C. Mark Elms

From the earliest age I have been drawing and painting; I cannot remember a time when this was not a big part of who I am. I was extremely fortunate in high school to have spent 5 years under Mary Redekop learning, and loving, the history of the western art tradition (every major painter, sculptor and architect from cave paintings to Picasso). I followed that up with a 2-year stint in the animation program at Sheridan College studying with masters from Disney, J. Arthur Rank and Warner Bros. studios where I learned how to draw and paint in 4 dimensions. While there, I met contemporary heroes of mine such as Alex Colville and Chuck Jones. Coming of age, in the 1970’s, at the beginning of affirmative action, it was clear to me that there was little if any room, in Canadian galleries, for yet another straight, white, male, figurative painter. Chambers, Colville, Pratt, Snow Et al. had been anointed by the Canada Council, National Gallery, AGO etc. in the 60’s and filled the quota. I could see the bouncer cutting off the line just as I got up to the door. Rather than “Playing to the Gallery” ala Greyson Perry, or abandoning art altogether (something I couldn’t do), I took Milton Glaser as my model and decided to explore mediums and techniques that interested me while producing art that helped people communicate and sell products. This has meant a wonderful “learning while earning” journey through point-of-sale, display and exhibition design, poster art, direct mail, newspaper and magazine illustration, signwriting, lithography, xerography, web-design, computer programming and more; for over 50 years. As fulfilling as this has been, I want to see if times have changed enough to permit my paintings to be shown in galleries and to repay them, in part, for the education and immense pleasure many of their exhibits have given me. My work is primarily in the traditional medium of watercolour and seeks, as such artists have done for over a 1000 years, to express my thoughts and feelings about the everyday things I love and respect.