Currently on display and available for purchase at Joanna Aplin Fine Art Studio + Gallery / Heritage Place Shopping Centre in Owen Sound.
Menu
J O A N N A
A P L I N
Canadian Figurative Fine Art
Menu
Joanna Aplin’s figurative and abstract paintings are clean and captivating. Her classically trained yet contemporary approach to color, form, and line makes her work aesthetically pleasing to all walks of life. Her compositions carry an intrinsic sense of balance and proportion. Aplin takes her visual cues from the complexities in nature and the human form, then welcomes a reductive process – knowing it will lead to a simpler, more essential presentation of the subject matter. You can expect to find an eclectic mix of color in Joanna Aplin’s artwork. With a comprehensive grasp of color theory and an unwillingness to compromise on materials – her acrylic paintings bring about a rich presence for the viewer to behold.
An up-close inspection of Aplin’s work reveals intentional brushstrokes that can be layered with texture and other times smooth and uncomplicated. She explores the relationship between color and line, the real and the imaginary, in hopes of discovering the beauty in all things. Thematically, she pulls a lot from her everyday spiritual walk which always points to a message of victory and hope.
“I want to direct the hearts and minds of my viewers to the richness of Life in and around us.” – Joanna Aplin
FIGURATIVE
Shema, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
122cm x 81.5cm
SOLD
The title of this work comes from the Hebrew bible, meaning "to really pay attention."
122cm x 81.5cm
In The Moment, 2023
Acrylic on Birch Panel
91cm x 91cm
SOLD
Within the realm of this captivating artwork, a quick rendering of a female with loose, expressive strokes and delicate, translucent layers of color, creates a fleeting moment of pure, unadulterated beauty. The composition itself, meticulously balanced and symmetrical, offers an intimate perspective, drawing the viewer closer to partake in the delicate contours of the subject's neck and shoulders. In this shared space of contemplation, one is invited to partake in the serenity of the portrayed moment of rest, basking in the ethereal allure of her essence.
91cm x 91cm
Women Of Faith, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas Paper
19cm x 18.5cm
SOLD
Three women represent generations of faithfulness to the Lord. Passing down stories of God's faithfulness to the next generation stirs hope and provides room for the Holy Spirit to take residence.
19cm x 18.5cm
She’s My Flower, 2023
Oil on Canvas Paper
20.5cm x 13.5cm
SOLD
This candid pose allows the inner beauty of this young, blossoming woman to be noticed. The earthy tones of the background brush up against shades of pink that express her pious nature. She has a quiet confidence that is not from this world. She keeps looking toward the light, waiting, yet ready to go.
20.5cm x 13.5cm
137cm x 183cm
Where I Belong, 2022
Acrylic on Canvas
121cm x 183cm
AVAILABLE
This is the piece that launched me into a new series of large-scale figurative works. Before it got there, however, it went through A LOT of transformation. I am pleased with where it landed as she encapsulates my love of colour, descriptive line and minimalistic style. Each carefully chosen line, colour and shape is used to reveal the beautiful inner workings of the human form. She is at ease. The soft colours in the background flow freely through her, confirming that she belongs right there in that space.
121cm x 183cm
Bruce Peninsula, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
94cm x 94cm
AVAILABLE
A fresh palette of clean, yet unusual colours to describe the land and waters surrounding the Bruce Peninsula. This composition was more based on capturing elements randomly of this area, placing them close together to draw out the harmony through delicate line and subtle shades of colours.
94cm x 94cm
Reconfiguration, 2023
Acrylic on Paper
54.5cm x 38cm
AVAILABLE
Working out a mental composition. These shapes and forms resembled architecture or vague structures. An examination of the principles of design is happening here: balance, proportion, emphasis, and unity.
54.5cm x 38cm
The In Between, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
91cm x 91cm
AVAILABLE
On a very wintery day in February, I sat in our living room and enjoyed drawing what I was seeing out the window.
An impressive snow drift.
The wind had sculpted these dramatic sharp forms, that were being divided by a deep crevasse. It was a miniature version of what you might see while driving through the Rockies. The mountains towering on both sides of you making your vehicle feel like a miniature scale.
Diagonals definitely have a demanding presence within a composition and tend to take up a lot of space.
They (diagonals) can also evoke mixed emotions. Does this crevasse give you a rush of anxiety or a sense of security when you look at it? (It likely all depends on your current state of mind.)
91cm x 91cm
Finding Forms No.2, 2023
Acrylic on Paper
18cm x 15.5cm
AVAILABLE
18cm x 15.5cm
Finding Forms No.1, 2023
Acrylic on Paper
15.5cm x 18cm
AVAILABLE
15.5cm x 18cm
20.5cm x 17.5cm
A Colourful Tapestry, 2023
Acrylic on Paper
13.5cm x 19cm
AVAILABLE
This abstract landscape is expressive and imaginative. The layering of colour gives the eye so much to take in. The mark making throughout the landscape shows off the vibrancy of life captured in a fleeting moment.
13.5cm x 19cm
Curtain Call, 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
64cm x 54cm
Framed
AVAILABLE
During the creation of this piece, I always felt it had a moral story woven into its composition. The warm glow of the late afternoon sun radiates off these two trees that are bowing in their final performance - a season well done. This dramatic use of bold, playful colour gives meaning to its title. All the elements coming together ignite my senses as this beautiful moment raptures me. Like the sounds of a joyful audience. Lo and behold, there is this looming sense of dormancy given from the trees in the distance. Delicately outlined in soft yellow tones, encouraging me that the next season has great purpose.
64cm x 54cm
LANDSCAPE
A more fluid, essential process is what she is after, but knows the art of discipline will bring forth a deeper, transcendent quality in her work.
BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in rural Ontario, Joanna was free to explore her family’s farmland without restraint. The youngest of five children, she watched and learned, then took to her imagination to create. Her earliest memory that marked her passion for art making was asking her mom to sketch babies in her drawings.
“Seeing all the parts of a person come together fascinated me. It still does to this day.”
Aplin went on to study fine arts at McMaster University earning her BA in 1998 and a degree in Education in 2000. Since then, she has worked in numerous artistic arenas such as arts education, theatrical productions, and marketing her own art on a variety of social media platforms.
EDUCATION
1999-2000 BA Ed., Queens University, Kingston, Ontario CA
1994-1998 BFA (Hons), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario CA
PRESS
Blank Spaces Magazine, Front Cover & Feature, September 2016 – Link To Article
JOANNA APLIN FINE ART
Studio + Gallery
- Heritage Place Shopping Centre
- 1350 16th St E. Owen Sound
Contact
- joannaaplin@gmail.com