The Arts Council presents
“Up Close”
by artist Jeff Wilson
May 26th – June 21st
1 to 5pm Tuesday – Sunday
Opening Reception: Saturday May 30, 2-4pm
Artist Talk: Saturday June 6
www.jeffwilsonart.org
Artist Statement
I am a Scottish-Canadian realist acrylic painter, based in Vancouver, BC.
I work within the Scottish tradition of Realist painting that was established by the Glasgow Boys in the late 19th Century, and remained at the heart of Scottish painting through the 20th, characterised by artists such as Scottish Colourists and the Edinburgh School.
I have been painting one type of animal or another for a while now. Some are working animals, some wild and some are pets. All have a fairly consistent character, with well-defined facial features, such as the eyes, mouth & nose combined with looser brushwork of fur, feathers, etc.
A big part of the attraction of painting animal portraits is creating an image which is obviously man-made, but has something of the life of the original animal remaining. When I look at my work, part of me believes the animal to be real, and I see that reaction in other viewers. I feel that such a reaction this is to a great extant hardwired, and the ability to produce such a visceral reaction with paint on canvas to be a rare and wonderful thing.
About the Artist
Education
2007 Acrylic painting and drawing, evening classes Emily Carr University
Residencies
2014 The Booth, Shetland Islands, Scotland, WASPs Studios & Shetlands Arts Trust
Awards
2015 Vancouver Foundation Downtown Eastside Small Arts Grant
2014 2nd Place, 12th Annual Open Show, Peninsula Art League, Gig Harbor, WA
2014 FCA Associate Signature Membership
2013 Best in Show, Oil & Water, South Delta Artist Guild & FCA, Tsawwassen, BC
2013 Winner, Battle of the Brush XIV: Season III Episode IV, Vancouver, BC
2013 Winner of Art Battle 49, Raw Canvas, Vancouver, BC
2013 Winner of the Art & Beyond Magazine Cover Competition, International
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2015 Up Close, Arts Council of New Westminster Gallery, New Westminster, BC
2015 Terminal City, Espana Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2015 By Land Air and Sea, Salmon Arm Art Gallery, Salmon Arm, BC
2015 Signs of a Time, Gateway Theatre, Richmond, BC
2015 60°N: Shetland, Maple Ridge Art Gallery, BC
2014-15 By Land Air & Sea, Vancity Credit Union, Port Moody, BC
2014 Selected Works, Courthouse Gallery, Merritt BC
2014 By Land Air & Sea, Place des Arts Atrium Gallery, Coquitlam, BC
2014 Vancouver Mid-Century, Port Moody Arts Centre, Port Moody, BC
2014 Planes, Trains and…, Foyer Gallery, Squamish Public Library, Squamish, BC
2014 Mid-Century Neon, West Vancouver Municipal City Hall, West Vancouver
2014 By Land, Air & Sea, Brotman Galleria, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2014 Vancouver Mid-Century Signs, Lost & Found Gallery Café, Vancouver, BC
2013 Portside, Performance Works Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
2011 Art Show & Sale, Independent Solo Show, Vancouver, BC
Selected Two-Person Exhibitions
2014 Water, Britannia Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2013 Leaves & Tides, Silk Purse Art Gallery, West Vancouver, BC
2013 Planes, Trains &…, North Vancouver District City Hall, North Vancouver, BC
Public & Corporate Collections
2015 Salmon Arm Art Gallery, Salmon Arm, BC
2015 VGH Foundation, Vancouver, BC
2015 Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation, North Vancouver, BC
2014 Forum Capital partners, Toronto ON
2014 Port Moody Arts Centre, Port Moody, BC
2014 De Dressay Law, Vancouver BC
2013 MOI Solicitors, Vancouver, BC
2013 Nevada Sunrise Mining Corp., Vancouver, BC
2013 Western Potash Corporation, Vancouver, BC
2013 Union Gospel Mission, Vancouver, BC
2013 BC Gold Corp, Vancouver, BC
2012 Union Gospel Mission, Vancouver, BC
2012 Tetra Tech Australia Pty., Perth, Australia
Recent Publications
2015 “Exhibition features vivid, industrial Art”, Salmon Arm Observer, Apr 1
2015 “Jeff Wilson: 60º North: Shetland” Preview Gallery Guide Vignette, Feb-Mar
2015 “Ocean of colour at Maple Ridge Art Gallery”, Maple Ridge Times, Jan 28
2014 “Art show charms with familiarity”, Merritt Herald, Sep 30
2014 “Neon lights lure painter”, Tri-City News, Jun 18
2014 “Trains, planes and terrifically whimsical art”, Squamish Chief, May 28
2014 “Wilson brings colour to the Booth”, Shetland Times, Mar 21
2014 Artists of British Columbia, Volume 4, Leighton Gallery
2013 Artist Portfolio Magazine, Nov 27
Exhibition Preview
