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Born in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Visual Art is a celebration of our power to create. It is a
glorious expression of our unique relationship to the world. Creating
connects us to who we are. We are not all visual
artists but we are all creators.
As an Abstract Expressionist, I allow the merging of colours and the unpredictable movement of paint to dominate a loose attachment to form. My goal is to release control of the outcome...to take the random and give it shape. As with children, the pure enjoyment of making art flows freely from a place not controlled by the ego. Children paint 'egoless' and I believe that, as adults we must also create from this state. The painting proceeds spontaneously as colours and textures merge to define the direction that the work is taking. Even the title is a surprise. Ultimately, I want my viewers to engage their imaginations in making sense of the work. I wish 'emotion' to be their first and perhaps, only response. We don't need to 'understand' spontaneous art...we only need to be aware of our emotions. We are free to simple enjoy it without judgement. As we follow the playful shapes in and out of the layers of paint, the subjective experience shifts from the artist to the viewer.
EVOLUTION
In the past I painted for 'expected results' and for validation. I had to completely control the painting from start to finish resulting in work that I seldom liked. My journey in art has been one of gradually and fearfully releasing this need to control. Most of us start out dutifully drawing and painting the world as accurately as our art teachers expected. The 'A's were awarded to the 'realists' and reasonably so. As artists, we should have a formal sense of objects as they are perceived realistically. Unfortunately, the longer I worked in this way, the harder it became to evolve. Studying other artists can help us to find our direction on the path. I emulated the 'super realists' until I saw Larry Rivers' work. Not widely known, Rivers' style is a perfect mix of expert rendering and playful abstraction. Willem DeKooning inspired me as well as Vincent VanGogh. In addition to these great painters, children's art has affected my direction the most. Tots create from their emotional centers which challenge the pre-sets of proportion and colour. History shows us that 'emerging art' challenges the status quo and to do this, it must be created subjectively. Art is supposed to move us more emotionally than technically.
This has become the goal of my abstract expression...to work with that fascinating blend of strategy and surrender to create curious and interesting paintings. When I am 'stuck' with a part of a painting. I stop and ask myself..."what would a child do?"
My greatest objective still remains...'to consciously let go of the outcome'. Often it becomes unimaginable like driving blind...but it is the ony way to get a true result. You know when it happens because you can't remember what happened and you can't always do it again.
Education
1997 Computer Graphics Diploma Careers INC Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1981 BFA/ Painting Major Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design Milwaukee, Wi, USA
1978 Concordia University Montreal, Que, Canada Fine Arts
1977 Grand Valley State Colleges Michigan, USA Fine Arts
1976 University of Wisconsin Wisconsin, USA Fine Arts
1975 Studio Corelin Paris, France Prep Studio / Ecole des Beaux Arts
1974 University of BC Vancouver, BC, Canada Fine Arts
Awards and Commissions
1989 Logo Design Selection BC Festival of the Arts Chilliwack, BC, Canada
1989 Downtown Mural Commission BC Festival of the Arts Chilliwack, BC, Canada
1989 Corporate Mural Commission BC Festival of the Arts Chilliwack, BC, Canada
2013 Award of Excellence Artists Choice Show FCA Gallery Vancouver, BC, Canada
2015 Award of Excellence Artists Choice Show FCA Gallery Vancouver, BC, Canada
2015 First Prize Winner Canvas Unbound Show FCA Gallery Vancouver, BC, Canada
2015 June Artist of the Month Federation of Canadian Artists Choice
2016 AFCA Signature Status Federation of Canadian Artists
2017 Bronze Medal AFCA Signature Show Federation of Canadian Artists
Publications
2015 Front Cover of the ART AVENUE magazine featuring First Prize Painting "Geology"
Shows
1980 Group Show Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
1981 Solo Show Graduation Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
2013 Group Show Oil & Water SDAG FCA Show Tsawwassen, BC, Canada
2013 Group Show Artists Choice Show FCA Gallery Granville Is. Vancouver, BC
2013 Group Show Ten Squared Fundraiser FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2013 Group Show Small, Smaller and Smallest FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2014 Group Show Abstract Show FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2014 Seven West Coast Artists Select Group Show FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2014 Group Show One Week Exhibition @ The Chinatown Experiment Gastown,Vancouver,BC
2014 Group Show FCA Summer Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2015 Group Show Artist's Choice Show FCA Gallery, Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2015 Group Show Canvas Unbound FCA Gallery, Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2015 Vancity "Artist of the Month" Exhibition Vancity Fairview Community Branch, W.10th
2015 Group Show Painting on the Edge FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2015 Group Show Autumn Salon FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2016 Group Show Success AFCA Status Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2016 Group Show 75th Anniversary Signature Show and Exhibition Performance Works Gallery Vanc.
2017 Group Show Bezanson Art Consulting 1177 West Hastings St. Vancouver, BC
2017 Group Show FCA Summer Gallery FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vancouver, BC
2017 FCA Signature Medal Show FCA Gallery Granville Is., Vanciuver, BC
2018 Artist's Choice Exhibition FCA Gallery Vancouver, BC
2018 Abstract Exhibition FCA Gallery Vancouver, BC
2018 AFCA Medal Show FCA Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2023 SOLO Show Crucible Gallery Powell River, BC
Private Collections
California, USA
South Surrey, (Vancouver), BC
Rosedale, (Chilliwack), BC
English Bay, (Vancouver), BC
Granville Is., (Vancouver), BC
North Surrey, (Vancouver), BC
Bezanson Art Consulting Clients, Vancouver, BC
Oyster Bay, NY, USA
Coal Harbour, Vancouver, BC
Kerrisdale, Vancouver, BC
Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
Arlington, Virginia, USA
Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, USA
Houston, Texas, USA
Burr Ridge, Illinois, USA
Singapore, Singapore
Brooklyn, NY, USA
