By Zach Smith



It is rare to come across an artist like Geoff. The colors and expressions he can create on a simple canvas is breathtaking, and I was grateful when he agreed to answer some questions which would lead towards the strong art scene in Canada, the holes in the socks, and his women with two hearts.





Things change so much over time. Often a piece I am happy with gets reworked later after not looking at it for awhile, sometimes years later. Other times I think a whole area of underpainting is just that, and then it is finished with a few strokes and smears. I try to see things fresh all the time, with new eyes. Often my favourite pieces are ones that are not as popular with the buying public. I have reams of crazy drawings I've never even really shown.





As paint for the sake of paint and abstraction became a stronger force in my work, somehow the colours got brighter. A lot of this had to do with training at the Art Students League under Bill Scharf. He was a studio assistant and good friend to Mark Rothko and shared in his love of colour. A lot of this rubbed off on me. I am always planning on going back to muted shades, coffee colours, tans and greys. But when I am working, I get a flash of colour in my head and have to mix it up and throw it on. It's not really up to me.





I have spent a lot of time looking at a lot of artists of the past and present and been excited by what I look at. Usually it seems it descends into the depths and whatever comes out does so more on its own volition. Constant favourites of mine have been Bacon, Klimt, Sargent, Picasso, Diebenkorn. I really like Daniel Richter and Neo Raush from today's painters. But I am often as excited by film or music or daily occurences. I have kind of gotten tired of going to galleries and would prefer walking through the woods instead these days.





A painting could be finished in a day or a decade. Some paintings are skins with whole collections below the surface, others are a quick statement but might say just as much or more.





The art scene in Canada is strong. I have just moved away from its center though to a small place North. Sometimes scenes in general are great places for energy, learning, collaboration. Other times they are distracting and cluttered. Things change. Right now my life is evolving in many ways and I prefer to work more in peace and quiet and to be inspired more from eternal forces.





I have been very fortunate to have studied with and befriended many exciting artists, and to have been in inspiring locations and situations for this. It is important to focus on absorbing what one learns and is inspired by, but also being able to let it go. These things are stronger in the long run as invisible helpers rather than task masters. One has to trust oneself and be inspired by larger energies in the end. Even if they are never clarified.



Ah, the bills. Always worrying about the bills! I sell my paintings and sometimes work p/t here and there doing whatever. I don't mind holes in my socks as much as the jet setters I guess.





I have been a hired gun for a few portraits. This is not ususally so fun even when the moolah is good. Now I would only really want take a commission when someone is excited by what I do and gives me free reign. This is what I do in my own work anyhow. Noone has contacted me lately for portraits, so I keep painting the people in my life and am happy when the paintings sell.





My sister is a fantastic artist and was a huge reason for me beginning to paint seriously in the first place. We have both wanted to show together for a long time, but this show at Hugh's Room is our first two person show together. It was very gratifying to hang it together! We are having our second show together in April in Toronto at the Gladstone in the Art Bar. We both plan on having many more shows together and collaborating on a series of paintings also.





Our Dad was a mining engineer and Mum was a stay-home Mum. But they both encouraged us in art a lot and exposed us to different cultures and art forms. I wanted to quit art in highschool and my Mum kept at me to keep going. Finally I did quit and went to business school. I was lucky enough to have an early mid-life crisis combined with heartbreak that drew me back to art school. I started off by going to Capilano College where my sister went and my Mum part time too.



Believe in yourself! Don't get too close minded. Look at everything, learn to appreciate what is different from what all the trend setters clamour about. Fashion is fickle and so is this mind set. Absorb it all, and then create with an uncluttered focus, be true to your impulses. Open your heart, breath fully. Eat your greens!





I am a lazy binger. Sometimes I have to force myself to get into the Studio. It is better to have the factory chugging away in full gear when inpiration hits than to wait around for it. Then you can enjoy your rare high and painting on your feet for 15 straight hours instead of organizing your tubes.



My Family and friends in Vancouver, New York, Toronto, Sweden and Thunder Bay. And my Woman with two hearts. You all are the cat's pajamas!


Check Geoff out here.


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