Gateways to Contemplation
Paintings by North Vancouver artist Steve Baylis are a record of his feelings and emotions.
Steve Baylis, “Incarceration of Comprehension,” 2016
oil and cold wax on panel, 48” x 48”
Steve Baylis’ layered paintings seem impressionistic, calling to mind sparkling water or camouflage patterns. But he says his work is completely non-representational and describes it as a gateway to contemplation.
His show, Contemplated Realities, on display at the Ian Tan Gallery in Vancouver from March 2 to March 31, serves as a record of his feelings and emotions, as well as reflecting the energy that connects all life.
“Every mark, every stroke, every layer is intentional,” says Baylis. “I work really hard to craft each mark, each brush stroke. Everything, in my mind, is like a complete idea or complete thought.”
His paintings can take up to six months to complete and have varying palettes, from the rich blues of Incarceration of Comprehension to the paler hues of Affinity for Inconsistency.
Steve Baylis, “Affinity for Inconsistency,” 2019
oil and cold wax on panel, 36” x 36”
Baylis begins by bleaching and staining a wood panel, eventually covering it with a protective layer of clear gesso. Then he places layer upon layer of coloured glazes made from oil paint and cold wax to create luminosity and depth.
After that, he starts making marks. “Every mark is calculated and precise,” he says. In all, each painting can have up to a dozen layers and thousands of marks. He works without a plan, guided by his intuition rather than his analytical mind.
Steve Baylis, “Banal Motivation,” 2018
oil and cold wax on panel, 36” x 36” (detail)
Baylis, who is based in North Vancouver, graduated from Capilano University about 15 years ago. He worked in advertising and painted when he could. He started full time as an artist late last year. Contemplated Realities includes 13 pieces completed over the last three years. ■
Contemplated Realities is on view at the Ian Tan Gallery in Vancouver from March 2 to March 31, 2019.
Ian Tan Gallery
2655 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3H2
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Mon to Sat 10 am - 6 pm, Sun noon - 5 pm.
