~ By Bernice Ramsdin-Firth of The Chemainus Writers
I met Arne at her home in Maple Bay on the worst possible day,
15th of November, the day of the terrible storm that hit Vancouver
Island. She welcomed me with an umbrella outside her apartment
where I was greeted by her two friendly Shitzus, Rodney and Iris.
While the dogs fussed over me Arne made coffee and we settled
down to talk.
Raised in Maple Bay Arne had painted since childhood, later
studying portraiture. Married, she had a business, lived elsewhere for
some years then returned to again settle in Maple Bay. Now a widow,
Arne cares for an elderly lady but still finds time to execute fine
watercolours, some of which are hanging on her walls. I especially
liked her paintings of buildings. She told me that she enjoys the
linear quality of architecture and would have liked to have taken
architecture and clothing design when she was young, but was
persuaded to take business courses (which she disliked intensely)
instead. Arne then went on to design her original home in Maple
Bay. She also sews and knits, creating much of her own clothing. She
prefers warm colours to cool and it is clear this preference flows over into her paintings as well.
Now a member of the Maple Bay Painters, she enjoys the challenge and delicacy of watercolour. She hopes
someday to work in three dimensions, which, I imagine, she might be rather good at as she has an eye for
perspective, her work having a real sense of depth. Arne says that when she paints she becomes totally lost in
her art and finds it calming, but is still looking for subjects that engage her interest and for a style that will make
people stop and say, "This is an Arne Day Bunyan painting!"
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