"Searching for You", acrylic, Jacintha Krish"Searching for You", acrylic, Jacintha Krish
There is something fascinating about café art. Painted by a stranger, crafted by unknown hands, there’s something magical and luminous about the lonely pieces hanging on the wall. Jacintha Krish, an artist who formerly worked in accounting, understands the appeal of presenting work in such an intimate setting.
“I like to paint stuff that people like to look at year after year. I don’t paint sad and ugly things, I enjoy making pieces that evoke peace, happiness and love. I don’t paint to make money, I paint because I love it.” Krish currently has pieces showing in the Timothy’s at 321 Lakeshore East in Downtown Oakville. The show continues until May 31. Krish focuses on acrylics and mixed media, involving sand, tissue paper, and pebbles as well as paint and putty.
'... what I really love to paint is women. Women of different cultures fascinate me; the way they dress, their culture, what they look like. I want to eventually have a show with the theme ‘Women of the World’, to bring attention to the real beauty of women everywhere.'
- Jacintha Krish
“I love to paint landscapes, seascapes, and I do commissions, but what I really love to paint is women. Women of different cultures fascinate me; the way they dress, their culture, what they look like. I want to eventually have a show with the theme ‘Women of the World’, to bring attention to the real beauty of women everywhere.”
Krish, although now living in Etobicoke, used to live in Ottawa. She started displaying and selling her artwork there, also through cafés. She has sold upward of 40 works through various cafés and resturaunts, and says she will continue to do so in the future.
“Cafés don’t charge as much as galleries to display your work, and people like seeing it more in a café. It’s something lovely to look at while you sip your tea.”
CJ Martin, the owner of CJ’s Café in Bronte, also knows a thing or two about café art. An artist herself, she opened CJ’s Cafe in Bronte to showcase local talent as well as to sell coffee.
Krish enjoys a coffee while sitting beneath some of her own artwork at Timothy's.Krish enjoys a coffee while sitting beneath some of her own artwork at Timothy's.
“People enjoy the artwork. It keeps the environment fresh, and people look forward to seeing new stuff every month.” Martin’s café is a light-filled space filled with the scents of fair-trade coffees and baked goods. The atmosphere is only heightened by the artwork on the walls, the ceramics in the corners, and the jewelry at the side.
“It’s a great place to support local artists,” says Martin. “The artwork isn’t a huge money generator for me, but I enjoy it. And having artwork here really works both ways: customers come more often to see when new things are put up, and the artists have a cheap, easy space to use to display their work. Everybody seems to like it.”
Martin has gone above and beyond just showcasing paintings, though. She also brings in musicians and occasionally dancers, along with poets and writers.
“It’s really great to support local artists. Bronte is a great community, people here are very positive and appreciative.”
