Going east on Dewdney Trunk, go past 224th Street to Edge Street, turn right and proceed to the underground parking entrance for the Arts Centre. Park near the closest elevator. Go up to the first floor and turn right. The Art Gallery is in the lobby of the ACT on your right.

The Maple Ridge Art Gallery is pleased to present a series of paintings of the BC landscape by local artist, Steve Amsden, documented through his journeys.

Exhibition Dates: April 17 to May 29, 2010.

Artist Statement

I grew up in Nelson, B.C., hiking and climbing mountains and never stopped . Because I love them I paint them. One of my teachers was Les Weisbrich, famed watercolor artist living in the Slocan Valley.

I paint using two styles: expressionism or impressionism.

I have spent the last 30 years climbing in the Selkirks, Rockies, Manning Park, Cathederal Park, Garibaldi Park and Mt.Baker Park. The only large peak I climbed was Mt.Baker but for most hikes my goal has been to climb on high ridges where I can sketch and take photos. I have climbed many other mountains such as Mt.Whitewater, Mt. Brennan, Mt. Jardin, to name just a few. My wife, Janet, and I would back-pack into the alpine and camp.

In my studio in Maple Ridge I work from my sketch pads, my photos and my imagination to compose paintings. I use a mixture of bright and muted colors, referring to my sketches and photos for ideas. At other times I go out somewhere like on the dikes around Maple Ridge to set up my easel and do open air paintings.

I have shown my work in one-man or group shows with the Federation of Canadian Artists on Granville Island, the Richmond Art Gallery, National Exhibition Centre at Castlegar, the Silverton Gallery, The Worthingham Gallery in Nelson, the Penticton Art Gallery and more recently. the Stamen Gallery in Maple Ridge. Currently I have my work at Artful Things which is in southwest Surrey.

View my art at my website or blog .

Phone 604-467-3645
Email amsdens@telus.net