 A mostly self-taught artist, Al finds inspiration in his everyday rural surroundings. His realistic paintings, done in acrylics, are so moving that they seem to reveal the soul of the subject matter. His art reaches out and invites the viewer to make a personal connection. Whether the subjects are seascapes or animal works, Al’s paintings seem to evoke a personal emotional. You might feel like touching the fine hairs of his old Welsh Corgi in “Stumpy on the Step” as he sits on the deck, or smell the salt ocean breeze from his painting “Boardwalk to the Beach”.
Al started his art career in the late 1980s, as a high relief wood carver, As a kid, Al now laughs at the fact that he ruined every good kitchen knife his mother ever owned as even a t a very young age he was always whittling on something. Working in Cedar he produced representations of Canadian wildlife in their natural surroundings. His work was displayed and sold through the prestigious Huston North Gallery located in Lunenburg, NS and on the West Coast of Canada. In 1994 he decided to focus only on his paintings as this medium was much more of a challenge.
He painted on hard river stone for several years and completed many commissioned works with dogs being the main topic.
Eventually, he decided to paint only on masonite and began reproducing his originals in limited edition format. Though birds and animals were his first interest, he is equally comfortable with marine and landscapes.
He has received local, regional national and international recognition for his work.
Prints from his painting, “Eyeing and Eagle” were used to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the world ranked Highlands Links Golf Course located in Cape Breton, NS. This painting which depicts the 8th hole Caber Toss was also selected as the front cover for the 2005, 14 / 15 edition of the Nasshwaak Review, published out of St. Thomas University located in Fredericton N.B.
His work has been accepted and shown in the internationally acclaimed “Art Show at the Dog Show”, held every year in Kansas. USA.
Al recently participated in the “Glory of Horses Project”, originating out of Texas. This large mural is comprised of 144 panels, each painted by an individual artist from many different countries throughout the world. This mural will tour the major equestrian events across the Continent, with the purpose to raise funds to support groups that adopt retired work and racehorses to prevent them from being sold for slaughter.
On the national level, Al was recently chosen as a 2009 Ducks Unlimited National Portfolio Artist. Limited Edition Prints of his painting titled “Stepping Stones” will be used at DU fundraising events across the country. This year, from across Canada, almost 900 artists submitted works with only 15 – 20 artists making the final selection, Al being one of them.
On the local level, his painting, titled “Eagle Over Deep Blue” won the People’s Choice Award at the 2008 Sheffield Mills annual Eagle Fest and Art Show.
One of his greatest concerns is the abuse of animals. As a result, he has in the past, and will continue, to donate many of his Limited Edition prints to support local and regional animal rescue centers.
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