Creative Artist - Creative at Heart, Artist First ...

About cre8tivewrks ...

I have sustained my creativity for over sixty years; as a graphic designer, art director, post secondary educator, professor, writer, photographer and as a watercolour artist. My works have been accepted into showings throughout Canada, winning many prizes and awards. My life long love affair with watercolour has steadfastly always been my media of choice.

Since childhood I have been cottaging in Haliburton; first on Gull Lake and now living north of West Guilford on Redstone Lake with my artist wife Vicki. I draw my inspiration from the beauty around me. Forests, wetlands, lakes, shorelines, rocks and fauna; are all part of my creative DNA subject pool.

Passionately with steadfast purpose, my works of the last twenty years entail searching and reconceptualizing subject themes (nature’s beauty, social or environmental) that result in a narrowing of the works message and title. Refining further helps me to land on specific techniques presenting beauty as a message resulting in a thoughtful, respectful reflection.

As a watercolourist, I’m a purist at heart and always will be. I love transparent watercolour and all it has to offer.

Big on economy of brush and message, occasionally reckless and mostly happy; I’m a painter at heart, artist first...

Genre's of my working styles ...

It’s often said works of art speak for themselves.

For me words matter, especially titles. The title is the pivotal creative starting point before the painting even starts. It clarifies many beginning attributes from composition, colour choices and the material choices; to defining the ways of working to complete the painting and its intended conceptual message.

My process as an artist is to work in two ways. One is to go wide and create a series of thematic works principally on one theme. The other is to drill down to create singular works.

The balancing act is to stay open to ways of working. For the most part I'm comfortable working in traditional watercolour. It's the media I'm most familiar with, and the most exciting to work with! That said, I will sometimes choose to delve into mixed-media techniques that are a fascinating means to additional interest and impact to the creative process.

Occasionally as well; if a subject really piques my interest I will happily push myself to make a stronger statement by working within the domains of found art.

Watercolour

Watercolour has a fluidity that has an uncontrollable nature to it. It's one of the more difficult media to work in. Purely from a science perspective watercolour painting is actually about fluidity, diffusion & absorption. Tactical techniques can succeed in taming the chaos.

However, embracing the untamed side of watercolour can yield entirely unexpected, wonderful passageways of colour and beauty - capturing atmospheric qualities and textures for a wide variety of subjects.

It's my first love and my choice and passion to work in. Nothing thrills me more, it's quite simply beautiful.

Mixed Media

My mixed-media works, depending on the subject matter will differ with the addition of non-traditional water based media. Typically water-soluble media like pencil crayons, wax crayons and inks might be used, but also might include opaque media like: pastels, gouache, graphite, charcoal and even mineral embedded paints.

It all depends on my artistic creative mood and the painterly story I'd like to tell.

A matter of note: as an active showing artist and as Associate Member and supporter of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolours I follow their guidelines and refrain from using water based acrylics or oils.

Found Art

Found art is just as it states. I look for objects that invoke my interest. It's another way I choose to work to express my creative interests.

Anything from the mundane, to the exceptional it's all scrutinized!

Particularly if it's underpinned with a narrative that I can build a visual point of view around.

My forays into the forests and countryside and waterways are fuel for my creative self. Most items are collected or are found on my travels away from home.

It's a fascinating way to work.