gordon leverton

Gordon Leverton anwers our questons:


what question do you wish would be asked in an interview and how would you answer it?
Most artists find it difficult to explain their art (writing an artist statement is excruciating), and talking about one’s art usually comes off as sounding scripted. So, I would say, ask me about anything other than art or my work!

why art?
I can explain “why visual art?” – it’s the most effective way I’ve found to express myself completely. I’m not a great verbal communicator and I’d really rather listen than talk anyway. I love music as well but I don’t have enough natural ability to yield satisfactory results. And my writing is pretty mediocre!

who or what inspires you?
Architecture, the city, family, friends, fellow artists. I get inspiration from a pretty big pool. I’m also very influenced by California-based painters like Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff and David Hockney; and early German impressionists like Der Blaue Reiter group.

any wisdom you'd like to share about living as an artist?
Do what you love. Resist the urge to produce work to please certain people. You will get lots of advice from all directions – have a good think about all this advice before you decide if it’s applicable to your work.

A self-taught artist, Gordon's previous incarnations - as picture framer, writer, retailer and entrepreneur - have helped form his art direction; that of urban decay and architectural design. Born in Chatham, Ontario, his formative years spent in the rural southwest farm belt gives him a unique perspective on the body of this work.



Gordon is a member of several guilds and artist groups including: Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Artists Inc., Artists Network (Toronto), and is an elected member of The Society of Canadian Artists. His artwork has shown in the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Todmorden Mills Museum in Toronto, Montreal's Ogilvy Hall and the Tom Thomson Memorial Gallery. Many various private and corporate collections are home to his work, including the City of Toronto fine art collection in St. Lawrence Market.

Gordon holds several awards, having taken first place awards in the Junction Juried Art Exhibition and the Riverdale Art Walk in Toronto. He makes his home in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife Nancy and two children.

Awards
Best Visual Artist, 2008 Best of Hamilton awards, H Magazine, Hamilton.
First Prize, 2008 Junction Juried Art Exhibition, Toronto.
Best-in-show, 2008 Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto.
Scholarship, The Academy of Realist Art, Toronto.

Selected collections
Carstar Corporation (Hamilton, Canada)
City of Toronto Fine Art Collection (Toronto, Canada)
David Premi Architect Inc. (Hamilton, Canada)
Fengate Property Management LTD, (Burlington, Canada)
Hughes Abys LLC (Hamilton, Canada)
Katu Design (Toronto, Canada)
Louise Dompierre, President/CEO, Art Gallery of Hamilton (Hamilton, Canada)
Multipond GmbH, (Waldkraiburg, Germany)
Nycomed Canada Inc, (Oakville, Canada)


Source: republished with permission
www.gordonleverton.com