Art Chats
April 8 at 7:30pm with Brian Buckrell – take a plein air sketch and, with the help of digital planning, start a studio painting.
BRIAN BUCKRELL
I retired as Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Guelph, in 2001 and relocated from Ontario, with my wife Cathy, to Comox B.C., on Vancouver Island, returning to Ontario in 2024.
I began painting seriously in 2004 studying with acclaimed artists in Canada and the US. In 2007, I invested in full-time study at the Jeffrey Watts Atelier in Encinitas California, drawing and painting from life. I continue to study with exceptional artists today. I am very fortunate and appreciative to have found this adventure in my senior years.
I paint full time. My paintings are reflective of my love of the outdoors, agriculture and rural
communities. The more I paint the more my work moves towards abstracted impressions of my subjects.
My work has won numerous awards and competitions for both studio and plein air. I was
honoured to have been chosen a faculty participant in the Plein Air Convention in Santa Fe NM and the only Canadian chosen to participate in the Door County Plein Air competition in Wisconsin.
My work has been sited in Arabella Magazine, in South West Art and in the North Light Books:
The Best of Acrylics 2014 , 2015 , 2016 and Plein Air Magazines- Plein Air Today.
I conduct both live and Zoom workshops in studio and plein air painting .
I am a MASTER MENTOR ARTIST for the mentoring organization MASTRIUS . providing mentoring to developing artists.
Brianbuckrell.com
I am honoured to have been selected for membership to:
Society of Canadian Artists
Federation of Canadian Artists
Ontario Society of Artists
Good News!
The critique with Barry Rafuse is back on, rescheduled to Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30pm!
To be included in the critique send a JPEG photo of one of your finished paintings, cropped to just the painting, sized to 1200px on the longest side, along with the paintings Title, Medium and Size to marwest2@gmail.com. At the critique your name will not be mentioned, just your painting’s Title. We now have half the number we need so don’t delay, only the last 15 will be included … deadline to submit April 5, 2025. Thank you.
Barry will wear his jurors hat for the evening and share his knowledge of the jurying process, his thoughts on your paintings and time permitting, answer questions. It will be an entertaining and informative night and you will come away with valuable information on how to improve your art.
http://www.barryrafuse.com .
BARRY RAFUSE SFCA SCA
I have gone from creating realistic landscapes, seascapes and florals to painting very unrealistic abstracts. It has been an expressional journey. Abstract painting is not an easy task and it is always challenging. I strove to paint something “different” — something colourful, bold and thought provoking. I like to leave the viewer thinking about the painting’s story. Abstraction encourages imagination.
Nature’s never ending designs attract me. Cloud formations, water reflections, rock textures and magnified foliage, erosion and snow patterns all catch my attention. These unique designs are forever changing. My paintings reflect what I see and feel.
I avoid predictable compositions. Rarely do I have a preconceived idea or a desired and result when I commence a painting. I trust the direction my intuitive brushstrokes take and I go with my instinctive colour choices. I listen to what the painting wants to become, and eventually, despite there being many challenges, I will be rewarded by the evolved piece.
I prefer using large brushes and large surfaces to avoid detail. I strive for an energetic look by using mixed media and working quickly. If a painting becomes too realistic or recognizable, I take it back to abstraction.
Abstraction is not well understood nor easily accepted. I want my paintings to help change that perception.
www.barryrafuse.com