Barbara Bell, Kel Taylor, and Paula Charter Alternator Studio 111 – A Creative Journey

First Floor Studio Hallway

Barbara Bell works in the limitless, freeing world of inks. Since discovering the medium a decade ago, she has been captivated by its parallels to life. She has studied under several local and international artists since the age of 10. For the past seven years her paintings have been found in galleries & stores throughout the Okanagan. During her time in the Alternator’s Studio 111, Barb has been expanding on her Moment-by-Moment series and is excited to see where her creativity leads her next.

Artist Statement
My work with ink embraces unpredictability, shaped by the fluid interplay of colour, movement, and interactions. This reflects life itself; ever-changing, influenced by experience and environment.

In my Moment-By-Moment Series, each square captures a fleeting moment in the painting process; some calm, others chaotic. Like passing clouds, these moments cannot be held, yet together they can leave a lasting impression. Just like life, each work is uniquely interpreted by the viewer, coloured by their own experiences and personal journey.

Based in Kelowna, BC, Paula Charter is a dedicated full-time abstract artist and an Exhibiting Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Her work has been in exhibitions throughout the Okanagan, and at the Federation Gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Artist Statement
Through intuitive mark-making and gesture, my work seeks to reclaim small moments of vulnerability, presence, and human feeling. My work invites my viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the subtle, often overlooked experiences that remind us of our shared humanity.
As part of my self-directed residency at Studio 111, through The Alternator Centre of Contemporary Art, I’m exploring the freedom to create without overanalyzing or self-editing. My focus is on producing emotionally driven abstract work that is unapologetic, instinctual, and unfiltered.

Kel Taylor was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Atlantic Canada was then home for several decades before she returned to B.C., settling in Kelowna.  Although Kel’s formal art training began in her undergraduate Occupational Therapy degree, it was only in the last 10 years that she studied drawing, portraiture, and expressive mark making, leading to her own style of loose landscape coupled with tighter photo referenced figurative work. Kel works in acrylic and mixed media and predominantly on cradled wood panels. 

Artist Statement
My art comes from a need to tell stories intuitively driven from persistent, nagging images that pop into my mind. Giving life to these images has uncovered new insights and understanding for me. Sharing my stories, finding common ground and profound connection with others, has justified the value of art in our culture.  I came into this current residency in Alternator’s Studio 111 hoping to push myself to edit less, to express more boldly, to leave more humanness in my mark making.