It began as light hearted project. Wilek thought he’d do a few quick portraits of friends, just one or two sittings. The quick portraits turned into many intense sessions. Soon there were requests: “Can I pose for you?” All were invited.
The show is:

MOSTLY PORTRAITS

Twelve portraits done from life over a period of several months. Friends and acquaintances were willing to return to the artist’s studio again and again to sit in the model’s chair. The relationship between artist and model that developed as they sat facing each other emerges in these portraits.

Sometimes the sessions were quiet as the artist painted and the model sat lost in his or her own thoughts. Sometimes there was laughter and storytelling interrupted by a sudden instruction, “Now don’t move for a moment” and it was quiet again. It was amusing to see a portrait change from session to session. Was there a change in the artist or in the model that turned a gentle look in the painted eyes into a sharp intense look?

A snapshot shows one split second in the life of the subject. Each one of these portraits embodies hours in the artist/subject relationship. Now, with brushes, paints and palette back on the shelf, Wilek himself looks forward to seeing all his portraits hanging side by side, joining the rest of us who contemplate the personalities captured in these twelve portraits.

Laurier Gallery (now in Liberty Village)~~~ 113 Jefferson Ave.
Toronto M6K 3E4 (S. of King, E. of Dufferin)
416 232 0217

Gallery hours: Hours Mon. – Fri. 11 – 5pm, Sat. 2-5pm