OYSTERCATCHERGIRL: Struggling to keep pace with worldwide demand for oystercatcher art since 2007: The first oystercatchers

The first oystercatchers

This qualifies as "Oystercatchers #1,"

(8" x 8") painted circa late November 2007.

Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine this painting would "lead anywhere," so it didn't get titled or dated.

Actually, this watercolour may have preceded the above acrylic painting, but both were done in late November 2007.

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OYSTERCATCHERGIRL VAN GOGH

"So enjoyed meeting you yesterday and viewing your fabulous art. Makes a piece extra special when you have met the artist in person. Hung the (print of) Red Sky In The Morning in the kitchen so I can enjoy it every day." -- arts patron, Parksville, BC (April 2016)

"Congratulations on your recent sales! You astound me with your productivity. You paint more in a month than I do in a year." -- Vancouver nature artist (November 2014)

"Thanks for the amazing experience that your art brings to us and our patrons." -- Librarian, Esquimalt Library (January 2014)

"That is totally strange. Your art is so much more interesting than some of the stuff I saw there." -- L.C., Victoria BC (July 2013), commenting on the 2013 Moss Street Paint-In

"I just want to thank you for the article that has been published this week. It is great and I have had many positive comments from viewers. You can certainly write!" -- James Bay Art Walk artist (June 2013)

"You are blessed with many gifts including time management, a great ear as well as a good eye. I'm sure all appreciate your quiet leadership and intellect. Thanks from all of us." -- James Bay Art Walk artist (April 2013)

"I absolutely adore the one with the two jays, the salmon and their associated habitat." -- PA (March 2013)

"I have always loved your work and have great respect for what you are doing here." -- DR (January 2013)

"I was impressed with your demo at Opus, that you were completely poised, relaxed and able to both paint and communicate with the audience." -- KS (March 2013)

"I still adore your Bruce Peninsula painting! I just had to let you know again." -- Oystercatchergirl art patron in Ontario (March 2013)

" ... Between your work and the other visiting artist at Victoria in March (Brian Buckrell), our customers are in for a real treat. Beautiful work! I wish I was in Victoria to attend." (Crissy of Opus Art Supplies, in planning for Anne's in-store demonstration on March 9, 2014).

"Your hooded mergansers are just as remarkable as your oystercatchers." -- JS, Victoria, BC (January 2013)

"Great work thinking up this action! You're the only painter who also knows how to write great activist press releases, too." -- KW, Victoria, BC (January 2013)

"I'd pay $400 for a bald eagle, but not for an oystercatcher." -- Oystercatcher arts patron

"Are those seagulls? Birds are fun. I have a cockatiel." -- art event visitor (September 2012)

"Are you still doing those ducks?" "I thought they were twisted cormorants." "Are they gulls?" "I thought you were making them up." -- a choice selection of keen observations (August 2012)

"You are freaking awesome! Your bio/statement is beyond words. Love it! And I'm shocked by the large number of exhibitions you're having." -- Angela, Toronto (August 2012)

"Oystercatchers #59, with a touch of yellow sky, is a masterpiece. It illustrates the grandeur of the Strait of Juan de Fuca as Oystercatcher Central, the way I see it." -- Stud Puffin, Victoria, BC (August 2012)

"You look to be a very successful artist, and that is probably a tribute to your vision, style, and perseverence." -- MR, Pender Island, BC (April 2012)

"Your paintings capture both the sublime nature of the BC coast and the 'oystercatcherness' of oystercatchers." -- Cynthia, patron of the Oystercatcher arts (April 2012)

"Your jays are stellar and the quail quivering with life. Good for you for branching out." -- Kate, Victoria, BC (December 2011)

"California Quails #1" is a masterpiece if one is to dare painting a painting 18" wide by ten kilometres in length." -- Mendelson Joe, artist (December 2011)

"What did you paint when you lived in Ontario -- smokestacks?" James Bay Art Walk visitor (Sept 2011)

"I first learned about the glorious oystercatchers through your work! Now I look for them all the time -- even in the Oak Bay Library." -- Maria, attending the Oak Bay Spring Studio Tour (April 2011)

"You are the most beautiful oystercatcher painter who I have ever met." -- Anne's boyfriend (July 2010)

"Anne Hansen is an ornithological Emily Carr on mescaline." -- Mendelson Joe, artist

"Your blog has evolved into a colourful, poignant and entertaining place to visit for a refreshing drink of inspiration." -- JC, Victoria, BC

"These are fabulous! You have totally captured the black oystercatcher's, ummm, oystercatcheriness! It is lovely that you have focused on an underrrated west coast bird (i.e., not an eagle) and shown how beautiful it, and its environment, are. The colors and the lines are great. I like how you do vertical panels when an oystercatcher's world is so horizontal, or so it seems to me. I love your kelp, too. How often does one admire kelp? ... And if you are truly addicted to oystercatchers, I hope you never seek treatment." -- Chris Earley, Interpretive Biologist, Arboretum, University of Guelph, and author of "Waterfowl of Eastern North America" and other field guides

"I remain very impressed with you. No other local artist paints our fantastic coast fantastically like you." -- biologist Jacques, Victoria, BC

"Oystercatchers? I've never heard that expression before." -- James Bay Art Walk walker (Sept 2010)

"Those are rooks that you paint." -- Victoria resident

(The rook is a member of the crow family, inhabiting Britain and Ireland, and eats earthworms, insect larvae, fruit, and cereal grains.)

"We have reviewed all submissions, and unfortunately we are declining the opportunity to offer you a placement in this year's event." -- Moss Street Paint-In, Victoria, BC (second year in a row)

Great show, Anne. I always sense a subtle theme in your work, but can never quite put my finger on it." -- Gallery visitor (June 2010)

"Being here is like visiting Vincent Van Gogh!" -- artist Jane Gray, patron of the oystercatcher-arts, speaking from Anne's studio (January 2009)

"I'm sitting at the Moka House in James Bay right now and I couldn't help but notice how terrible your paintings are." -- J. Raath, Victoria, BC. (September 2008)

"I love how your work has evolved and in fact has galloped along with abandon since the first inspiration!" -- Judith Rackman, BC artist (April 2010)

"What is it about crows that you like so much?" -- ornithologically-challenged gallery visitor, September 2009

"You are never one to be idle, but holy oystercatcher! They are fantastic. They have just been waiting for you all their little lives. I'm so glad they found you!" -- Clover Woods, Guelph, ON (March 2010)

"Love your bold colors and oystercatchers as a west coast icon." -- James Bay Art Walk visitor

"Oh, Anne, I love your penguins!" -- discerning art lover

"I was thrilled to see a decided lack of bears, eagles, and whales in your work, and that you chose an overlooked and underappreciated bird such as the oystercatcher to focus on." -- Victoria sculptor (Oct 2009)

"Thanks for showing us Oystercatcher Central. I think they're really going to take off." -- Gail McCormack, civic activist extraordinaire, Guelph, Ontario (January 2009)

"Your website is absolutely fantastic. It makes me supremely happy just to look at your paintings, and the oystercatcher photos are amazing." -- Gail Littlejohn, editor/publisher, "Green Teacher" magazine

"Your art is beautiful, and radiant! -- Sue Z, Ann Arbor, MI, USA (June 2009)

"I notice you have black birds in all your paintings. Is there some significance to that?" -- viewer at James Bay Art Walk

"Dear Anne: I am afraid that the members of Collective Works didn't feel that your work is the right fit for the direction of the Gallery ... you have a nice personality ... " -- gallery spokesperson

OYSTERCATCHERGIRL: Struggling to keep pace with worldwide demand for oystercatcher art since 2007

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