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 4

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On November 23 and a few subsequent visits I garnered memories and sketches to paint the grey Ontario November skies and the yard where chickens scratch for food and splash in the creek running through the yard. In the background are included the beige townhouses that surround this pastoral for miles.
November 23 2014 2pmNovember 23, 2014 2 pm 43.3880,-80.4354
In Doon (Kitchener) Ontario, on Tilt’s Drive is a chicken farm where you can buy eggs. As I have not seen any cows in the landscape that I have walked so far, I decided to paint these chickens. The farm is across the street from Homer Watson’s birthplace. His family house is still there. In Tilt’s front yard is a maple that was planted in 1857. In this sketch you can see the maple and an outline of the house in the lower right.
January 4 2015 4pm1857 tree Tilt farm
As a person under six years old I lived on a farm, where animals and chickens were in the barn and around the yard. Tilt’s farm brought back many memories of watching chicks grow up, walking around or through them and staying away from the roosters until they were soup.
chicken 1
chicken 3
chicken 4

I appreciate the support of the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund.
Square logo colour

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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