Robert Achtemichuk

What I see becomes a sort of visual illumination, like a match struck unexpectedly in the dark, a gift, lighting my path into wonder -Virginia Woolf

Orienteering Homer Watson’s painting sites 2

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Many of Homer Watson’s paintings include views of the Grand River. Charlie Hill, recently retired Curator of Canadian Art at the National Gallery of Canada shared that Homer painted a lot towards Blair which is down stream from his house in Doon.

Taking Mr. Hill’s observation in hand, two weeks ago Sasha, my son, and I rented a canoe and took a paddle from Freeport to Blair past the Homer Watson House and Gallery. I was particularly hopeful in finding a stand of pines along the river that are in one of his paintings now in the collection of the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery. It is called Moonlight along the Grand. We made a few stops allowing me to paint. Here are two, one from shore and one from the boat. There were a few younger pines.

September 28 2014 200pm September 28, 2014 2:00 pm, wc on washi

September 28 2014 330 2 September 28, 2014 3:30 pm, wc on washi

The National Gallery of Canada has a very large collection of Homer’s paintings and drawings. If you wish, this link will take you to the area in the NGC website that pertains to Homer Watson – http://www.gallery.ca/en/see/collections/artist_work.php?iartistid=5802 Thanks to Laura Mabee at HWHG for this information.

I appreciate the support of the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund.
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Author: Robert Achtemichuk

Born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan with a fine arts degree from the University of Manitoba and further studies in France and Mexico. Was the Executive Director of Open Studio, the Waterloo Regional Arts Council and the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery. Recently received artist grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Waterloo Regional Arts Fund to develop and exhibit new paintings that were shown extensively. Received the Award of Excellence from the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition in 2012 and in 2015 received the Machteld Faas Xander Visual Arts Award, KW Arts Awards. Appreciate support from Ontario Arts Council in 2018-2019.

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