Three painters, all based in B.C., all working with oil paints and capturing nature scenes on canvas. Three distinctly different styles.

Despite their similarities, put three paintings by Cameron Bird, Andrew Kiss and Peter Shostak side by side and you’d never confuse one artist of the three artists for another.

Better yet, get the artists and some of their recent works together in the same room, talk to them about what inspires them and their creative process, and really let the contrasts come to light.

That’s exactly what people will have the chance to experience on Saturday evening (Aug. 28) at the Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery in the shops at the Westin Resort and Spa. Bird, Kiss and Shostak will all be in Whistler for the event, where they’ll take part in a panel discussion and show some of their recent creations. Bird and Shostak will also paint live to further demonstrate their diverse styles.

Gallery owner Michelle Kirkegaard said it will be interesting for both art lovers and aspiring artists to discover the differences in style and process between the three artists. People will be able to ask questions and chat one-on-one with the artists.

These kinds of events are “always educational” — even for someone who’s been up close with art and artists for years, she said.

“It’s very up close and personal,” Kirkegaard said.

Even to the untrained eye, it’s easy to see Bird’s pared-down scenes and broad brush strokes, Kiss’s realistic, vibrant and detailed landscapes, and Shostak’s big skies and sparse, frozen images.

Bird, 38, is the youngest of the three artists, but he’s also had his work at the Adele Campbell gallery for the longest — more than a dozen years. He said he’s always been drawn to paint mountain scenes, and he’s inspired by both hobbies such as fishing, hiking and hunting and past work as a backcountry guide.

“I think you really have to paint what you are,” he said.

Instead of working from photographs like many artists, Bird either paints a scene outside on the spot, or he makes quick, basic sketches with a black crayon. He said it’s not unusual for him to fill half a sketchbook in a single day of hiking, and he also writes journal entries about the scenes he finds inspiring.

From those written descriptions and the four-inch square monochrome sketches, Bird said his memory is jogged and the colours, time of day and other details take shape in his mind’s eye. From there, he usually works quickly to capture the scene on canvas.

Bird has been a professional painter since the age of 17, and he’s been a full-time artist for about 10 years, he said. He’s now based in the small Cariboo town of Lac La Hache.

Bird has taken part in group shows and discussion events at the Adele Campbell gallery in the past, and he said it’s an informal time that feels like it’s taking place in someone’s living room. It also highlights the different backgrounds, processes and styles of various artists.

Bird said he’s familiar with the work of both Kiss and Shostak, but he’s never met the other artists and he’s looking forward to doing so.

Compare and contrast the paintings and personalities of Cameron Bird, Andrew Kiss and Peter Shostak on Saturday (Aug. 28) from 5 to 8 p.m. at Whistler’s Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery. The event is free and open to everyone. The group show runs until Sept. 8 at the gallery. Visit adelecampbell.com for more info.