Darlene’s admiration of artists who paint with a looser style but still convey a sense of detail in their paintings inspired her to let her technique evolve in recent years. She now uses acrylics and wool, also known as needle felting, to create landscapes and images from nature. “With this kind of art, I don’t worry about the accuracy of detail like I did with portraiture,” Darlene says. “There’s less pressure to get the likeness exact.” Darlene belongs to a plein-air painting group that meets weekly from May until October to paint outside in different locations in London and surrounding areas. “This practice gives me a sense of freedom and quickness in mark making that has helped me overcome the intense need to be hyper-detailed.”
Letting the Brush Do the Talking As a quiet child growing up in Wawa, Ontario, Darlene Jordan Pfaff drew things in her head even before picking up a pencil. More than 50 years later, Darlene is an accomplished local artist who loves letting her brush or pencil do the talking for her.
“As a kid, I was fascinated by the images I saw in the clouds and the shadows from the trees,” explains Darlene. “This hasn’t changed in the
last 50 years. It’s what motivates me to create even now. I want to record those images and ideas from my mind onto paper.” Encouraged by friends and family when she was young, Darlene took Applied Arts and Technology for the Visual Arts at Sault College in Sault Ste Marie, where she majored in advertising. She moved to Byron in the mid-80s. “I loved the small community feel in Byron, and the people were so friendly,” Darlene adds. “It helped me make the transition to the big city.” Life unfolded as one might expect. Darlene found a job, got married, had children, and her art became less of a priority for many years. Kung Fu & Tai Chi School EXPERIENCE MARTIAL ARTS AND WELLNESS BOOK A TRIAL CLASS AT https://kungfu-taichi.ca Dedicated classes for children • Day Camps Classes for teens, adults and seniors. When Darlene picked up her pencil again, she immersed herself in the world of portraiture and spent the next 30 years drawing commissioned pictures with intricate detail to capture the image of her subjects. (226) 998-8703 Enhance Physical Health, Confidence and Self Esteem with Sifu Carlos Ferraz 190 Wortley Rd. Martial Arts and Wellness Programs in the Heart of Wortley Village
Darlene believes in creating from what inspires her and experimenting with different mediums. She advises aspiring artists to do the same and to “focus on creating for yourself. That will allow your authenticity and passion to speak through your work.” To see more of Darlene’s work, find her on Facebook at Darlene Jordan-Artist-Getpenciled or visit www.gallerypaintinggroup.com.
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April 2025 Page 17
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