The Carrot Visual Arts Gallery: A Bit of Realism - Thomas Van Dreil - Opening Reception

October Gallery - A Bit of Realism: Thomas Van Driel

Gallery Exhibition Date: October 5 - 31, 2026
Opening Reception: October 8, 2026 7:00 PM | 
The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse (9351 - 118 Ave)
Edmonton, AB

You are warmly invited to the opening reception for A Bit of Realism: Thomas Van Driel

I am fascinated by the beauty of nature, the rich tapestry of hue, texture and pattern and how those resonate with the contemplative side of human existence. Life is full of paradoxes. Good co-exists with evil. Light with dark. Joy with sadness. Human creativity and destruction. In the work I do, I try to juxtapose these contrasts while at the same time accepting and even celebrating them. In the current world of ever-shifting virtual reality, there is a certain degree of comfort in pausing to focus on something that catches the eye. For me, capturing that pause in a drawing or painting enriches that focus and a connection with whatever it is that has given me that "aha!" moment. Mixing paint to replicate or accentuate a hue or value, putting a pencil to paper or a brush to canvas can be very satisfying. I hope I never lose a child-like wonder at the surprises of discovering beauty and whimsy.

Learn more about the artist: https://www.thecarrot.ca/news/2026/10/october-gallery