Art portfolio showing the work of David Currie from the early years to 2002. This presentation includes work starting from: teenage years at H. B. Beal; The Banff Center Studio Program; the Vancouver and Toronto years; and ends with work completed while living in Hong Kong.
Following that, it was off to the Banff Centre of Fine Art with a full-tuition scholarship. The second section (Portfolio, part II) includes all the work from 2002 to the present.
2. My Summary
2
• Years of creative experience in
painting, photography, and design
• Additional experience with photo and
video-editing software.
• MBA, University of Ottawa
• Scholarship to attend The Banff
Centre of Fine Arts
• Work experience as a corporate
trainer, coach, and teacher.
• Over twenty years residing in ChinaDavid Currie
4. History
As a teenager, being considered artistically “gifted” meant awards and a
specialized education.
It really started with life-drawing classes at age 12. Then there were four
years at H. B. Beal, one of Canada’s top high schools for gifted students.
Following that, it was off to the Banff Centre of Fine Art with a full-tuition
scholarship.
Through the adult years there’s been times of strong creative output but
also long dry periods. Anyway, it’s been a never-ending journey. The
following images tell the story.
4
5. The Hong Kong Years
1996 / 2002
After arriving in Hong Kong, in 1996, home became a small 350 square
foot apartment on Hong Kong Island. Life was mostly about earning
money but somehow between work and taking an MBA, I managed to
teach a drawing class, do some freelancing, and complete a series of
illustrations for East Week Magazine.
It didn’t last, by mid 2002, other priorities were getting in the way; In the
context of being a visual artist, I entered a “dry period”.
5
6. Bowl
• Pencil on paper, 17.5 cm. X 24 cm
• 1997
Despite living in a cramped little
apartment, I still managed to do some
sketches. Inspired by a Jack Chambers
lithograph, I completed a series of 6 or 7
sketchbook-sized bowl drawings — always
aiming for a swirl of movement in the
pencil strokes.
Rice Bowl
• Pencil on paper, 19 cm. X 19 cm.
• 1997
6
8. In 1997, EastWeek Magazine
contracted me for a series of 16
illustrations.
Illustration drawing
• Coloured pencil on paper
• 20 cm. X 18 cm
• 1997
8
13. The Toronto Years
1986 - 1996
During the first half of a 10-year period in Toronto, while living in a flat in
Toronto’s West End, I produced enough work for a solo exhibition. It was a
big change; I renewed an interest in painting and focused on work that was
realistic.
After 1990, largely because lifestyle changes and a stressful job in the
neurosurgical department at The Toronto Hospital, there was little time left
for art. In addition, a lack of confidence to pursue something that had no
apparent (meaningful) rewards seemed to push me in other directions.
13
25. Row of Poplar Trees
• Acrylic on paper, (approx.) 60 cm X 120 cm
• 1987
Row of Poplar Trees (sketch)
Coloured pencil on paper, (approx.) 13 cm X 26 cm
198725
29. The Vancouver Years
1980 -1985
Most of the time, while in Vancouver, I was sustaining a living through a
self-owned art store and gallery called ArtVest Graphics which was located
at 57 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver.
During this period, my own work mainly consisted of mixed media
(experimenting with coloured photo-copied (xeroxed) images, sometimes
along with paint or other materials, on paper; very little documentation
still remains.
29
32. 32
Angel
• Collage (a
combination of
colour, and black
and white
photocopies
(Xeroxes) mounted
on paper.
• (approx.) 54 c.m. x
60 c.m
• around 1983
33. Water Power
• Photo Sequence
• (approx.) 80 cm X
80 cm
• 1981
33
Sand Formation
• Photo Sequence
• (approx.) 80 cm X
80 cm
• 1981
34. Untitled
• Collage, other mediums, acrylics
• (approx.) 54 cm X 54cm
• 1980
34
Untitled
• Acrylic with marking pen on paper
• (approx.) 54 cm X 54cm
• 1980
35. 35
Hearts for Bomber
• Collage plus other
paper-based mediums
• (approx.) 54 c.m. x 56.5
c.m
• 1980
36. Studio Program in Art
Banff Centre, 1977 - 1979
The two years in Banff, Alberta was the only time that I veered away from
painting and drawing. This experimental period involved multi-media
constructions (sculpture) and photography.
36
37. The Flying Maching, part of a student exhibition.
• Wood, wire, rice paper, etc.
• (Approx.) 6 m X 3 m
• Student exhibition (The Cakewalk into Town), Spring, 1978
37
39. Examples of the work I accomplished
during the first year in Banff.
1. The Sailing Maching
2. The Floating Grass Square
3. Photo “sketch”, the Bow Valley.
4. Photo “sketch”, rock face
39
41. The Floating Race Track, part of a juried exhibition
• Sculpture (a construction made of wood, plexiglass and other materials
• Approx. 160 cm. X 140 cm.
• 1979
41
42. The First Studio
London, Ontario, 1975 - 1976
After finishing high school, I took a summer painting program at the Banff
Centre. My instructor, Brian Fisher, was a real inspiration. As I recall,
during the program, I produced over 60 pieces of work, mostly acrylic on
paper.
Upon returning to London, I got a job in a local restaurant and my first
studio, I did a lot of paintings (some paintings up to two meters square)
and also had my first exhibitions. When, closing the studio everything had
to be thrown out, However, after about 5 minutes, all of it had been
pilfered from the garbage behind the studio.
42
46. Jokingly referred to
as the “Peanut
Painting”
• Acrylic on canvas,
(Approx.) 150 cm
X 150 cm
• 1975
As I recall, this was
the first painting
after leaving high
school.
46