Elaine Savoie grew up on Hornby Island, the daughter of island pioneers and devout Catholics. Her family history on the island is rich and colourful with farming, boat building and establishing the island's Catholic church. You can see these elements expressed strongly in her work. As a child Elaine was exposed to art in many ways by a plethora of island folk artists. During the 1970's Hornby was alive with creativity, it was everywhere. For a young girl from a pioneer, catholic background this was quite something. Within her family Elaine saw artistic expression in her mother who would take the kids down to the beach and draw boat sheds and boats while they played.
Acrylic, gold leaf and sometimes oils are the mediums of choice for Elaine. She draws inspiration from the icon painters of the 13th, 14th and 15th century as well as Susan Rothenburg and Gerhard Richter. Art allows Elaine to explore her connection to the Culture of Catholicism that surrounds her. Her desire to engage in a struggle for discovery, beyond the strictures of religion and family, has led Elaine to create satirical pieces full of wonder and whimsy. Her art is a reflection of nature's presence around her and Elaine's pieces wonderfully express her own particular humour and joie de vivre.
From the Tofino Times, April 2007.
'St. Leo, Patron Saint of Phipp's Point'
22"x16" acrylic on wood panel
"Phipps Point is more than a landscape to me. A place I often return to in dreams, it is the focus of where I was conceived, born and grew up. My childhood days were spent playing in the boat and net sheds and on the old concrete landing where the family built ferry; the SS Lorraine was tied up. It was also the place where I began to question my family's belief system, to articulate it and make sense of mystery in my own way. To me, Phipps Point has a dark and moody atmosphere, yet is a place where the light comes through."
