The inspiration of women
Winchester artist Carrie Keller hosted the Warrior Women Vernissage on Jan. 18 at Winchelsea just outside of Winchester. Several of the Warrior Women were at the event which provided those in attendance an opportunity to meet with them, the artist and view the portraits. During the evening the women whom Keller painted in the series gathered for a group photo. From the left, Gina Welch, MacKenzie McLaughlyn, Carolyn Anderson, Laura Fletcher, Laura Skov, Carrie Keller, Heather Garlough, Sandra Phinney, Ann Carriere, Jessica Turner, Emma Turner. Absent from the photo, Carley Bradford, Diane Caine, Vicky Cane, Jill Anderson, Danielle Branchaud, Clair Faguy, Lindy Pophar, Stephanie Berry, Carol Goddard, Laura Wilson, Janet Depatis and Joanna Renia. Thompson Goddard photo
A group of women who attended the Warrior Woman Vernissage are shown discussing aspects of the artistic creations of Winchester artist Carrie Keller.
Thompson Goddard photo
WINCHESTER – Despite the winter storm warnings and snowy weather during the evening of Jan. 18, there was a good turnout at the Warrior Women Vernissage hosted by Winchester artist Carrie Keller at Winchelsea on Highway 31 just outside Winchester.
Keller made a short address during the event explaining the concept of the Warrior Women portraits came about after she decided to begin painting subjects that were important to her personally. Her inspiration for the series came from the “often unacknowledged strength and courage of the ordinary woman” and from her mother who raised nine children alone after the death of their father.
During the three-hour event, several of the models for the Warrior Women portrait series were present and able to view their painting, many for the first time. For Carolyn Anderson who travelled from the Gananoque area for the event, this was the first time she had seen the actual painting itself. Anderson expressed how she was “very pleased” with her portrait as were the other Warrior Women who attended the event.
In a recent press release, Keller explained 22 women had participated in the series which involved having their photos taken, chatting with the artist and afterwards Keller conceptualized “the armour, weapon of choice and war animal” which resulted in each painting’s highly individualized and personal nature. Following the completion of the portrait, it was reviewed by the model before being framed in a specially designed frame created by the artist and provided to the public via social media.
This event was the first time all 22 portraits were on display in a single venue, with the opportunity to purchase prints and cards of the different paintings.
Keller announced the Warrior Woman Series will continue after the vernissage as commissioned portraits with the subject receiving the painting after its completion. More information on this and other works by Keller can be found on her Facebook page or at www.paintings2order@eastlink.ca.
Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.
