LOCAL ARTIST PROFILE
Josepha Van Den Anker by Peri Hayes Celebrating 80 years of age, Josepha Van Den Anker discusses her lifelong creative passion: “I knew that art is what I was going to do.” In elementary school, she would visit each classroom and draw a biblical scene with chalk, filling a whole board. “I had to give up recess,” she admits, “But I loved it.” Josepha continued studying art throughout high school and graduated in 1975 from the Ontario College of Art and Design Program with honours. Josepha was born in Holland, and resided both in Canada and Ireland before returning to Canada in 2005 -- “I moved to St. Thomas, and I love it here.” Upon connecting deeply with Ireland, Josepha secured and, over a decade, renovated her cottage utilizing skills she had learned from her carpenter father. Josepha was heavily inspired by landscape during this time. She discusses her locally-made painting titled Solitude , which was influenced by swampland near Sparta. It will be exhibited this November at the St. Thomas Elgin-Public Art Centre (STEPAC). In August, Josepha participated in ‘Between the Boards’ on a farmland property. During this Plein Air painting process, a group of artists depicted their perceptions of surrounding nature: “It was a gorgeous day.” In March of next year, an exhibition of these works will be displayed at STEPAC. Josepha highlights the historical value of this project, as Clark McDougall created barn paintings inspired by these grounds. sixth annual Downtown Pumpkin Prowl October 25, 5pm - 8pm
November 15, 5pm - 9pm
7 First Ave., St. Thomas www.missionthriftstore.com 519-633-7300
Page 24 Hometown St. Thomas • October 2024
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