It turns out horse manure can be worth $1,800\u2014you just need a canvas, some charcoal and the right subject.<\/p>\n
A portrait of US President Donald Trump created partly with horse manure was quickly snapped up at the Sooke Fine Arts Show, selling on Saturday, July 25, the exhibition\u2019s first regular day.<\/p>\n
The aptly named piece, \u201cThe Don of Dung,\u201d was created by artist Wendy Chartrand and measures 28 by 22 inches.<\/p>\n
According to the show\u2019s official digital catalogue, the portrait was made using watercolour and charcoal on canvas. But the catalogue does not tell the whole story.<\/p>\n
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Visit Website \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n Chartrand revealed that she concocted part of the painting medium herself using water and horse manure.<\/p>\n \u201cPortrait of the current president of the United States,\u201d Chartrand wrote in her artist\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe medium used is one I have concocted from water and horse manure, which seemed appropriate considering the subject.\u201d<\/p>\n Chartrand confirmed with Victoria Buzz that there is actual horse manure in the painting. This is not merely a colourful description of the finished product.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, absolutely,\u201d Chartrand said. \u201cI mixed the manure with water and strained it.\u201d<\/p>\n She then applied many layers of the resulting homemade \u201cwatercolour,\u201d using charcoal to create the drawing and black areas of the portrait.\u00a0<\/p>\n Once everything had dried, she sprayed the canvas with several layers of lacquer.<\/p>\n That should keep the more organic elements safely sealed inside, although Chartrand suspects a close enough inspection could reveal exactly where the paint came from.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure that if you looked at the painting with a microscope, you would find bits of hay and remnants of parasites common to horses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The painting was listed for $1,800 and sold just one day after the Sooke Fine Arts Show\u2019s Purchasers\u2019 Preview Night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite creating one of the show\u2019s most attention-grabbing pieces, Chartrand said she did not expect it to disappear from the sales wall quite so quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes indeed, I was surprised and thrilled that it sold so quickly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n When asked what inspired the unusual portrait, Chartrand said \u201cinspiration\u201d might not be the right word.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if I would call it inspiration, possibly more aggravation or frustration,\u201d she told Victoria Buzz.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like a lot of people that don\u2019t like the way Canadians are being jerked around, I felt that I needed to vent and I guess it was my way of doing that. Freedom of expression and all.\u201d<\/p>\n The buyer has asked to remain anonymous, leaving unanswered the most important question of all\u2014where exactly does one hang a four-figure manure portrait of Donald Trump?<\/p>\n Whether it ends up above a fireplace, in an office or somewhere guests are guaranteed to ask questions, the purchaser now owns what may be one of the show\u2019s most unforgettable conversation pieces.<\/p>\n For those disappointed they missed the opportunity to own the original, note-card reproductions of the painting were also being offered in the show\u2019s gift shop. While they are nearly sold out, Chartrand said she could be contacted on social media for replicas.<\/p>\n While the piece is certainly getting attention for its unusual materials and even more recognizable subject, organizers say provocative work has an important place alongside the landscapes, wildlife and other pieces featured at the show.<\/p>\n \u201cArt has the power to both inspire and challenge,\u201d Sooke Fine Arts Show organizers said in a statement provided to Victoria Buzz.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of the works at the Sooke Fine Arts Show celebrate beauty and the natural world, while others invite folks to reflect on social, cultural and political issues. Artists often use their work to explore ideas, ask questions and spark conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n And if sparking conversation was the goal, Chartrand appears to have hit the bullseye, or perhaps the stable floor.<\/p>\n The Sooke Fine Arts Show is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It is Vancouver Island\u2019s longest-running juried fine art show and showcases hundreds of original works from artists living on Vancouver Island and BC\u2019s coastal islands.<\/p>\n The show continues through Monday, August 3rd at the SEAPARC Recreation Centre, located at 2168 Phillips Road in Sooke. Doors open at 10 a.m. daily, with closing times varying by date.<\/p>\n General admission is $17 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Children and youth aged 17 and under get in free. As a special 40th-anniversary promotion, anyone who is currently 40 years old can also get in for $12 with valid identification at the door.<\/p>\n On Thursday, July 30th, the show will remain open until 9 p.m. for M-ART-ket Night, with reduced $5 admission for adults and seniors after 5 p.m. that day.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Don of Dung\u201d may already be sold, but hundreds of other pieces remain on display, most of them created using considerably more traditional art supplies.<\/p>\n