Short comment about me, and some images below.

2008-09-21T04:31:00.054-04:00

I am a working professional artist living in Hamilton Ontario Canada. My work can be found in both public and private collections across North America.

I was born in Canada's Capital city of Ottawa in 1953. After a short duration in Toronto Canada, our family moved to Burlington Ont. in the winter of 1958. Like many children who go on in art as a profession, drawing and painting became an early obsession. At the age of 18 my education was supplemented with classes at the Ontario College of Art in the city of Toronto. It was at my Burlington high school that I met a life long friend, mentor and teacher, world renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman. He guided and instilled in me a powerful knowledge of art history, personal integrity of the artistic process, and the imperative mindset of an environmental awareness.

Moved to Hamilton Ontario in the fall of 1973. In 1978 I set up house keeping there with my wife Cornelia . I worked part time producing my art while carrying a full time job for ten years in a paper container factory. In 1989 I successfully operated my own retail business in Oakville Ontario. Then in the spring of 1990, I began my full time painting career having already participated in several popular private exhibitions, public auctions and public art shows.

In 1998, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Michael Lee-Chin, owner/ founder, Executive Chairman of AIC Limited, Chairman, Portland Holdings Inc., invited me to hold the uniquely prestigious position of Artist in residence at one of Canada's largest financial institutions, AIC Mutual Fund Company.

A wonderfully positive and productive seven year period producing a number of paintings for Mr. Lee-Chin ended in 2005 , I then took a sabbatical for the better part of three years to study and experiment with new art mediums .

After a 2010 purchase and renovation of a building in the city of Hamilton's James St. North community art district, and Gallery enclave, in partnership with my brother, on January 29th of 2011 our new venture the Focus Gallery, ( see links) opened it's doors.

Over these many years the body of my work illustrates an eclectic view of Canada and the world around me. Observations of human development, social commentaries, and the natural world. But if I think about laying all of my work out end to end as one continuous chain of images, a certain degree of continuity emerges. A view to an intimacy with my subjects, binding each painting inseparable as one broad evolving cohesive artistic statement.

Mark Strutt

2008-07-17T17:34:00.017-04:00

Below this post . . . An abbreviated cross section display of works spanning twelve years represented by works in progress, past commissions, and recent works.

Mark Strutt's Art Blog

Short comment about me, and some images below.