The Artist within

Only some of my very close friends (yes, you know who you are and I can count them on one hand) know that in a life before my consulting career I had somewhat of an artistic career going.  The journey of finding my “inner artist” began innocently enough when I started dating a serious artist back in the early 80’s.   When I mean serious, she was an accomplished and exhibited artist with a major portfolio of work that had strong recognition within the art community with some of it being purchased by quite large galleries and collectors.

One of my first designs - silkscreen print
circa 1984

She invested an enormous amount of time perfecting her artistic talents over the years including a Fine Arts degree from the University of Sydney, the longer we dated the more I began dabbling around the edges.  Just a little at first, but then the more I worked in the various mediums the more I began enjoying my time using a side of me I hadn’t know had existed prior to meeting her.   I guess it was always there, somewhere deep within… lurking just waiting for the opportunity to get out I suppose J

Beach at sunset - silkscreen on cotton t-shirt
1985

 Initially I spent a lot of time experimenting with silkscreens and developing paper stenciled multi-dimensional designs, primarily for t-shirts.   Yes, Darwin has a hot, tropical climate and I wanted to create designs and art that was visible in everyday life, and yes it’s pretty cool to see someone actually wearing your work in public.   She was generous to a fault and showed me all aspects of silk screening and before long I was off designing like crazy, seeing designs everywhere I looked – ah, that critical eye!

To monetize this effort (yes, even then I knew how to capitalize on my creative talents…not to mention save for my year long adventure backpacking around the world) I sought out a vendor license for a local Sunday morning market.  So with not a lot of experience but a whole lot of moxie I set up vendor stall each Sunday and began selling my t-shirts under the brand “Rics Australian Artwear”…don’t ask it’s a long story to be shared only over alcohol.  As you can imagine sales were up and down, some weeks I’d sell 4 or 5 t-shirts, other weeks up to 10, each for $20 a pop.  Not bad considering the t-shirt and inks cost less than $2 per shirt, but it was the creative indulgence that captured my interest and drew out my artistic passions more so than the money.   Although that definitely helped my traveling fund!

My rendering of the work by Henri Matisse
"Red Madras Headdress"  1907

After moving to Canada I really began to expand and explore pencil drawing and the use of acrylic paints with both paper and canvas, even dabbling in jewelry for a short while.  I was even fortunate enough to have a number of exhibitions of my work in the early 90’s in around Toronto – nothing too fancy, but a couple of minor galleries and showings.  

Although it was great to exhibit my work, get some great feedback and even sell a few pieces over the years, it wasn’t that aspect that kept me interested so much as it was the actual creative process.  

A recent experience highlighted how much I have missed this aspect of my life – while working on a recent deal at work (my real day job) I had the opportunity to help craft a creative client related vignette (short movie).  It was so much fun to write the script, then to provide my thoughts on the associated images before seeing it brought to life by our amazingly talented creative team.   It felt good to see that work admired and enjoyed not only by our clients but by our team as well!

My first business card used for art exhibits
(circa 1984)

In more recent years a number of factors have lessened my time spent on the pursuit of my creative talents – I’m sure many of you can name them off without me even having to write them down, a common challenge for us busy professionals with young families so no real surprise there, but I feel a change in the air as the kids get a little older and become less dependent I’m starting to find time again.

My latest canvas - "Sinking"
completed January 2012

In fact I finished a mixed media painting in late January, which in reality had been a couple of years on my easel but with a renewed impetus to stretch my creative juices I spent a weekend working on it.  To my great satisfaction I actually quite like it (not always the case…) and have hung in my office over my desk at home (must be reasonable...right).   And although no masterpiece it was great to step out of my normal everyday working persona and step back to a less complex world and feel the creativity and energy begin to flow once more, albeit a little stilted in these early days, but flowing non-the-less.

Who knows; perhaps I’ll surprise you all one of these days…

A collection of three pencil sketches completed during my visit to Venice, Italy in August 2010:

Ponte Canal - Venice, Italy
August 2010

Five bridges - Venice, Italy
August 2010

Piazzole Roma - Venice, Italy
August 2010


Would love your thoughts and reactions to my work - feel free to leave a comment!