JUNE SUMMER EVENTS

June 22 - 24, Hydra Island Greece

STEPHEN APPLEBY-BARR

Compassionate Artist to returns to Hydra

Canadian painter Stephen Appleby-Barr, currently based in London, approaches painting as storytelling. Wandering through museums and city streets, he searches for characters and settings to weave into his cinematic, otherworldly universe. His dark, intimate scenes, rich colour palettes, and dramatic lighting recall the timeless influence of Baroque masters such as Caravaggio.

A devoted cat lover, Stephen came to Hydra last October for a nine-day residency and studio exhibition inspired by the island’s beloved cats. During his residency, he created seven remarkable new works celebrating cats and nature, including “Lilycat,” affectionately described as “the Mona Lisa of ArtCinema.” Since then, Stephen has been based in London following a successful Frieze exhibition and a series of commissions.

We are delighted that he plans to return to Hydra to create new work exploring the relationship between artist, community, and space through his Drawing Salon, inspired by the expressive studies of Toulouse-Lautrec. He will also continue An Hydra Study — a body of work shaped by his generous efforts to help raise funds for Hydra’s much-needed veterinary clinic.

AN OBSERVATIONAL DRAWING SALON

Season on Hydra

Stephen has proposed creating what he calls an "observational drawing salon" - a space designed to welcome participants of all levels of drawing experience. The salon focuses on simple observational exercises, fostering a de-programmed creative environment: a relaxed hang-out that lowers pressure and expectations. At the same time, it honours Hydra's living culture, celebrating both the island's resident artists and its visiting creatives.

The format is simple: participants will meet for an observational exercise and then spend time looking at one another's results. At the close of each session, drawings are laid out for everyone to see. As Stephen notes, "a lot of people are only willing to show 10%," and in that is "something both vulnerable and exciting".

In his words, the salon would be about "making bad coffee and drawing together and laughing about how none of us are as good at drawing as we want to be."

The salon proposes community over perfection.

AN HYDRA STUDY

by Stephen Appleby-Barr

Stephen is dedicating the proceeds from his work to raising funds for Hydra’s much-needed veterinary clinic, continuing ArtCinema’s commitment to both art and our co-existance with animals on the island.

If you’d like to purchase one of Stephen's works or commission a new piece, both can be structured as a tax-deductible donation, please contact airinie@artcinemahydra.com

Stephen is donating 100% of the proceeds from An Hydra Study to support the cause.

Stephen's inspired local masterpiece:

"LILYCAT: THE MONA LISA OF ARTCINEMA"

“Seeing Stephen’s work had a profound effect on me. I began to truly understand the power of oil painting because he captured the essence of Lilycat, something I loved so dearly - the port cat I rescued two years ago.”