Art Instructor: 簡美蘭 Meilan Chien
Meilan Gallery
學生稱呼她為簡老師，咖啡音的客人稱她杜媽媽，她是我們的媽媽，小朋友的奶奶。廿歲時媽媽在台灣油畫及素描大師李石樵門下學畫，當時她是台北雙園國小的老師，接連幾年她都參加了教師美展，而校方總是以相當於一個月的薪水把媽媽的畫買下，對當時年輕的她而言是很大的鼓勵。生活的忙碌使媽媽沒有時間作畫。直到1989年媽媽因為要幫忙照顧姐姐的大兒子而退休，她才終於重拾畫筆。1989-1996之間，媽媽最常畫的就是花和天母的街。 移居溫哥華之後，媽媽開始比較有時間畫畫。班夫國家公園的景致、家門口的櫻花道、列治文的花園、甚至姐姐家屋頂上掛的一輪明月，都入了畫。決定開店之後，她畫了一系列和咖啡有關的油畫，咖啡音門口的景緻也是她寫生素描的對象。
咖啡音時代結束之後，媽媽再次當起老師。
早期跟隨李石樵大師的磨練，媽媽的深厚素描功力展現在油畫與淡彩之中。從媽媽的作品中可以看出不同時期的色彩表現，充滿厚實大地感的台北，粉彩明亮的溫哥華，原色森林的班夫國家公園。
媽媽的作品豐富，目前已經累積了數百張的油畫和淡彩，即使努力拍照整理還是趕不上媽媽的進度。我們會盡所能將作品一一呈現。讓大家無論遠近都可以欣賞北國風光。
Meilan, a teacher, a mother of 3, and a grandma of 4, had followed Taiwanese master Lee Shih-chiao study sketch and oil painting in her early years. As a young teacher, she constantly attended teachers' art campaigns and had won many prizes. The school authority always encouraged her with one month salary for her painting. It was an important support for this young lady 50 years ago, while Taiwan was still at early developing stage. However, the busy and hard life never allowed her to chase her art dream. Until 1989, Meilan retired from school after her first grandson was born, she got the chance to start painting again.
From 1989-1996, Meilan had work on subjects such as flowers, street of hometown Tienmu and Yang-ming Mountain. After moving to Vancouver (Surrey) in 1996, she was inspired by the splendid landscape in Canada. From Banff National Park, to Richmond Fisherman's Wharf and the sakura trees in Surrey, she fulfill her dream with hundreds of painting.
The family started a restaurant Cafe Andante in Surrey, and buildings around the store became Meilan's painting subjects. She has started to teach painting from the time.
Meilan established her sketching skills while studying with Master Lee Shih-chiao. Her color scheme has changed from the earthy tone in Taipei, to pastel Vancouver, to natural colored forests in Banff.We are trying to keep up with Meilan's steps and establish an online gallery for our dearest Mama.
目前開設課程如下 Current Art Lessons
Sun. 10:00-11:30 兒童繪畫營 Kid's Art Camp
Sat. 10:00-11:30 油畫基礎入門
Oli Painting 101
