LV artist reaps high honor

LYNN VALLEY’S noted watercolor painter Kiff Holland
has had a portrait accepted into the 122nd Annual Interna-
tional Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society in

New York.

He is the only Canadian to have
a painting chosen for the exhib-
ition, which is being featured April
5 to 30 at the Salmagundi Club
galleries, as well as the winner of
the Winsor & Newton Award for
the same painting.

Only 118 paintings were selected
for the exhibition from nearly
1,700 entries from around the
world.

Entitled “‘Bahama Mama III,”"
the portrait of an elderly black
woman, asleep in a chair, deviates
from the splendid outdoor West
Coast scenes that Holland is
known for locally.

**Painting people all the time
would be my ideai — I find them
fascinating,”’ admits Holland.

Holland, who often paints from
his own photographs, tells how he
was scolded by the elderly
Pahamanian lady when he took
her picture as she sat against a wall
in the sunlight.

But when he asked nicely, she
gave her permission — a fortunate
thing for Holland.

Despite his success with the por-

By MAUREEN CURTIS

trait, it is his depictions of moun-
tains, peaceful lakes and ocean
scenes that allow Holland to be a
self-supporting artist.

With them he is able to capture
such fleeting moments as the
special glow that is felt, more than
seen, just before the sun goes
down.

“I try to share my own sense of
wonder,’’ explains Holland.

Holland often uses a combina-
tion of such watercolor techniques
as the glazing that captures the
hazy West-Coast atmosphere with
the dry brush stroke that clearly
depicts the details of trees.

Although he changed his color
palette when he came to the West
Coast 14 years ago, Holland
doesn’t use the ubiquitous green,
preferring instead use various color
combinations.

“I paint through light, that’s
what gives things form and color.’’

Educated in South Africa,
Holland has had several carcers,

including work in advertising, and
then with a summer camp business
that brought him to North
America in 1971,

His first sight of Vancouver was
“Hike coming to the promised
land.""

Holland became the director of
Camp Artaban, an Anglican
Church camp on Gambier Island,
and then a designer at the Van-
couver Museum.

Laid off in 1981, he was deter-
mined that he would never again
be made to feel that ‘tthe human
race no longer required my ser-
vices.”°

Holland, supported by his big-
gest fan, his wife Janet, decided he
would support his family of four
sons as a painter, something that
had been in his heart all along.

Ten years later the same size
painting that sold for $60 at the
Rembrandt Gallery in 1979, now
goes for $775 at the Harrison
Gallery.

The most he has sold a painting
for is $3,200.

A seasoned painter and part-
time art instructor at Capilano
College, Holland never takes his
talent for granted.

“I get especially excited when I
dc something and don’t know ex-
actly how I did it,’” he laughs.

photo Neil Lucente

BERNARD CALLEBAUT greeted patrons a? his newest quality chocolates franchise at ihe Park and Tilford
sbopping complex. Callebaut’s family has been in the chocolate business for four generations, but he has

been operating in Canada only since 1982.

«time LYNNWOOD INN
TUESDAY NIGHTS 8-9 FREE!

_ LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY THURS. FRI, & SAT.
DON’T MISS

ALIBI

MARCH

*. 23,24,25

MAIN ST. AT MOUNTAIN HWY.

Granville Islan

687-0492 |

11 - Sunday, March 19, 1989 - Lyon Valley Echo

photo Mike Wakelleid
ORIGINALLY FROM South Africa, award-winning watercolor painter
Kiff Holland now gets enjoyment from depicting the scenes and sensa-
tions of life on the West Coast.

WE CARE ABOUT OUR WORK

So you can
depend on our
quality,
knowledge and
experience.
When thinking
of investing in a
new jewellery
Piece or
restoring an
old piece, see
us.

Specialists in
watch, clock and
jewellery repairs
and appraisals.

10% OFF ALL REPAIRS DURING MARCH
with this ad

R: JEWELLERS 988-4717
1598 LONSDALE
CLOSED SUNDAYS
Su

AND MONDAYS