Artist Laurel Hibbert’s a people watcher.

Her fascination with the human form emerges in most of her acrylic works, six of which will hang in next weekend’s Maple Bay Painters’ show at St. Peter’s church hall.

Work by Hibbert and the Painters will complement pieces by the Cowichan Valley Potters.

“I like to do people, scenes that give a feeling of safety and warmth,” the retried Chemainus Elementary School teacher said.

“My paintings tend to be fairly homey and tell a story.

“When you look at them you feel there’s a story behind the painting.

Hibbert’s a self-taught artist who’s followed her brush “off and on” since her early ‘20s.

But working fulltime and raising two kids didn’t allow Hibbert, 60, to chase her muse until retiring in June.

She debuted her work in the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s Spring Art Show.

Hibbert enjoyed the exposure and seeing the human form depicted by others.

“When I see other people’s paintings of people I get excited; I prefer human scenes,” the native of Lachine, Quebec said.

But portraying humans isn’t easy for Hibbert.

“I can’t say I’m satisfied with the people I do. “I start some paintings with a person in the work then I paint them out.

“One day I may be good at painting people.”

But her work impressed a spring show patron who’d seen her on stage with the Mercury Players — Hibbert’s the Players’ president — and suggested she join the Maple Bay Painters.

Hibbert admits her penchant for people stretches off the canvas and into the theatre.

“I value most my relationships with others. I act because it’s a chance to be another person.

“Maybe it ties in with the work I’ve done with people all my life,” she said of her teaching career.

The grandmother of three simply loves immersing herself in art.

“Do art for yourself,” she advises.

“It’s one of the ways I believe makes us most human.

“It’s a sign of our humanity that we need to express ourselves. For me, it’s the one thing that relieves stress and brings me great happiness.

“It’s nice if people appreciate what I do but I’d do it whether they liked it or not.”

Your ticket:

What: Maple Bay Painters and Cowichan Valley Potters fall show and sale

When: Oct. 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: St. Peter’s Anglican Church hall, Church Road, Maple Bay

Tickets: Free