Kirk Mechar, Cascade (Sienna), Oil on Canvas, 66 x 84

Internationally recognized for his large-scale flower patterns, Canadian-born artist Kirk Mechar is one you can look forward to catching in the group exhibit “A Collection of Favorites” opening in just two days! 

Kirk Mechar, Solid Surface (Green & Pink), Oil on Canvas, 24 x 30

This self taught painter’s unique and captivating works are defined by an ongoing interest in pattern as an abstract and figurative form. Largely inspired by tropical weather systems, his earlier works often depict full gardens and torrential tropical storms, and might even capture finer details of pollen and petals. His rich use of colour and texture give his works a hypnotic quality that keep the eyes glued to the canvas and the senses stunned.

Kirk Mechar, Untitled (Carving Orange & Green), Oil, Acrylic, Ink, Enamel and Marble Dust on Board, 16 x 20

Pushing the boundaries of form and space, Mechar expertly offsets the wild and untameable aspects of abstract art with the traditional disciplines imposed by line, colour and scale. In his newer works, which will be on display for his solo show Beautiful Decay later next month, he places a greater emphasis on the artist’s hand, carving through materials to shape dramatic images. Making use of a variety of mediums, his latest paintings recall the beauty of worn textiles and decaying tile.  

Kirk Mechar, Untitled (Carving Violet), Oil, Acrylic, Ink and Marble Dust on Board, 42 IN Diameter

Navillus Gallery will be holding an opening reception on Thursday, September 19th for LUSH, featuring the works of Kirk Mechar. Come join us for an evening of art, from 6:00-8:00pm at 110 Davenport Road.

When you're thinking of buying a painting, in addition to the importance of finding a piece with subjective meaning and aesthetic beauty, it is important to consider the painting's visual appearance in a particular room.  Although a painting’s colours may be bright and eye-catching, there is something beautiful about a painting that interacts with the colours of the room, as opposed to overwhelming and consuming it.

Mary Conover, Darkness Thinking Light

If the walls in a particular room are light, such as off-white or pale blue, you might want to consider an artist that paints with subtle and monotone colours, like the works by Mary Conover, who is featured at The Navillus Gallery.  In contrast, if the walls of a particular room are bright and vivacious, paintings with chaotic colours, like the works by Francoise Nielly, would make for a good choice.  However, an artist’s paintings become extremely versatile when they contain a mix of different colours, as it is likely that one of the colours in the painting will interact nicely with the colours of the room.

Francoise Nielly, Shanghai

One such versatile artist featured at The Navillus Gallery is Kirk Mechar, whose paintings consist of bursts of colour in the form of expansive floral patterns.

Kirk Mechar, Cascade Green

His floral pattern for Cluster (Blue), which is placed on a blue background, is composed of dark purple, pastel green, yellow, and beige.  Although the inclusion of yellow makes the painting seem like a burst of bright light, the dark purple, pastel green, and white provide it with more subtlety, and thereby this painting can be placed in a bright or a monotone room.

Kirk Mechar, Cluster Blue

Mechar’s floral patter for Cascade (Green), which is placed on a bright green background, consists of bright red, bright yellow, and white.  The use of white makes this bright composition more subtle, and the green and red interact with each other since they are complimentary colours in the visual system.  This painting can also be placed in a bright or a monotone room.