The VISAC gallery is currently hosting Local Trail, Distant Shores, a new exhibition by Trail-based artist Dan Ashman.
The show features a collection of watercolour paintings inspired by the landscapes of the West Kootenay and beyond, and runs from March 27 to April 24.
The exhibition opened with an evening reception on March 27, where visitors had the chance to meet the artist and view his work while enjoying light refreshments.
Ashman, who attended in person, spoke with attendees about the long journey of mastering watercolour, a medium he describes as both rewarding and unpredictable.
“Thirty-five years to learn how, and a few hours to put paint on paper,” he said, echoing a sentiment that defines his approach to art: dedicated, humble, and always evolving.
Born in British Columbia in 1956, Ashman first began painting in high school using oils.
After moving to Trail for a career in metallurgical engineering at Teck, he shifted to watercolours in 1987, enroling in a night school course led by local artist Brian O’Hara.
Since then, he has studied under several artists while remaining largely self-taught.
Ashman has played a vital role in the local arts community.
He joined the Trail Art Club in 1988, helped establish the VISAC gallery itself, and was part of the “Thursday Night Painters” group during its time under Bob Ross.
His work has been displayed locally and internationally, including in Trail, Spokane, and juried shows.
Among his collectors is St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.
As an outdoorsman and photographer, Ashman often paints on location or uses his own travel photography as reference material.
His latest works explore not only the familiar landscapes of the West Kootenay but also scenes from the Canadian Rockies, Hawaii, and Atlantic Canada; hence the exhibition’s title, Local Trail, Distant Shores.
For those who missed the opening, the gallery will host special evening hours on April 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., ahead of the Bailey Theatre’s performance of The Knitting Pilgrim.
Regular gallery hours are Tuesday to Thursday, noon to 4 p.m.
The exhibition offers a quiet, thoughtful look at nature through the eyes of an artist who has spent decades learning how to see it.
