Van Colden
Painter
Van currently lives and works in Fernie. She grew up in a small Acadian village in Cape-Breton, Nova Scotia, known as Isle Madame. She was a practicing sports physiotherapist for many years, spending much of her time studying movement, however, she now spends most of her days with paintbrushes. She is a self-taught artist working in oils, launching her art career in 2020 with a solo show, “Shredding with the Littles,” at the Fernie Arts Station.
Inspired by the views as well as the outdoor family life Fernie offers, Van paints whimsical landscapes, and everyday freeze frames, eliciting memories of fun family times at the ski hill. She is a firm supporter of active living and strongly believes that if we can get kids outside, the active side of things will work themselves out. She champions painting visual art of kids enjoying being active with the intent to have it ingrained in pop culture as a form of advocacy.
Her artwork is featured in Karma Campervans, The Clairestone Inn (NS), La Picasse Centre Communautaire de Petit-de-Grat (NS), and Snowcreek Lodge, Fernie. Her “Safe Keepers” image was part of a collaborative fundraising effort with Blackdog Cycle and Ski in Kimberley for the Kimberley Volunteer Ski Patrol. Her pieces can be found in collections as far reaching as New Zealand, the United States, and from coast-to-coast in Canada.
