Vendor Biography

Brian Simons-Biography

“IF IT’S NOT FUN, IT’S PROBABLY NOT WORKING”

Being a self-taught artist, I have derived much of my inspiration from the “GROUP OF SEVEN”, the French Impressionists and the Writings of Baha’u’lla’h (Baha’i Faith). For 30 of my 40 yrs painting, I’ve focused on representational landscapes, still life and figure painting many of which, were palette knife paintings.

During the last 10 years or so my style changed and I started painting fun, whimsical paintings solely from my imagination. I now consider myself an “outsider” artist and my work continues to be raw, authentic, naive and fun. My recent and earlier works can be seen at the following establishments. I love to painting and when I don’t, I get quite colicky and my wife doesn’t want me around. However, I try to paint daily and usually complete 1/day so the studio gets quite full of works from time to time. I feel authenticity is the best thing for an artist and with authenticity, there is no competition. To paint fearlessly and authentically with courage would be my advice for anyone wanting to paint. Here are a few places my work can be seen:

GULF COAST ARTISTS, FLORIDA 

CHICAGO FINE ART COMPANY,

SOUTHSHORE GALLERY, SOOKE, B.C.

ART RENTAL PROGRAM ART GALLERY OF GREATER VICTORIA

WEILER HOUSE GALLERY FT. WORTH TX

HIDE AND SEEK COFFEE, VICTORIA, BC

HANSFORD & SONS EMERGING ARTIST PLATFORM (UK)

Shows and Exhibitions

SOLO-SHOWS

SUMMERLAND  MUNICIPAL GALLERY  AUGUST 2012

LEIR HOUSE, PENTICTON, BC   AUGUST 2012

THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE GALLERY, QUALICUM BEACH, B.C. 2005

GOWARD HOUSE APRIL, 2002

MOKA HOUSE COOK STREET VILLAGE JAN 1998

SOUTH SHORE GALLERY (SOOKE) MAY 1997

HIDDEN SPACE GALLERY (SOOKE) MAY 1996

HARRINGTON FINE ART (VANCOUVER) NOV-DEC.1993

QUIN GALLERY (VICTORIA) OCT.1993

NIEVAART GALLERY (SYDNEY) APR.1993

 

GROUP-SHOWS

SOOKE FINE ARTS 2013 (JURIED ENTRY) “BEST 2 DIMENSIONAL” AWARD

SIDNEY FINE ARTS SHOW 2005-2008 JUROR’S CHOICE AWARD

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS, HELD IN CHICOUTIMI, QUEBEC, JUNE 2004.

INVITED TO BE ARTIST REPRESENTATIVE FROM B.C.

SIDNEY FINE ART SHOW (JURIED ENTRY) 2003,2004

SOOKE FINE ARTS 1999 (JURIED ENTRY) *JUROR’S CHOICE AWARD

ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1998

SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1996 (JURIED ENTRY)

MOSS ST. PAINT-IN (AGGV) JULY 1992,1993,1996,2016,2017

ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1996

SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1995 (JURIED ENTRY)

ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS” WHITEROCK 1995

RED CROSS ANNUAL ART SHOW (VICTORIA) JUNE 1995

SPIRIT WORKS/ART AND BELIEF (DUNCAN) FEB. 1995

ARNOLD MIKELSON “FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS”WHITEROCK 1994

RED CROSS ANNUAL ART SHOW (VICTORIA) JUNE 1994

“LOOK 94” CAPITAL ISLANDS REGIONAL JURIED ART SHOW 1994

“SPRING EQUINOX” QUIN GALLERY (VICTORIA)(JURIED)MAR.94

“ART WALK” HARRISON HOT SPRINGS AUGUST 1993

SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1993 (JURIED ENTRY)

“VISION 20/21” AULD KIRK GALLERY (SHAWNIGAN LK.) SEPT.92

“INSCAPES & IMAGES” (JURIED ENTRY) SPONSORED BY THEWESTERN COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL AWARD:

1ST PRIZE IN ACRYLICS

SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1992-2017  (JURIED ENTRY)

Canadian Corporate Collectors

CANADIAN CORPORATE COLLECTORS

 

• THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA/THE MALTWOOD GALLERY, VICTORIA, B.C.

• RAY MCLEAN-TRIAD EQUITIES, VANCOUVER B.C.

• GREATER VICTORIA HOSPITAL SOCIETY (JUAN DE FUCA HOSPITAL, VICTORIA, B.C.)

• ”X-FILES” TELEVISION PROGRAM (RENTAL) VANCOUVER, B.C.

• ABIGAILS HOTEL-VICTORIA, BC.

• GEOGRAPH INTERNATION, VANCOUVER B.C.

• CREADIE&TAIT CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, VICTORIA, B.C.

• MONDAY PUBLICATIONS LTD, VICTORIA, B.C.

• BELLVUE BLDG. CORP. VICTORIA, B.C.• OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA, B.C.

• LANDSDOWNE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA, B.C.

• S.J.WILLIS HIGH SCHOOL, VICTORIA, B.C.

• AULD KIRK GALLERY, SHAWNIGAN LAKE, B.C. (NANCY ROSEBOROUGH)

• KITSILANO SHOPPING CENTER, VANCOUVER B.C.

• OLSEN FINACIAL CONSULTANTS, VANCOUVER B.C.

• FRIDAY STREET PRODUCTIONS, VICTORIA, B.C.

• ALKO INVESTMENTS, VANCOUVER B.C.

• THERMAL KING GLASS, VICTORIA, B.C.

• AINSWORTH LUMBER, VANCOUVER, B.C.

• WINDEMERE REAL ESTATE, VANCOVUER B.C

• PROGRESSIVE CONTRACTING, VANCOUVER, B.C.

• MOKA ENTERTAINMENT, VICTORIA, B.C.

• DA VINCI JEWELERS, VICTORIA, B.C.

• CMV ENTERPRISES, VICTORIA, B.C.

• HEAVY LIFTERS, VICTORIA, B.C.

• LATITUDE GEOGRAPHIC VICTORIA, BC

 

 

ARTIST’S STATEMENT:

I had an epiphany a few years back and realized that for me painting is just fun! Not serious or academic, just fun, and at the same time I realized that if I’m not having fun, the painting is probably not working. I totally love doing work from my imagination, and it is always a surprise to me when something whimsical or outrageous shows up. I try not to pre-meditate anything, but simply approach the blank canvas and start throwing paint around. Amazingly, some things quick emerge on the canvas and I try to obey and follow the promptings within. I find myself a servant of this process, not an author of anything great. The paintings happen of themselves and I am there! That is all!