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II have been drawing, sketching, making prints and painting virtually all my life, although, beyond “A level” Art at grammar school in the UK, I have had no formal training. So these initial years of watercolour painting have been something of an adventure in trial and error—and imitation, the sincerest form of flattery.
The credit for my continuing to paint throughout my life goes to a most remarkable high school teacher—Robert Whitmore—who “regarded himself primarily as an artist, but like any other committed teacher, the profession sapped … of the energy he needed for his own work.” Robert Whitmore was the first real artist I had met. He took great delight in developing the talents of others, for which I am extremely grateful. The second “real artist” I encountered in the flesh, so to speak, is Janet Quintrell Treloar, now Vice President of the Royal Watercolour Society. Her skill, talents and friendship inspired, not to say, somewhat intimidated, me. She creates exquisite watercolours with such consummate ease! I have acquired a significant number of her paintings over the years.
After years of my threatening to attempt watercolours, my wife—Joyce—enrolled me in a rank beginner class. It proved to be one of the most wonderful gifts anyone could have bestowed.
Quite unintentionally at first—but then quite consciously and in the spirit of the old masters—I experimented with and appropriated many other artists’ styles: Walter J. Phillips, John Singer Sargent, Homer Winslow, Illingworth Kerr, Tony Onley, Takao Tanabe, Janet Treloar, Brent Laycock, and many others. As well, for several years I attended studio sessions with Jack Rigaux, in Calgary, who forced me out of my comfort zone. He moved me beyond landscapes and rocks (though, as a geologist, they remain the subject matter of most of my work) into a looser style, with larger brushes, bolder colours, and bigger images.
The two works available at the Art Race are from this period of experimenting and exploring with various approaches. So with Jack as a conscience—voice in my ear and eyes peering over my shoulder—I eagerly anticipate being able to devote more time to exploring and developing my own style. I am almost there!
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