Fort Langley painter Zentangles

Wendy Neilson is a new artist to the Fort Langley Artists Group (FLAG), but she’s not new to art. The Bedford Landing resident came into contact with the group via neighbour Susan Galick, who urged her to join.

“We both live on Billy Brown Road,” Neilson said. “They [FLAG] really are a sensational group of women.”

Although she had painted before, in the early ’80s, it was a break to her arm that caused a shift.

“I was back into painting after 20 years [away from it],” Neilson noted. “Now at age 75 I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.”

Working in acrylics, Neilson explores abstracts as well as a relatively new art form: Zentangle.

“I’m doing mostly acrylic with a lot of texture and a bit of collage,” she said. “I work on a fairly large – large to medium – scale with a bit of abstract… my main love, like most artists, is colour.”

Speaking to the Langley Advance from Toronto, Neilson is getting ready for a training trip: “I’m on my way to Rhode island to take a Zentangle teaching course.”

Zentangle is creating images through drawing a number of structured patterns – between the idea of a doodleart and mosaic.

One of Neilson’s inspirations is her seven-year-old Lucas terrier, Suzi.

“She is always with us and loves to watch me paint,” Neilson noted. “She is a great conversationalist.”

Neilson’s work will be on display at the Flagstop Gallery until July 27, in the Artists’ Choice exhibition.

 The gallery is open weekends and holidays, noon to 4 p.m., and is featuring a “paint-in” on July 1, noon to 4 p.m. The gallery is in the Fort Langley Heritage CN Station at the corner of Mavis and Glover Roads in Fort Langley. 

The show will feature a variety of new, original subject matter from FLAG artists, including works in oils, acrylics, watercolour, clay, and more. 

This is the second of three exhibits taking place at the gallery over the course of the summer, and is the 21st year of FLAG. 

In addition to welcoming Neilson to the group this year, two other new members came on board: Pat Weibelzahl and Angela Weichel.

FLAG demonstrates dedication to the development of their members’ art as well of the promotion of art in their community. Members come from all corners of the Langleys.