Loreta Hume
Born and living in Toronto ON, my career path started with editorial illustration, followed by a successful career in graphic design. These past few years I have returned to exploring my passion for producing fine art. Oil on canvas are my preferred media. My art portfolio includes montages inspired by personal experiences travelling the world. I have also produced a broad collection of Canadian themed art.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Looking is physical, and overlooking common. Seeing is an involved mental process of perception. I want my art to take my audience deep into scenes that have resonated with me. I encourage my audience to take the time to see, observe, study, connect and their “take away” to be the conscious practice of finding joy and peace in their surroundings, whether travelling or walking through their immediate neighbourhood.
Quick sketches and watercolours are the planning steps before putting oil paint to canvas. Our memories of our fondest experiences, are always exaggerated as being more exciting, more colourful, “more” than the reality. When interpreting my perceptions with my art I use a generous margin of artistic license, exaggerate colours, play of light and shadow, perspective, for the “more than life” result.
Born and living in Toronto ON, my career path started with editorial illustration, followed by a successful career in graphic design. These past few years I have returned to exploring my passion for producing fine art. Oil on canvas are my preferred media. My art portfolio includes montages inspired by personal experiences travelling the world. I have also produced a broad collection of Canadian themed art.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Looking is physical, and overlooking common. Seeing is an involved mental process of perception. I want my art to take my audience deep into scenes that have resonated with me. I encourage my audience to take the time to see, observe, study, connect and their “take away” to be the conscious practice of finding joy and peace in their surroundings, whether travelling or walking through their immediate neighbourhood.
Quick sketches and watercolours are the planning steps before putting oil paint to canvas. Our memories of our fondest experiences, are always exaggerated as being more exciting, more colourful, “more” than the reality. When interpreting my perceptions with my art I use a generous margin of artistic license, exaggerate colours, play of light and shadow, perspective, for the “more than life” result.
$3,500.00
Oil on canvas.
36x48"
Old Delhi or Purani Dilli, capital of India, is a tangle of ancient streets and alleyways. The best way to explore this oldest area of Delhi is by rickshaw or on foot.
Hinduism considers cows to be sacred. As they roam the streets freely, breakfast and care are provided to these deeply respected creatures.
Above the congested streets and alleyways is a canopy of dangerously tangled electricity cables. The local people are happy to get a cable across from anywhere for their convenience and not particularly legally connected but free power use.
$3,900.00
Oil on canvas.
36x48"
Hearst Castle Grounds
San Simeon, California
La Cuesta Encantada, “The Enchanted Hill” high above the ocean at San Simeon, was the creation of two extraordinary individuals, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan.
The natural beauty, golden glow, of the property leading up to the grounds of the fairy tale castle was visually inspiring.
$3,500.00
Oil on canvas.
36x48"
A hike through this canyon is truly Magical:
The steep walled canyon took several millennia to form. It is located near the entrance to Thorsmork valley, named after Thor, Viking God of Thunder. The walls of this rugged twisting gorge are covered with ancient moss of a saturated green colour.
Iceland is a landscape that has inspired thousands of legends and brings to mind a multitude of childhood fairytales. According to one study, up to 72 percent of people in Iceland believe in elves, trolls, and the huldufolk, or “hidden people”. Huldufolk apparently look just like us but live in a different dimension inside rocks.
$4,000.00
Oil on canvas (framed).
40x30"
Old quarter or “36 Old Streets”
Everything all around is always moving, on wheels, scooters, motor bikes, cars, bicycles, coming at you from every direction.
There are very few traffic signs and no visible speed limits.
Beep, “behind you.” Beep, “passing you.” Beep,”go ahead.”
Beep, “thank you.” BEEP “out of my way.”
A city of constant activity, day and night.
$3,900.00
Oil on canvas (framed).
36x24"
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ankor Wat
Ta Prohm
Bantreay Srei
• Angkor meaning: “city”
• Vishnu, Hindu, Buddhist
• Faith and the abode of ancient gods
• Fusion of creative ambition and spiritual devotion
Angkor Watt remains an active spiritual and pilgrimage site for Buddhists. Unfortunately uninformed tourists, with cameras, cell phones, radios and loud enthusiasm, often disrespect the sanctity of this place of worship.
The white monkey, suggesting purity, is a sad observer.
$3,500.00
Oil on canvas.
36x48"
The Andean people of Peru celebrate Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the three pachas (worlds).
The three levels of existence are Hana Pacha (the upper world inhabited by the superior gods), Kay Pacha, (the world of our everyday existence) and Ukhu or Urin Pacha (the underworld inhabited by spirits of the dead, the ancestors, their overlords and various deities having close contact to the Earth plane).
The upper world represents the future, the middle world is the present, and the lower world is the past. One goes through each stage of life from birth to death.
ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS IN THIS PAINTING:
CHAKANA: Illustrated within the rock is a “Chakana” cross, representing the three stages of Inca life. It is also said to represent Cusco, the center of the Incan empire, and the Southern Cross constellation.
HERDING LLAMAS: The llama was tamed by the Ancient Andean peoples some 5,000 years ago. It has continued to be used for food and as a pack animal.
OFFERING TO MOTHER EARTH: Ancient Andean ceremony for Pachamama is represented in the lower right-hand corner. The Shaman sets up a sacred mandala starting with a llama-wool blanket knitted especially for these rituals, then small offerings representing what Mother Earth has provided are arranged. The ritual is more than a thank you to Pachamama for all that she provides. The Shaman asks that we walk as one with her and care for her because we are all a part of her, she is the Cosmos.
$1,900.00
Oil on canvas (framed).
24x24"
Hot dry day in Provence. This door is well weathered by the elements of time. Yet the red retains an intensity. The foliage manages to thrive in the rock and dust.
$1,500.00
Oil on canvas (framed).
20x24"
Nearly every window (and shutters) in the south of France are painted this particular blue: unmistakable, milky, thick and luminous.
$1,900.00
Oil on canvas (framed).
18x18"
This image captures in its details the geology of the area and the architectural history. Limestone has been quarried in Provence France since the Roman era. The patina of the shutters is as rich and reflective as copper.
$3,500.00
Oil on canvas (framed).
30x30"
• Concrete faced with Trajan brick
• Adorned with white Pentelic marble (Greek marble)
• Originally a temple to all the Gods
• Converted to a church
The Pantheon was for centuries a source of materials, the marble for new buildings. The contrast of the white marble and the ancient underlying brick inspired this detail of a very important historical Roman structure.
$3,900.00
Oil on canvas.
48x36"
Bright selection of textiles and wares on display for the tourists in Cusco Peru
The contrast of the structure of the market with some disrepair and the eye catching display of goods inspired this composition.
$3,900.00
Oil on canvas.
36x48"
Coimbra, a riverfront city in central Portugal and the country’s former capital, is home to a preserved medieval old town and the historic University of Coimbra. Rich in history, progressive student ideals, colourful nightlife, blossoming art scene, 2019 Coimbra is frayed around the edges but recovering from economic challenges.
Economic crisis (2007-2008), followed by the financial bailout from the EU (2011) and extreme austerity measures seemed to be in the past. The year 2014 marked the start of the recovery of the Portuguese economy with increases in investments, exports, tourism. 2020 and COVID-19 took progress and the wellbeing of the population backwards.
As is the case worldwide in university towns students take on jobs as servers to help pay for tuition. The elder woman in the upstairs window has seen the good times and the bad.