Creating Artwork Can't Be Rushed!

Over the last number of months I have been asked to paint signs for a number of people.  This is great as it helps fill in the gaps between other pieces and styles of art, and it is a chance to be creative.

What I have found is that some people believe that something can be created instantly. This I believe is because we live in such an instant world. A world that is filled with drive through everything from banks, restaurants, coffee shops, wedding chapels and there are even drive through funeral parlours. Every possible way of gaining instant gratification! I have eaten, banked, wedded and done my duty paying my respects.

This is a shame in my opinion, sitting down and enjoying a meal. Greeting the bank teller. Watching the. Bride walk down the aisle. Saying good bye to a friend and passing your condolences on to the family. What has happened to the world we live in?

This idea has been passed on to how people see anything being made for them. As an artist I have to say that it takes time and patience to create a piece, in particular if that piece has detail in it. Hand painting letters, in many places a lost art unto itself, takes time and care. Painting the details of wildlife takes time, it is not instantly done.

I don’t sit down and whip off a painting, a paddle or a sign in a matter of minutes, it takes days to do a proper job. A painting could take weeks, even a couple of months, I have a painting of an owl that is on my easel and it has been there for a couple of months, it can’t be rushed.

What I would love to have people understand is that any craftsman, artist, writer needs time and takes time to perform their craft. A true craftsman worth his weight will take time to perform his craft. Please world give us the time to do so, give us the time to create. We do not live in an instant world of gratification, we live in an old world where time is used to create that piece of art, write that book, that sculpture. 

A fine meal takes time to cook, ask any chef. A car takes time to go through the factory. A book is not written overnight. A painting takes time to create. As the old adage goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Please consider this when buying anything made by any craftsman.

Wilkie Fine Art becomes Backwoods Country Arts.

I have been painting on and off for a good part of my life. A number of years back I started A Frame  Studios, which encompassed my wife's creativeness and my ever growing desire to paint. We have changed things over the last few years due to Julie's illness. I have been using and will keep Wilkie Fine Art but I do so much more than fine art.

Yes, I love to paint scenes of this great country Canada, I paint images of the Canadian landscape, much of I have seen, and these scenes can be seen in my work. I paint areas of Canada I haven't been to, through photos sent to me. I will continue to paint the Canadian landscape, wildlife in nature because we have pillowed so much of it under to build cities, push through highways endangering the beauty around us.

I have painted other items over the years as well. I have painted over 500 canoe paddles of varying sizes and shapes. I have painted on slate, rock and wood.  Most of these items were custom orders, a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, friends and more. 

I love to paint. So over the last number of months Julie and I have been discussing what we should do. Out of that has come Backwoods Country Arts, which is me, Doug Wilkie, working under a name that covers more than fine art. 

I am painting traditional fine art, momentous, sayings and more. All hand painted all Canadian made. My supplies are when ever possible made in Canadian. I believe in this country and believe we should promote this country and all that it has to offer.

Backwoods Country Arts, a creative corner of my life, that expresses more than a painting on canvas. A company of one, creating pieces for as many people that would like something for their; home, cottage, office, man cave, garage, nursery, family room, garden patio, etc.

Backwoods Country Arts is Doug Wilkie, in Omemee Ontario, in the Kawarthas.

https://www.facebook.com/backwoods.country.arts

Home Decor And Subway Art

Every artist that I know loves to paint and has a desire to see their work sell, or hang in a gallery. We want to see our artwork be enjoyed by someone other than ourselves in our studios.

Lets face it though, it isn't everyday that you sell a painting. I have sold some of my work, but I have sold a lot more of my work that many would class as a craft. I have sold a great number of custom ordered hand painted canoe paddles. Of late it is home, garden decor and what is known as subway art. It pays for the supplies and puts some money in the bank.

 

The paddles still allow the creativity of a piece of work on a canvas you name out there. To me this is still art, the "canvas" may not be traditional but it is still a canvas, it is a form of media that allows you to express yourself.

 

I also do other kinds of work, subway art, home and garden décor. Again it lets you use your talen in a different way.

 

They all allow creativity and allow you to help pay for supplies. Until next time have fun, let the creativity flow.

In Between One Style of Art We Create Another

I don't think that I have hidden my love and desire to paint, if the economy would allow it I would retire to a life of art and spending more time with my wife Julie. Life hasn't granted me that so I paint in my off hours.

I love to paint images of Canada, the back roads where so few get to see the beauty that is Canada. But I also paint other items like cottage and home decor. This includes hand painted canoe paddles, mail boxes, slate, wood panels and more. What I paint on these items vary, often it is custom orders, over 500 canoe paddles later, a number of mail boxes and wall home and cottage decor.

It is a form of relaxation, self expression while helping to fulfill my desire to paint. It has been said that no artist becomes famous until after they die, I don't expect to do that for a great number of years. I don't paint to become famous anyway, it is just something I love to do.

Prairie Flight

A couple of simple layouts I have put together, they haven't been painted I use these as a guide on the surface that they would be painted on. Yes, each piece is hand painted, not printed.

This is two finished pieces, painted custom orders. One on canvas the other on board. These are just a few examples.

To quote St. Francis of Assisi, "He who works with his hands is a labourer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsmen. He who works with his hands, his head and his heart, is and artist.