About Edward
Canadian artist, Edward Epp, has painted for over 40 years. He has a B.F.A. and M.A. in Studio Art, as well as a M.Ed. in Counselling. For the last two decades, he has captured the spirit of BC’s coasts. His lyrical paintings reflect the landscape, the people and the icons of Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii, and the South Islands. His art has been widely acclaimed and shown throughout Canada and internationally.
“For me, it goes beyond the physical resemblance of landscape to the inner, fully felt-poetic dimension. There is a critical urge to transcend the predictable. Beyond the mundane chores of commerce that I must endure like everyone else, a requirement to give form to the intuitive and the ideal beckons. In my art, this is concretized through my search to push the medium beyond the known and sure, to move into a ‘fresh zone’ where I haven’t previously traveled.”
Art Philosophy
I cannot imagine a healthy society without art, central and key to development. I think society would be enriched through a greater openness to the ‘artist-view’. Process thinking and prioritizing beauty over pure material function are two examples of this principle. To me, art has at least three important intersecting functions: effecting positive change in society, creating wealth, and creating objects of significant aesthetic merit. If artistic ventures contribute as ‘service’ to individuals and to the community that would make me feel that they had achieved a high level of ‘success’. In my own life, in addition to exhibiting in many public and commercial galleries, working with community service projects for youth in Norwest BC, such as “Night’s Alive” in Prince Rupert and with art-centered healing projects with youth in Massett and Kitkatla have been wonderful opportunities.
Cuttington house and trees, Liberia 1988