Society
had just entered a marvelous age, a time of permissiveness. A lot of young
people thought; as does every generation, that it was all up to them. To
that extent, I was no different. I was working with fiberglass and mold
making, followed by resin castings at the time when I started enjoying
color; really enjoying colors and surfaces. I tried watercolors because they
were available and easy to work with. I
eventually began using resins, acrylics and whatever else I could lay my
hands on and just started to work. This included of course, the found
object, a world unto itself.
I had
no real knowledge of art history, in particular Canadian art history, nor
was I aware of the techniques required to work with many materials, but I
was inquisitive. I also had a degree of arrogance that a young man could
have without really being tested. But
I knew what I liked and there seemed to be a personal progression taking
place. The more people in the arts that I met and the more exhibitions and
studios that I visited, the more I realized that I had to see and learn.
The
grand awakening about how small Canada’s
part was in the overall art world did not take place for a while.
It was a bit like a circle of
influence…it just kept growing.
At that
time, in the late sixties and early seventies, Expression was justification
enough. No need to further explain, or to qualify.
Fortunately I came from a creative family, not that this made it any
easier, just a little more understandable.
I had
discovered that my Uncle, an architect, was also an artist and a painter. I
suddenly felt that I had some kind of secret affiliation and that I had
someone to refer to. Later on, when
my Uncle moved to Canada I realized that being an artist and making a living
were definitely two different things. My Uncle Roy made that clear to me.
To find
myself painting, enjoying color and form without any training, was a little
like dropping into the big pool…you either swim or you drown. Swimming meant
exhibiting and selling. I did both
reasonably well and felt a confirmation of what I was doing. So,
painter…paint!
I did
however need to grow up as a painter; to quickly gain an appreciation and an
understanding of how The Art Market worked.
If I was ever to gain a foothold, I needed a foundation. The idea of
spending more time painting and less time exhibiting was an idea that fast
took over. I continued to exhibit in various studios and in office
environments, but I withdrew from the “Galleries”.
As a
result, today, I am both fluid and prolific; actively producing works on
paper in gouache and watercolor, as well as oil-based painting on panels and
canvasses. I have painted myself
into a corner and so it is time to sell again.
I would
like to think that I have many years ahead in which to explore life through
the studio, and can only hope that people who see my work will enjoy it for
what it is.
My
wife, family, and of course my friends are always so supportive; I couldn’t
ask for more.