, and more. A play on words, the visuals are indeed “collected”, but the label also references specific equine terminology.
“Collection” describes a horse’s proper physical posture, especially significant in professional events. This technical jargon inspires much of the subject matter, but in turn it contrasts the unfiltered, human side of every serious endeavour.
Lauren Daae is a visual artist from Torquay, where she lives with husband Daniel and their four children.
Her works feature a very unique medium: brewed coffee. As a coffee-colourist, her style flows much like watercolour and champions the contrast between refined detail and freely expressive splatter. Because coffee is an uncommon “paint”, she continues to research and develop her own methods of creating and sustaining the work.
Lauren is also skilled in digital painting and illustration, diving into bright colour and pronounced strokes that reflect the traditional means of painting. Recently she has turned her attention to watercolour painting, incorporating her signature loose and splashy style mixed with fine detail.
A self-taught artist, after graduating high school she pursued a career in visual art and launched into the graphic design world. After over 10 years of success in the industry, the experience of digital editing gave way to her passion for fine art, as she exchanged her keyboard and mouse for brush sets.
In 2016 she officially launched her fine art career and has been working to exhibit in various local galleries, as well as speak at events, host painting demonstrations and group classes. Lauren’s first solo exhibition series, titled “Common Ground”, debuted in October 2019 in Estevan.
Drawing much inspiration from her rural surroundings, she works from home and takes commissions from time to time.
