Member of the Month – Kamloops Arts Council
Full Name: Roxi Sim Hermsen
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas and colour pencil on paper
How long have you been doing your art: I have been into pottery since high school, and then I did my Dip. of Fine Arts at Langara and B.Ed. at U of Calgary. In 1978 I shared a pottery studio in Enderby with my husband for 25 years. In 1997 we had the opportunity to go to Grenada, West Indies, where my husband worked at Grenada Clay Works, and I took up painting, bringing 200 ft. of canvas and a suitcase full of paint. I joined the Grenada Arts Council and participated in a show with them then had solo shows at Aquarium Beach Club, Secret Harbour, La Source and painted a mural at Portofinos. I was represented by Yellow Poui Gallery and Art Grenada. I sold internationally and several paintings were purchased by resorts and businesses. Returning to Canada in 1978 I continued my journey in painting until today. I have shown in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, Enderby, and Armstrong.
My biggest accomplishment was creating an 80-painting series, over 7 years, that became The Pearls of Wisdom Tarot, first published in 2007, now in 3rd edition, decks have sold globally and the deck is displayed in the Tarot Museum in Belgium. Several of the original paintings have been sold in the US and Canada.
I have also created murals in Salmon Arm and Vernon and spearheaded the Enderby Mural project in 2000. I had an interactive show at the Okanagan Science Centre, which I helped found with my parents, where the walls were painted with cosmic imagery and the artwork was as well. I taught Fine Arts, Fabric Arts, and Drama and Developed a Career Prep Media program at A.L. Fortune Secondary in Enderby. I had to leave my career due to Lyme disease and my art has been my therapy ever since.
What got you originally interested in the art you do: Having originally started with clay, I was drawn to the Goddess figurines. I created many sculptures of the Sleeping Goddess and then decided to create a painting of one of my sculptures. I took a painting workshop with Pix Sutherland and learned to paint from my imagination, rather than photos, and I felt unleashed from having to be picture-perfect.
In Grenada, I took mental snapshots of the textures, flowers, and people and created many paintings of large pots full of flowers. I decided to take the “pain” out of painting, and just do lots of “tings” mon. I allowed my hands to paint how they do and discovered my style, and just let it develop over the years.
I created a series of international dolls, from my own collection, and friends told me they looked like Tarot cards. I saw them and thought “I could do that; it might take a couple of years”. 7 years later I had completed the series and was published and distributed globally. I knew nothing of Tarot when I started, but was always interested in symbolism, so I learned as I went, and created each card from the research I did. I used the language of flowers, Runes, and crystals, and followed the structure of the tarot. Pearls of Wisdom Tarot is not a clone of other decks, it is a unique version, with its own symbolism and imagery. I also wrote the books for the 3rd edition and created a workbook journal for the major arcana, sold through Global Spiritual Studies. I also created an oracle deck The Sacred Feminine Oracle, which is a deck and an App, and a majors-only deck The Sidewayz Tarot.
What is something you have learned about yourself through your art: When I took up painting, I was sick with Lyme disease, in deep grief due to the loss of my youngest son, and I was living in a developing country for a year. I had taken Art Therapy at U Victoria and knew art was great therapy. I hoped that my art would help me heal my grief and deep depression, and it carried me through the darkest time in my life. I painted what I needed to see, uplifting imagery, bright colours, joyful and healing. I learned that creating art is indeed healing and that others viewing my art have also experienced healing of depression and grief. My art was well received in Grenada.
What do you enjoy the most about your art: I love colour, texture and the freedom to create whatever I want to create. I like to use layers of colours, so they become rich and deep and draw you into the work. I sometimes use hidden imagery, and I do have a love of metal leaf, iridescent and interference paints as they add some magic to the works.
What is your favourite joke/quote: From my time in Grenada, driving on the left-hand side, with big ditches and windy roads. “When de obstacle is on your side of de road… speed up”. Another favourite is “building community through the arts”.
What is something most people don’t know about you: I have heterochromia, which means I have one blue eye and one brown eye. Most people do not notice unless the light is just right and then they are always surprised as it is not a common thing. Only 0.01% of the population has this, although it is more common in cats and dogs. My mother chose a puppy from a litter before they opened their eyes. The pup had my eyes, so she had a daughter and a dog with heterochromia. I like to say they give me the capacity to see through BS.
If you could teach everyone one art medium or method, what would it be, why: I have taught this workshop to people young and old, and it never ceases to be fun to teach. Painting with the Elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air. I start with drawing on watercolour paper, with a candle, so the participant can’t see what they are drawing, often I start with a butterfly shape. We light the candle on fire and allow the wax to drip over the paper. This takes away one’s need to ‘control’ the art, and also that it isn’t good enough or not right. Then we wet the paper, and using the bright colours of food colouring we pick up two or three colours on a wide brush or foam brush and swipe it across the paper. The wet-into-wet technique sets the colours in a swirl, blending them and making new colours as they run. I have them blow through a straw to make the colours blend and pick up the paper to let them drip and run. Then I use coarse salt to sprinkle over the surface, and the salt draws the colours to it, creating beautiful patterns, also out of the participant’s control. Then, once it is dry, I introduce gold felt pens, so they can draw the lines that they want and give them a bit of control back. If I have time, I will embellish it with a gold leaf, by painting on the adhesive with a brush or squeeze bottle, once it is set the metal leaf is applied, and then brushed away revealing the final magical image. Everyone enjoys this process.
What do you think makes art important: Art is important for so many things. First, in my mind, it is therapy, no matter how well done, or how rudimentary, we all start somewhere. We can all create, and art allows that creative process to uplift the artist. We can experiment with things, not tying ourselves to the outcome, but to the process of the art. A letting go and letting it be what it is. Art can be done in the community. The community mural project in Enderby had 80 people from ages 8 to 88 involved. It bridged generations and the communities of the town and First Nations. Positive communities can be built through the arts. I also know, from feedback from my former students, that art is a safe space. Many tell me that the art room was a place where they felt safe, and seen, and were able to deal with the ups and downs of their teen years. Many have gone on to be creative in their lives as well, and that is the best part for me.
Why are you a member of the Kamloops Arts Council: I recently moved to Kamloops from Salmon Arm. I moved to be closer to my grandchildren but did not know anyone else here. I decided to jump in feet first and joined the council to meet other artists, get involved in the community and get my art up on walls around town. I have had my art up at the airport, the hospital, and the Sagebrush Theatre. I also participated in the SMALL//works art show and will have a solo show in April 2025. I strongly feel that the arts can contribute to the community in positive ways and so I wanted to join and meet my new community.
What are you looking forward to the most in this upcoming year (A special show or project you’re working on): I have a show in the Alcove gallery in April. I have been inspired by the landscape around the Kamloops area, it is so different from Salmon Arm or Enderby. I love the skies and shadows and textures, especially the dead trees that are still standing and offer a perch to the birds. I can relate to the still-standing message: I just turned 70 this year and have overcome Lyme disease, feeling better at 70 than I did at 60. I am also working with my grandkids at the Art Party doing pottery, with Grampa’s help, and with my oldest grandson, we have been creating one-of-a-kind hoodies and t-shirts, using the bleach out process and sewing handmade patches onto the hoodies. Mostly I just want to paint and play.