Barb DeRousie is a mixed media abstract artist currently living in Victoria, BC. She was born here and spent her early childhood on Vancouver Island light stations, where her back yard was the ocean. To this day, Barb feels most inspired when on or around the sea, whether walking the beach, ocean kayaking, seaside picnicking or camping with friends.
Barb began her artistic journey in 2013, taking many watercolour classes and working in a representational style, eventually showing and selling her landscape paintings, doing commissions, and finally having her first solo show at the Coast Collective Art Centre in 2019. In the Spring of 2020, Barb signed up for the Creative Visionary Program, a 12 week online art course with Nicholas Wilton, founder of Art2Life, and began to explore the world of mixed media abstract—this was “the most fun [she’d] ever had making art!”
Since then Barb has pursued this new way of making art with enthusiasm, taking CVP again in 2021 and 2022, as well as “Find Your Joy” with UK abstract landscape artist, Louise Fletcher. Barb loves to explore with acrylic and other media including collage elements, using the principles of value and design, and a call-and-response process that comes together in the end.
Barb has shown her work at many local venues including the Sooke Fine Arts Show 2021 and 2022, and has shared her process with others of like mind, hosting a Meetup Group for 2 years during the Covid pandemic. Barb’s decision to join the Gage Gallery Art Collective in October, 2022, shows her commitment to pursue her passion for art making and to work toward common goals, including bringing art into community.
Website: https://www.barbderousieart.com
IG: @barbderousieart
FB: https://www.Facebook.com/Barb.d.35
