Robert Sears has shared the stories behind some of his paintings from his solo show “Shadowplay”.

Deep Forest
Where we live we are surrounded by forest; we often walk in the forest on moonlit nights- the trail like a path of moonbeams.  I pictured Allison walking in her sleep in her nightgown or in a dream; her spirit will always be in the places we walk

Shooting Range
This is a theme from a Japanese woodblock.  I am an archer and these two women are also archers- their tattoos and appearance seems like a new order of woman, and yet timeless

Girls In the Rain
This is another theme from a Japanese woodblock- simple and timeless; umbrellas are a favorite motif of mine- colourful protective shields

My Chambermaid
I once lived in a rooming house with a winding staircase and the wallpaper looked like stars.  I remember the young French girls who cleaned the rooms ascending the stairs – like climbing upward toward the light

October Ferry To Gabriola
A tribute to the novel by Malcolm Lowry-  Allison on the ferry with Gabriola Island in the background-  also an homage to Alex Colville who was an influence on my work

Chinatown
I have explored Chinatown in a few different cities -New York, Vancouver, Victoria- and have always felt a dark mystery of the place- a working girl ascending a darkened stairway

Magic Coat
When Lillian wears her strange colourful coat she feels like a child and indulges in flights of fancy

Dark Birds
These three are like the witches of Macbeth; they suddenly just appeared with the birds. I wondered what they were talking about as they walked in the park early one morning; they seemed to be casting a spell.

Woman and Swan
Leda and the Swan- this could be anywhere and any time; her fate approaches closer and closer;  two beauties, woman and nature

Evening Boats
These boats seem mysterious and melancholy- ready to sail on a dark mysterious journey

Evening Bus
A mysterious fantasy bus stop in the middle of nowhere; a nondescript bus with no one in sight- waiting for whom and going where?

Child and Sea
In this painting I am trying to express how fragile we are- the vastness of the sea behind the child- if she were afloat she would be almost lost from sight

Winter Dream
Allison fell asleep on the couch during a snowstorm and dreamed that she was covered with a blanket of snow like the earth. Wallpaper is a favorite motif of mine and this wallpaper became snowflakes

A New Wave
A crew waits as a new kind of ship is ready to embark on a new kind of journey and a new age