When she answers the door of her Valleycliffe home, artist, painter, and printmaker Lone Tratt is dressed as if to match her paintings in a classic green sweater, pale yellow pants and brown leather belt — hues represented in several of her works displayed around her home.
Tratt, who was born in Denmark and moved to Canada in her 20s, made Squamish her home two years ago.
She has shown her work in public and private collections in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Saudi Arabia since 1977 and is currently the October artist at the Brackendale Art Gallery. Her work is also available at the local gallery, Inspired Squamish.
The Chief sat down with Tratt in the bright and airy art studio in her home for a chat about the Squamish art scene, what inspires her and the importance of artistic expression. What follows is an edited version of that conversation.
Q: What is the Squamish art scene like?
A: Being here only two years, I am vigilant about other artists being here and my not making things about me. I am meeting people and because I worked so long and have exhibited in so many places – in New York and in Denmark and other places – my focus is not to be in Squamish and do some big thing. My focus is to really work.
One of the things about Squamish is that I find people are so generous with their time, with volunteering. I find that wonderful. I teach at the seniors’ centre. I would also like to donate a very large painting to the Squamish Hospital. In big cities, like Vancouver, the hospitals have original art, really superb art. I have paintings there and at UBC hospital. I feel that is one of the ways I could maybe give back here; to give people something to really look at instead of just posters and notices. Art quiets people down and makes them less nervous.
Q: You have been to a lot of different places around the world, how does that travel inform your art?
A: It definitely influences me a lot because I can see the similarities and the differences. Travel definitely broadens my work as an artist. I, of course, go to all the galleries I can and that is very inspiring. I enjoy the depth of paintings, the colours. I find the people I meet and nature inspiring as well, when I travel.
Q: You started painting lessons when you were nine years old, what did art give you as a child?
A: In my home, my parents were very talented artists and so in my home that is what we talked about and that is what we had around on the walls. I would go out sketching with my mother. One of my brothers is a very well known sculptor in Denmark and makes a living by being a sculptor.
Q: In our culture, art is not given the time and space in many schools and families as is sports. Can you speak to what may be lost with less of a focus on art?
A: It is one of my pet peeves because art is so rich for children. I have taught so many children. Especially with computers, children get less and less creative. That is going to influence our society later on because if we don’t have creative people, we have nothing. In the very big picture, if we do not have the arts, our culture will go.
Q: What is your artistic process?
A: I have always told students about artist [Pierre-Auguste] Renoir, who was a family man. There is a letter in existence where he said artists have to draw every day. So if he was at the table and there was an apple, he would draw that and then play with his children.
I am always doing sketches and so on. But when I get inspired I get so that I forget the time. The process is letting it ferment and then it comes out. One thing I enjoy very much is working in series. I had a big show in Denmark a few years ago and I called it Mindscapes. I was so involved with it and it all just kept coming and coming — that was my favorite feeling. I also work very well under a deadline.
Q: What else would you like people to know about art in general?
A: I would like to encourage people to really notice the artwork around. I often find if people are looking at artwork they look quickly and move on. So take time with a piece.
There’s depth in it. Just like with music, if you don’t really take time to listen, it can just be background noise.
So, take time with art and with nature – to really see.
