Monica Gewurz
Monica's distinctive style of luminous textural painting is created by applying thick layers of paint and natural pigments resulting in a 3-D effect complemented by using multiple glazes of colour to produce contrast and harmony, creating lightness, fluidity, and ephemeral atmospheric effects. Ethereal and luminous landscapes, evoke a sense of mood and ever-present calm, leaving a space for herself and the viewer to wonder, imagine and dream.
Monica is represented by Ukama Gallery and Tofino Gallery of Contemporary Art on Vancouver Island. She has received international awards, featured in several interviews, and exhibited at numerous galleries in BC and the US. Her paintings can be found in private and public collections in Canada, USA and worldwide.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am a mixed-media artist based in Vancouver. My art is rooted in my life on the west coast of British Columbia, and my travelling experiences. Drawing on my background in environmental science, I create evocative and purposely imperfect paintings inspired by nature’s patinas, seascapes, and the colours of dusk.
I use mixed media for its capacity to reach beyond the visual, to be more tactile and tangible. I curate combinations of materials and techniques to abstract reality, telling a story to elicit an intimate aesthetic and emotional response. To experience this, the viewer must enter the multiple layers and textures of my work, and be seduced into a visual and visceral encounter – a holistic meeting of minds between artist and viewer, inspiring mindfulness.
Monica's distinctive style of luminous textural painting is created by applying thick layers of paint and natural pigments resulting in a 3-D effect complemented by using multiple glazes of colour to produce contrast and harmony, creating lightness, fluidity, and ephemeral atmospheric effects. Ethereal and luminous landscapes, evoke a sense of mood and ever-present calm, leaving a space for herself and the viewer to wonder, imagine and dream.
Monica is represented by Ukama Gallery and Tofino Gallery of Contemporary Art on Vancouver Island. She has received international awards, featured in several interviews, and exhibited at numerous galleries in BC and the US. Her paintings can be found in private and public collections in Canada, USA and worldwide.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am a mixed-media artist based in Vancouver. My art is rooted in my life on the west coast of British Columbia, and my travelling experiences. Drawing on my background in environmental science, I create evocative and purposely imperfect paintings inspired by nature’s patinas, seascapes, and the colours of dusk.
I use mixed media for its capacity to reach beyond the visual, to be more tactile and tangible. I curate combinations of materials and techniques to abstract reality, telling a story to elicit an intimate aesthetic and emotional response. To experience this, the viewer must enter the multiple layers and textures of my work, and be seduced into a visual and visceral encounter – a holistic meeting of minds between artist and viewer, inspiring mindfulness.
$995.00
Acrylic on acrylic board.
21x28x1"
Tafoni is the Italian word for eroded sandstone and is the name geologists have given to geologists that resemble organic, sculptural forms around the world where extreme environmental conditions exist, formed million years. This mixed media painting is inspired by the myriad of fascinating formations, cracks, textures, colours and patterns that are everywhere evident on the earth's crust and rocks. Over the years as both a scientist and an artist, I have been inspired by their organic shapes some imitating nature’s patterns like tree branches, and microscopic cellular patterns created by nature’s sculpting eroding by wind, water, and heat. These "beauty marks" result from natural geological activity and weathering over time, from the creation of the earth until today. These weathered rocks are reminders of the resilience of nature and us during times of uncertainty and change. This painting has 24K gold leaf and a myriad of beautiful textures and marks to emulate this beautiful and unusual rock formation and comes framed with a black contemporary frame
In creating this piece, I delved into This painting is a harmonious blend of expressionism and minimalism. Embracing the tactile richness of acrylics, up-cycled collage elements, silver gilded touches, and the subtle sheen of pearl- like colours, I orchestrated a symphony of luminous rich textures- inviting touch. This artwork is a contemplative gateway, inviting introspection and tranquil reflection, infusing any space with its calming energy and timeless elegance. Framed with a charcoal-black metal contemporary frame.
A great muted and simultaneously striking painting with neutral colours that will bring some inner piece to your life and harmonize with your home and decor!. The texture patterns and irridescence changes based on the time of the day and the angle of the viewer.
$1,200.00
Acrylic, mixed media on acrylic panel.
23x36x1"
In creating this piece, I delved into Japanese symbolism like using the Enso circular brush stroke done with one sweep of the hand ...no planning no thinking just intuitive energy. Named "HARA" which means centre of the body in Japanese but also one's true nature, who one truly is as a human being, so it is not just a physical centre in the body but also of one's self. This painting is a harmonious blend of expressionism and minimalism. Embracing the tactile richness of acrylics, up-cycled collage elements, silver gilded touches, and the subtle sheen of pearl- like colours, I orchestrated a symphony of luminous rich textures- inviting touch This artwork is a contemplative gateway, inviting introspection and tranquil reflection, infusing any space with its calming energy and timeless elegance. Framed on a black contemporary frame.
Texture and light are two key elements in my work, as I aim to blur the line between painting and sculpture, inviting touch. The textured layers, are mainly created using a palette knife, laying them down thick and thin, scraping them, allowing some parts to come through. I also use multiple thin veils/layers of colour which are overlapped to create colour-fields and luminosity. It is the combination of the overlaying process that creates a highly textured and luminous final image. To achieve the patina, look in my paintings I use metallic paint and metal foils to achieve more luminosity.
$550.00
Acrylic on canvas.
17x13x1"
Tranquil Waters is a very "calm" painting that has a lot of depth to it and an amazing range of blues. The texture and atmospheric effect is very captivating. It comes framed with a white wood contemporary frame.
Texture and light are two key elements in my work, as I aim to blur the line between painting and sculpture, inviting touch. The textured layers, are mainly created using a palette knife, laying them down thick and thin, scraping them, allowing some parts to come through. I also use multiple thin veils/layers of colour which are overlapped to create colour-fields and luminosity. It is the combination of the overlaying process that creates a highly textured and luminous final image. To achieve the patina, look in my paintings I use metallic paint and metal foils to achieve more luminosity.
$1,900.00
Oil on canvas.
36x24x1.50"
Quiet My Soul is a semi-abstract seascape , this minimalistic painting is inspired by the Pacific West coast where Iive with an attempt to eliminate man made objects keeping the essence of the landscape. Every day the sunrises and sunsets are different changin in colours and reflections with the passing of clouds, changing light levels and at the same time making someone feel still in the moment.
My art is by the Pacific Ocean. Drawing on my background in science, I create evocative and purposely imperfect paintings inspired by nature’s geological patinas, and the amazing colours of dawn and dusk. I use mixed media for its capacity to create a visual and tactile experience. I curate combinations of materials and techniques to abstract reality, telling a story to elicit the viewer’s emotional response inspiring self-discovery, peace, calmness and mindfulness.The beauty, force and energy of water and its associated reflective light have always drawn me in as a scientist and as an artist.
My paintings are abstracts and impressionistic seascapes and coastal horizons. They don’t represent an actual place, but are an emotional response to my environment and my aim to convey calm and balance and to feel uplifted and at peace. This connection I have with water its associated reflections, and the amazing colours and hues of dawn and dusk is what inspires most of my seascapes.
$1,100.00
Acrylic mixed media on canvas.
24x20x1.50"
Harmony was inspired by a beautiful sunset while vacationing in Mexico. I chose to name it Harmony because the world needs more harmony now. The colour palette chosen is Peach Fuzz which is Pantone’s colour for 2024. Its delicate nature invites calmness and a soothing touch, the real 24K gold leaf adds an amazing light to the artwork. "At a time of turmoil in many aspects of our lives, our need for nurturing, empathy, and compassion grows ever stronger as does our imaginings of a more peaceful future. We are reminded that a vital part of living a full life is having good health, stamina, and strength to enjoy it. That in a world which often emphasizes productivity and external achievements, it is critical we recognize the importance of fostering our inner selves.” –Pantone
$2,350.00
Oil on wood panel.
36x24x1.50"
“Sea Meets Sky,” was inspired by a recent trip to Iceland’s glacier lagoons where I was blown away at how much glaciers had reseeded and melted in the last decades. By showcasing their beauty and fragility it will bring awareness on this issue. I only depicted the water to convey the message that glaciers around the world are rapidly disappearing. The distinct sharp horizon line, intuitively depicts the transition between sky and water, but it also depicts a “line of raising waters” due to melting glaciers.
$450.00
Acrylic on canvas.
13x13x1.50"
An abstraction of an ocean wave cresting and or the ripples of water in a lake. The ocean is a vital component in nature and an international icon across cultures and countries. Today with climate change and pollution it’s ecological integrity and beauty is threatened. The beauty, force and energy of water have always drawn me in. I am fascinated with the way light reflects in the water especially during sunset. My paintings do not intend to capture a single moment, but instead endeavor to create a space where nothing stands still.
To emulate the play of light I use metallic paints and inks and I use mixed media to emulate the ripples and waves in the water and in some cases, just a little bit of sand, these pieces exude the natural and soulful energy that oceans, rivers and lakes have brought me since birth.
$1,450.00
Acrylic mixed media on canvas.
48x12x1.50"
Inspired by a beautiful foggy dawn viewed from a rocky beach. Texture and light are two key elements in my work, as I aim to blur the line between painting and sculpture, inviting touch. The textured layers, are mainly created using a palette knife, laying them down thick and thin, scraping them, allowing some parts to come through. I also use multiple thin veils/layers of colour which are overlapped to create colour-fields and luminosity. It is the combination of the overlaying process that creates a highly textured and luminous final image. To achieve the patina, look in my paintings I use metallic paint and metal foils to achieve more luminosity
$2,350.00
Acrylic mixed media on canvas.
36x30x1.50"
In this painting, I've used acrylics with collage, gilding, and cotton to create an abstract landscape that combines the earthy with the ethereal. Every stroke and texture is a dance of emotions, carrying whispers of serene horizons and the gentle embrace of nature's contrasts. This piece is a meditative haven, offering a tranquil energy that enriches your space with its presence."Limelight is an abstract mixed media composition based on an imagined seascape. This painting features unusual textures and reflections to develop a 3-D effect that evokes organic energy, flow, and movement. I invite the viewer to touch the work!. In this piece I have integrated natural and man-made repurposed materials including textiles, metallic inks, copper patinas and paper, each layer of colour and medium allowing to experience the painting – perhaps sparking memories, perhaps freeing your mind to wander, imagine and dream.
To emulate the play of light I use metallic paints and inks and I use mixed media to emulate the ripples and waves in the water and in some cases, just a little bit of sand, these pieces exude the natural and soulful energy that oceans, rivers and lakes have brought me since birth.
My process starts by finding something that moves me in nature that is rugged and imperfect, like rock outcrops, patinas or the reflection of light on water, inspirations that I want to convey on canvas in an abstract way, inviting the viewer to touch them.
Texture and light are two key elements in my work, as I aim to blur the line between painting and sculpture, inviting touch. The textured layers, are mainly created using a palette knife, laying them down thick and thin, scraping them, allowing some parts to come through. I also use multiple thin veils/layers of colour which are overlapped to create colour-fields and luminosity. It is the combination of the overlaying process that creates a highly textured and luminous final image. To achieve the patina, look in my paintings I use metallic paint and metal foils to achieve more luminosity.
$2,450.00
Acrylic on canvas.
40x16x1.50"
Inspired by a golden sunset over the Rockie mountains. To emulate the play of light I use metallic paints and inks and I use mixed media to emulate the ripples and waves in the water and in some cases, just a little bit of sand, these pieces exude the natural and soulful energy that oceans, rivers and lakes have brought me since birth.
My process starts by finding something that moves me in nature that is rugged and imperfect, like rock outcrops, patinas or the reflection of light on water, inspirations that I want to convey on canvas in an abstract way, inviting the viewer to touch them.
Texture and light are two key elements in my work, as I aim to blur the line between painting and sculpture, inviting touch. The textured layers, are mainly created using a palette knife, laying them down thick and thin, scraping them, allowing some parts to come through. I also use multiple thin veils/layers of colour which are overlapped to create colour-fields and luminosity. It is the combination of the overlaying process that creates a highly textured and luminous final image. To achieve the patina, look in my paintings I use metallic paint and metal foils to achieve more luminosity.
I like to abstract reality, telling a story to elicit an intimate aesthetic and emotional response. To experience this fully, the viewer must enter the multiple layers, shades and textures of my work, and be seduced into a visual and tactile encounter inspiring self-discovery, empathy, meditation and mindfulness.
$1,000.00
Acrylic on canvas.
24x20x1"
Blue Flash was inspired by a beautiful sunset while vacationing in Mexico. I chose to name it Blue Flash as it is a phenomenon blue flash is a rare phenomenon observed in the evening when the sun is crossing or immediately below the horizon, in which a momentary flash of blue light appears above the upper rim of the solar disk, caused by the refraction of light in the atmosphere that brings the end of a day and the beginning of the night. Its delicate nature invites calmness and a soothing touch. Framed with a white contemporary frame.
I am fascinated with the way light reflects in the water especially during sunset. My paintings do not intend to capture a single moment, but instead, endeavor to create a space where nothing stands still.
To emulate the play of light I use metallic paints and inks and I use mixed media to emulate the ripples and waves in the water and in some cases, just a little bit of sand, these pieces exude the natural and soulful energy that oceans, rivers and lakes have brought me since birth.
$1,100.00
Acrylic on canvas.
30x24x1.50"
I love fall and this is one of my favourite places to hike, and find serenity and peace. I tried to capture the essence of the landscape and the beautiful warm colours of the vegetation and the azure colour of the lake. Although a bit more representational than my usual semi- abstract ethereal seascapes I painted this painting to elicit an intimate aesthetic and emotional response. To experience this fully, the viewer must enter the multiple layers, shades and textures of my work, and be seduced into a visual and tactile encounter inspiring self-discovery, empathy, meditation and mindfulness.