Gary Whitley, B.A., A.F.C.A.
(One of my other passions)
Born: Edmonton, Alberta
Education: B.A., (History), University of Victoria
Gary has been a full time artist for over 45 years and is an Associate Signature Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, a past Elected Member of the Society of Canadian Artists and a past Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America.
Gary regards his paintings as visual representations of our times and paints with the local colors of our environment so they are immediatedly recognizeable. He strives to pick subject matter that will bring back individual memories to the viewer of a time and place. The challenge for him is to attempt, on a 2 dimensional canvas, create the visual illusion of the third dimension, i.e. paint the air between things, so that one object truly feels like there is distance between it and another object. Painting air is a lot easier said than done, but when a painting succeeds, the viewer has the feeling they can walk around in the painting and floral paintings have the feeling of distance between petals.
Many of his mountain landscapes are a result of long hours in the saddle in the local area of Vernon and also from over 25 years of riding Endurance (long distance races) all over, B.C., Alberta and the occasional trip south of the border. He and his wife owned and trained, from the time they were long yearling foals, 7 Arabians over a 25 year period.
His marine scenes come from living in Campbell River, Vancouver Island, B.C. for 6 years. He also paints portraits of individual flowers and blossoms from his wife's floral garden. Gardening is another one of his passions, but he only grows things you can eat - vegetables. He has a plaque hanking on a wall of his patio that states, "Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes". There is something truly relaxing and theraputic about puttering in your garden and watching things grow that you can then put on your table and eat.
He has exhibited in commercial galleries from Victoria B.C. east to Montreal, Que. His paintings have made their way to the UK, many European Countries, S. Africa, India, Australia, China, Japan and across both the United States and Canada.
He also participated in Cultural Exchange Shows in China:
2017 Cultural Exchange Exhibition, Canada-China Friendship, Nanjing, China
2016 Pacific Rim Art Exchange Exhibition, Shanghai, China
2015 Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange Art Exhibition, Tianjin, China.
Plus a Cultural Exchange Show in Taipei City, Taiwan
2016 Group Exhibition of Artist from North America, Taipei City, Taiwan
Gary's paintings hang in many Law Firms and Accounting Firms throughout Canada plus in corporate collections - Sony Inc. (Japan), Innis & Gun (Glasgow, Scotand), and The Bryton Marine Goup, which consists of 5 different boat companies, 2 in Canada and 3 in the U.S., and includes Kingfisher Boats in Vernon B.C.
Awards
2019 1st Place, Arrowsmith Chapter, FCA, Fall Show
2019 Honorable Mention, Arrowsmith Chapter, FCA, Spring Show
2012 Winner – Innis & Gunn National Packaging Competition
2012 Associate Membership Oil Painters of America
2011 Elected Status, Society of Canadian Artists, Ontario, Canada
2011 Award of Excellence Triptych 2011, Penticton, B.C.
2010 Bronze Metal Award, TNSC National Open FCA Show, Kamloops, B.C.
2010 Best in Show, North Okanagan FCA Chapter Show, Vernon, B.C.
2010 A.F.C.A. status with the Federation of Canadian Artists (again)
2009 Award of Excellence FCA Small Salon Show Vancouver B.C.
2009 Award of Excellence FCA Chapters Show, Vancouver, B.C.
1986 A.F.C.A. status with the Federation of Canadian Artists,
1981 Best Watercolour Stockman’s Heritage Show
