Reception: August 18, 7-10pm
Additional Hours: August 19-30: Tuesday – Friday, 12-6pm; Saturday, 12-5
Artist Statement:
Jan is a self-taught artist and has enjoyed drawing and painting since childhood. His early work was realistic and included several portraits. His art evolved over the years and his more recent work could be described as surrealistic. Jan is very creative and his drawings depict his vivid imagination. Jan works primarily with India ink, pencil and ball point pen. His drawings are black and white portraits and often include detailed imagery of halos, crosses, skulls, boats, and Asian and Viking symbolism. Jan spends many hours on each drawing, which is reflected in the detailed and meticulous nature of his work.
Bio: Jan Yngve Karlsson was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. He comes from a family of fine artists; his mother was a professional dress designer and his father enjoyed sculpting in his free time. His two daughters, Kristina and Karin, are also artists and both have degrees from the Alberta College of Art and Design. Jan completed his apprenticeship as a printer in Stockholm before completing his military service in the Swedish army as a radio operator. Jan began travelling the world in 1967 and settled in Canada where he met Laura. He worked as a printer at the Calgary Herald for over 35 years. He is now retired and enjoys spending his time at their cottage at Turtle Lake, SK.