"To view image clock on "Access Content Now" above." In this still-life, Connie Freedy uses gouache, which is a type of opaque water-based paint to create a vibrant study of a selection of fruits, vegetables, and flowers on her kitchen counter. Though Freedy’s energetic brush strokes and wide planes of colour give her composition a bold and contemporary look, the tradition of kitchen counter still-life paintings dates back to the 18th century with the work of French painter, Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin. Using a limited palette, Chardin painted simplified, even stark, paintings of common household items perfectly organized in space. Eggplant and Tulips shares many of the same aesthetics. Using a limited palette of colours, Freedy perfectly balances 2 plums, an eggplant, a cup, and three onions on a counter. The vibrant onion skins are matched by a spray of tulips in a vase behind the eggplant contributing to a balanced arrangement that also contains energy, and a joyful sense of playfulness. Connie Freedy (1944- ) was born in Cutknife, Saskatchewan. She studied in Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan, and earned two succussive Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1967, and 1968. Freedy’s work as a painter is closely tied to her life in Northern Saskatchewan. She grew up on a farm, raising chickens, and growing a garden. She also raised her children on a farm, teaching them the arts of baking and pickling. Freedy’s love of art and food came together in 1979, when she moved with her family to the south of France for a year. Studying painting and art history with her partner, the entire family fell in love with French culture and food. Returning to live in Prince Albert, Freedy continued to paint, and also earned her Red Seal certification in pastry arts. Today she shares ownership of the award-winning restaurant, the Yellow Fender Coffeehouse and Eatery in Christopher Lake with her daughter Heidi O'Brodovich. Freedy's artwork has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Her work is represented in the collections of the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Mendel Art Gallery Collection at Remai Modern, Mann Art Gallery, and Dunlop Art Gallery
