Brian Simons

Website:	www.briansimons.com

Facebook:	www.facebook.com/profile/brian-simons

Biography:	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 (Bahá'í Faith). My family and I moved to Vancouver Island from Alberta, where I first began to paint approx. 25 years ago. Prior to that time, I focused mostly on drawing and sketching. I began showing my work in 1988 and have been represented by numerous galleries on the Island. From 2006 to the present, I paint on a full-time basis and have had many successes and confirmations in that period, including numerous commissions for a television production company, architects several corporate and private collectors both in Canada and the United States. I also conduct acrylic painting workshops British Columbia, Alberta and the United States. In 2004, I published a complete course book in acrylic painting, available on this website. Currently, I am represented by the following galleries:VAN DOP GALLERY, NEW WESTMINISTER, BCSOUTHSHORE GALLERY, SOOKE, B.C. KAMP GALLERIES, CHICAGORED ART GALLERY, VICTORIA, BC
Statement:	"In my work, I attempt to express something more than the physical aspects of the subject. It is not my intent to portray accurately what I see, but rather to allow what I see to show itself to me. My part is to freely and joyously paint and let the result take care of themselves. I feel that successful painting just happens and the end result cannot be anticipated and should be very surprising to the painter. The more the painter can 'not paint' so to speak. the more space becomes available for this communication to take place. It is a kind of effortless accomplishment whose success is not measured by the work itself, but rather in what is stirred or evoked in the viewer. Possibly, the real fruit of painting or art, is that it has the power to awaken the sleeping artist within each of us. Thus creating new possibilities for seeing and appreciating the beauty which surrounds us."

Exhibitions:	SOLO-SHOWS-GUEST ARTIST- SAANICH PENINSULA ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW 2009-THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE GALLERY JULY 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.93-QUIN GALLERY (VICTORIA) OCT.1993-NIEVAART GALLERY (SYDNEY) APR.1993GROUP-SHOWS-SOOKE FINE ARTS 2004 (JURIED ENTRY)-INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS CHICOUTIMI, QUEBEC (SELECTED TO REPRESENT BRITISH COLUMBIA)-UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, MALTWOOD GALLERY FEB.2002-SOOKE FINE ARTS 1999 (JURIED ENTRY) *JUROR'S CHOICE AWARD-SOOKE FINE ARTS 1998 (JURIED ENTRY)-ARNOLD MIKELSON "FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS" WHITEROCK 1998-ARNOLD MIKELSON "FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS" WHITEROCK 1997-SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1996 (JURIED ENTRY)-MOSS ST. PAINT-IN (AGGV) JULY 1996-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)-MOSS ST. PAINT-IN (AGGV) JULY 1993-"VISION 20/21" AULD KIRK GALLERY (SHAWNIGAN LK.) SEPT.92-"INSCAPES & IMAGES" (JURIED ENTRY) SPONSORED BY THE -WESTERN COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL AWARD:1ST PRIZE IN ACRYLICS-SOOKE FINE ARTS AUGUST 1992 (JURIED ENTRY)-MOSS ST. PAINT-IN (AGGV) JULY 1992-BY INVITATION-"ART IN THE PARK" (VICTORIA) JULY 1992-ROUGE GALLERY "LOOK AGAIN" (VICTORIA) JUNE 92 GROUP SHOW FEATURING AWARDED WORK FROM PROV. REGIONAL COMPETITION-"IMAGES AND OBJECTS" (B.C. FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS)(VERNON) JURIED SHOW FEATURING AWARDED WORK FROM REGIONAL COMPETITIONS-"LOOK 92" (JURIED ENTRY) GROUP SHOW FEATURING ARTISTS FROM THE CAPITAL REGION (VICTORIA) MAR.92 -ONE PIECE SELECTED TO GO TO PROVINCIAL SHOW