Familiar Rural Places

by John Nielsen

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

After living in a certain place over the years, we tend to take it for granted.

We don't notice the interesting, sometimes beautiful sights around us.

In 2019 1 had an exhibition at Prairie Fusion entitled 'Familiar Places' in which I displayed pictures of such places in our home city of Portage la Prairie. "Familiar Rural Places' will be a companion exhibition, displaying paintings of familiar places in the area outside our city.

Some of the images will be of actual places that we all recognize. Examples are 'Halfway Tree' and 'Diversion.' Others will be of places that are typical of the Central Plains, such as 'Field Patterns' and 'Canola.

I hope that seeing our surrounding through the eyes of someone else will help viewers to notice and appreciate the world in which we live.

BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Manitoba and have spent most of my life there, more than half of it in Portage la Prairie.

I have enjoyed drawing and painting for all of my life, but it wasn’t until about 1990 that I was inspired to take up art more seriously. Since then I have taken several classes and workshops, but most of what I have learned has been through constant practice and studying the masters. I have taken part in numerous exhibitions and have had 30 solo shows.

I have experimented with several media but feel most comfortable with watercolour. Several years ago I took up photography and I am now enjoying the challenges that it has to offer.

In 2006 1 retired and I now devote much to my time to creating imagery. Most of my interests are art related. I am a volunteer with the Portage Art Centre as a member of the installation committee.

I lead a quiet life with my wife Donna. We have a daughter and 3 grandsons.

Exhibition Sponsor