Joy has a been long time friend of the Art Lab artists and a huge supporter of the creative work being done in Parrsboro, whether it’s music, theatre or art. We’re so proud to have this prolific, skilled and genuinely good person as part of our world. Please join us Friday for this very special opening of a very special artist.

Joy Laking is a Nova Scotian artist living and working in Portapique, NS.

Artist’s Statement
Joy loves to paint. For forty-four years she has painted Nova Scotia and captured her view of the world on watercolour paper and in oil and acrylics. She is inspired by all of  the beauty that is Nova Scotia

Joy’s studio paintings are developed from on location paintings, photos and actual objects and flowers. Sometimes an idea is thought about for a number of years before a painting is started. The actual painting may take several weeks. In all cases the reality in the painting is Joy’s. She happily changes or moves objects within a painting.  Strong compositions and a wide range of tonal values are a constant in all of Joy’s paintings.  Her watercolours make full use of the white of the paper and her oils and acrylics are full of rich colours. All of Joy’s paintings “sing”.
In addition to her studio paintings and when ever possible Joy paints on location. It is an exhilarating challenge to set out, find a subject and complete an entire painting in four to seven hours. These paintings are loose, spontaneous and depict the tides, the lighting and the moment. Besides painting on location throughout the Maritimes, Joy loves the landscape and history of England, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Japan and all of South America. In 2016, Joy painted in Ghana, Africa.

Visit Joy’s website – www.joylaking.com

Exhibitions in the Gallery

Art Lab is proud to host a membership sponsored Community Gallery, a space where artists, both professional and amateur, have an opportunity to share their talent with the community.
Each exhibition will be mounted for two and a half weeks and openings of exhibits will usually be held on a Friday between 6 and 8 pm. These openings are an important time for the artists and for Art Lab.  So we encourage you to drop in, meet the artists involved and show your support for the role that art plays in making our community such a great place to live.
If you can’t make an opening, drop by during our regular hours.

Community Gallery Exhibitions – 2016

May 6 – May 25: Jennifer Harrison
May 27  – June 15: Archan Knotz & James Farrell
June 17  – July 6: Monika Wright
July 8  – July 27: Vera McInnis
July 29  – August 17 : Joy Laking
August 19 – September 7: Judith Newman
September 9  – September 28: William Rogers
October 1 – October 10: 10 Days In October
October 11 – October 19 : Fibre Arts Exhibition
October 21- November 16: TBA
November 18 – November 30: TBA

Art Lab Studios and Gallery
Open 10 -7 , seven days a week
121 Main St.
Parrsboro, NS