Becoming an award-winning artist wasn’t part of Brian Buckrell’s life plan.
But once a passion for painting developed, he devoted himself to exploring the possibilities. Now his work is exhibited in prestigious galleries in B.C., Alberta and Ontario and he’s gone from being a student of the craft to a sought-after instructor.
After 11 years in the Comox Valley, where Buckrell fell in love with painting, he and wife Cathy are moving back to Ontario. The Farewell Show, an exhibit of his work, is on display at Whyte’s Framing and Gallery until April 16.
When Buckrell retired as a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Guelph in Ontario, the plan was to retire to the couple’s Ontario farm.
“Instead, after visiting friends in Comox, we decided to do something crazy and move across the country,” says Buckrell. “We love skiing and kayaking so thought, ‘Why not?’ ”
Comox became home base in 2001 and three years later, when Buckrell turned 60, Cathy took him to a Tracy Kobus drawing class. His curiosity was piqued so he signed up for a course on acrylic painting at North Island College.
“I realized painting suited my personality and my lifestyle,” says Buckrell. “It’s stimulating and portable so I can take with me on RV trips. I’d never done anything artistic before but just fell in love with the art form.”
Although Buckrell didn’t know much about painting, after spending most of his life working at a university, he knew about acquiring knowledge. So he spent a lot of time planning his art education, coming up with a five-year skills-based program of applied learning that involved 25 well-known artists in the U.S. and Canada and six months of full time study at the Jeffrey Watts Atelier in Encinitas, Calif.
Now he paints full time, often putting in eight- to 12-hour days.
“People frequently say, ‘I wish I could draw or paint,’” he says. “I tell them it’s like playing the piano. Some people might have a natural talent but no one is born knowing how to play like a master.
“It takes hours of practising and it’s the same with painting. A lot of it is just putting in the time and doing the work.”
“I like painting because it’s stimulating and challenging,” he adds. “There is no right or wrong, no good art or bad art, only the continual learning and striving to improve.”
Buckrell started with acrylics and calls them his comfort medium.
“It’s less risky because you can make changes and see the results right away. Acrylics are playful and experimental and are a good way to learn painting.”
But lately he’s been spending more time working with oils.
“Oil is definitely more challenging,” he notes. “You have to let the paint dry for a couple of days before you can make any changes. I consider painting with oils to be more serious, they have more control over you than you do over them.”
Buckrell’s style has continued to evolve and change.
“My work is becoming looser and more impressionistic, almost abstract,” he says. “I’m trying to create simplicity out of something complex. To have the courage and confidence to quit earlier. That’s the hard part, knowing when to stop applying paint, when there is just the right amount to make a work interesting.”
Now, after more than a decade of West Coast adventure, the Buckrells are returning to Ontario.
“Our sons made the decision for us,” explains Buckrell with a laugh. “They want us to come come back and be full-time grandparents. And we’re looking forward to that. And it’s time for me to get more balance in my life and to be more active. I’m getting a painter’s belly and I think my grandchildren will take care of that.”
Leaving the Comox Valley was a tough decision.
“We’ve made so many great friends, the art community has been wonderful and we love Mount Washington,” says Buckrell. “We’re hoping we can continue our lifestyle in reverse, have our base in Ontario and come out here to visit on a regular basis.”
As well as signaling a change for the Buckrells, the Farewell Show is heralding a new focus for Whyte’s Framing & Gallery. The space at 1225 Lazo Rd. in Comox has been remodelled to create more room for ongoing exhibits and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For more information about Brian Buckrell, visit www.brianbuckrell.com or to learn about his painting philosophy, go to www.brianbuckrell.blogspot.ca.
