Interview #13
Only 3 days to the Studio tour!
Q1.Why did you choose to become an artist? Did someone influence you?
A1. Being a painter just fell into place. My brother, my aunt and grandfather all painted. My school teachers encouraged me. In high school I won a contest and did the titles for a school board film and I had a wonderful art teacher.
Q2. What does being and artist mean to you?
A2.It gives me a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction to create a painting. It’s very relaxing.
Q3.What are your artistic influences?
A3.Nature and people, famous artist’s biographies. The art galleries in New York and other big cities and of course Vancouver too. And Indian Pow-wows. I love to paint Indians.
Q4.If you could change a part of the world through your art, what would that be?
A4.Help the poor- I am working on a plan now to donate more of my art sales to those in need. I am going to do this through my church.
Q5.Can you tell us your favorite artist(s)? Can tell us why? Did one or many of these artists influence your style? In what way?
A5.I enjoy many artists’ work and their style both now locally and those of the past. If you like what they do some of it is bound to rub off on you.
Q6.Can you share your creative process with us? Ex: How do you a start painting? Do you plan your projects?
A6. I like to start with a bit of a plan and in the works, do a series; maybe three paintings that relate in colours and subject, in separate frames that can be hung in a row. Large paintings 3’X3’ squares would be good.
Q7. How long have you been an artist?
A7.If you count my grade 5 wax crayon period—75 years. Otherwise about 60 years.
Q8. What is your favorite subject to paint?
A8. My favorite? Don’t really have any favorite. At one time it was portraits but now it’s more or less nature and still life.
Q9. Do you have a favorite style? (Realism, abstract…)?
A9.It has always been mostly realism, but now I want to get into more contemporary, but not truly abstract. I like to experiment with ideas and styles.
Q10. What is your medium? Why? Do you like to try different mediums or you are more conservative person?
A10.I have painted with oil, pastels, watercolours and now I am using acrylics. I like acrylics they make your work faster because they dry fast.
Q11. How do you see your future as an artist? What is your dream?
A11.I am 80 years old and my dream is to be able to paint and enjoy life as long as I can.
