The art community is an important part of SookeB次元官网网址檚 identity, something that local artist Linda Gordon knows all to well.

Gordon has been living in Sooke since 1975, and became heavily involved in the art scene in Sooke about eight years ago.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had shows with the arts council, and just meeting people and being supported by the arts community is what keeps me going,B次元官网网址� said Gordon.

She explained that when she was younger she was B次元官网网址渁 starving artistB次元官网网址� for a few years, until she was 21 and decided to put down the brush and study math and physics in school.

Gordon said she worked an average nine-to-five job for a few years, and afterwords spent her days taking care of her family. She didnB次元官网网址檛 return to her passion of art until later in life.

B次元官网网址淏eing retired isnB次元官网网址檛 all itB次元官网网址檚 cracked up to be,B次元官网网址� laughed Gordon, saying that art gives her something to do, as well as provides her with a little extra spending money.

B次元官网网址淚 guess what really put me on the path again was people saying, B次元官网网址極h thatB次元官网网址檚 really good, can I buy it?B次元官网网址� I get a kick out of people thinking my work is good enough to buy.B次元官网网址�

Gordon enjoys doing acrylic paintings on canvas, both realism and abstract, as well as photography. Her favourite thing to paint and photograph is portraits of dogs.

B次元官网网址淚 love dogs. IB次元官网网址檓 always kind of looking at real dogs and wondering how I can paint them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd when I deliver a dog portrait and a person just loves it, itB次元官网网址檚 a really good feeling.B次元官网网址�

Gordon explained that most of her paintings are of photos that she takes, and when doing realism paintings she will often wear microscope glasses to add fine details to her pieces.

B次元官网网址淚 find that really helps make a painting look real,B次元官网网址� said Gordon. B次元官网网址淚f IB次元官网网址檓 doing something thatB次元官网网址檚 supposed to look like something, I want it to look real. But when IB次元官网网址檓 doing an abstract painting, there are no rules.B次元官网网址�

Gordon said she loves the diversity that comes with painting, and enjoys trying out different styles and techniques with her art.

B次元官网网址淵ou can do anything, nothing is wrong, and if you make a mistake you can always paint over it,B次元官网网址� said Gordon.

Along with doing her own work, she likes the social aspect that comes with the Sooke art community and has been involved in various events around town such as the Fall Fair and Beach Art Day.

Lynda Slater, a member of the Sooke Arts Council, said Gordon is a friendly, energetic person who is full of good ideas.

She explained that Gordon is also an avid volunteer within the Sooke art community.

B次元官网网址淲hen I volunteer for the arts council, sheB次元官网网址檚 there. When I volunteer for the fine arts, sheB次元官网网址檚 there. At the fall fair, I see her there. SheB次元官网网址檚 everywhere, and sheB次元官网网址檚 always willing to lend a hand to anyone that needs it,B次元官网网址� said Slater.

This year, Gordon was unable to participate in the fair because she will be away, but helped organize the upcoming Beach Art Day at Whiffin Spit.

She said community art projects are a fun thing for people to get involved in and demonstrate how much Sooke supports the arts.

B次元官网网址淓ven if youB次元官网网址檙e not an artist, historically you have to look at what art does for society. All the way from editorial cartoonists to fine art, I think its sort of a mirror of the times,B次元官网网址� said Gordon.

B次元官网网址淵ou know when all art is supported and welcome, that a society is doing pretty well. And as soon as there is a non support for art in general, I think the society is heading towards a totalitarian type of state.

B次元官网网址淭he very fact that all types of art are welcome, even if people donB次元官网网址檛 agree with it, at least is an expression of freedom.B次元官网网址�