Meet Jolanta
Jolanta Va is an artist and an avid storm-watcher on Vancouver Island, BC. She creates emotive, textural coastal landscapes and sustainable accessories inspired by the outdoors in her studio in North Saanich, BC.
Having first established self as a designer and maker of an eco-conscious accessory line, Jolanta discovered painting during the COVID-19 pandemic and while caregiving for a family member living with progressive disabilities. Since then both disciplines had taken complementary positions on the artistic roster.
Using thick layers of paint, limited colours, pallet knives and textural mediums, Jolanta developed a unique, tactile and storied style of painting within the Impasto tradition. As a way to express emotions stemming from challenges of caregiving, Jolanta was strongly drawn to ocean storms, which soon became the focus of her painting content. Jolanta aims to paint both, the storm, and the emotions that one experiences while storm-watching.
Jolanta’s work is available at the studio, Victoria Market Collective, and at community events in the Victoria area.
Artist Statement
My art is an exploration of emotions, first and foremost. It reflects how we are connected to nature, and how feelings can find embodiment in nature’s objects and processes. I aim to depict not only what I paint, but also the mood and the emotive state of the moment and the place. I have spent many a wild and dreary evening chasing waves, listening to the wind and soaking up the salty air and rain to experience the storm I am trying to capture in photos, to be later used as references. When painting, I begin with a reference photo to build the objects, the light, the movement. From there, feelings and memories take over, and I continue intuitively. My paintings are built on texture, creating imagery that is abstracted and tactile at the same time. The monochrome tones of my work speak of hidden melancholy and privilege the movement and expanse of the scenes.
Water scenes, especially storms are particularly near and dear to me, as I find comfort and release in them. The hashtag #BCStorm features often in my art, identifying an ongoing collection of paintings, created during storms, that stood out in their power or scenery. The storm content feels relatable and healing as I am navigating a journey of being a family caregiver, faced with amped up emotions and needing to find power within. I hope the audience will be able to connect with my storms for their beauty and depth.
