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Born in Hamilton and raised in nearby Dundas, Ontario, now-Bancroft-area plein air painter, John Christie recalls public school friends—including eventually well-known singer/musician, Ian Thomas—excitedly taking music lessons. But being “tone deaf”, John opted to take art lessons instead. And his very first work of art—a portrait painted in poster paint (gouache)—was included in an art show! However, even after further art lessons in public school, his high school years were academically focused with a career in engineering as his goal. And it wasn’t until 25 years later that art became an integral part of his life. Christie studied the first year of chemical engineering at the University of Waterloo but dropped out and learned and began practicing the skill of lab technician at Stelco Hamilton beginning in 1970. It was a boring, geeky job but he took advantage of his latent creative skills to be an innovator in the profession–enhanced by night school classes at Mohawk College–learning the building of metallurgical prototypes and studying the application of electronics for his work at Stelco. Late in that career and on a whim—and encouraged by his second wife, Debbie—Christie decided to take art lessons at the Dundas District School of the Arts—enrolling in the portrait painting class. This involved painting from live figures in a studio—a big challenge but one he took on with enthusiasm and the assistance of a skillful instructor. However, it was the move to painting en plein air (on location) under instructor, Catherine Gibbo, beginning in year 2000, that his ah-ha moment and religious involvement with art-making truly began. He had developed a love of the outdoors at a very young age and as an avid camper and canoe tripper learned to cherish time spent exploring new places or revisiting old. And with his burgeoning interest in plein air, his creating of paintings—first in oils then switching to acrylics—with organized groups in the great outdoors began. And he showed his work—in some solo exhibitions but, primarily, in numerous group shows in the Dundas/Burlington area, beginning in the mid-2000s. In 2020—right at the beginning of the pandemic—he and Debbie made the decision to purchase and move into his parents’ home on Paudash Lake. His parents had bought a cottage there in 1966 and he had spent much of his spare time since at the lake. He says: “To now be living in what was, for most of my life, my happy place is surrealistic.” After COVID had diminished adequately, he discovered the thriving community of artists and engaged in |
activities here—joining and assuming the curatorial role at A Place For the Arts (Debbie is now chairperson) and is now a first-time participant in the Studio Tour—which runs September 20-21 and 27-28. John Christie‘s location is 1095 Ruthven Road, Highlands East, his email is john@johnchristie.ca and his website is www.johnchristie.ca Christie says: “I am, once again, working with many talented artists and making new friends in the Bancroft area. I am excited about what I have accomplished and can’t wait to see where my art will take me next.” (Profile writing and photo by Allan O’Marra) |
