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Ray Ward

Ray Ward has been spending most of his time lately painting landscapes and seascapes inspired by visits to the west and north coasts of Vancouver Island. To him, these spaces are important because... Read More

Ray Ward Original Art For Sale

About Ray Ward

Ray Ward has been spending most of his time lately painting landscapes and seascapes inspired by visits to the west and north coasts of Vancouver Island. To him, these spaces are important because they give us the land untouched and unaffected by any human concerns.

"I paint the unspoiled natural beauty found in the parks and the remaining crown land that hasn't been stripped of its resources," says Ward. "Most of my paintings are devoid of any human presence. I think this may have started as a subconscious reaction to all the development in my neighborhood recently, where I've seen large tracts of land cleared and flattened to make way for more houses and retail spaces."

When painting these places, Ward enjoys working in unusual weather conditions as well as very particular moments of light.  "I prefer the low light of winter sun and dawn and dusk," says Ward. "I also like atmospheric effects of air thick with moisture and changing weather patterns, such as a storm passing through. My approach is quite often centered on creating a mood through light and atmosphere."

And, in doing this, Ward is not just duplicating what he sees in nature, but, rather is focusing on these minute mood and atmospheric changes to interpret these scenes for greater emotional effect. "I don't just recreate what I see," says Ward. "To make a good painting there are always changes to make. Quite often there are distracting elements to be removed, things to add, to exaggerate or lessen. Even when a near perfect scene is presented, there are always things to play with to put your stamp on it."

It is also important for Ward to find beautify in the everyday world that surrounds him and to show this side of the natural environment to people who may not so easily recognize it. "I'm always trying to look at things differently," says Ward. "Or, at least in a new light so to speak, to enable me to broaden my work and offer a unique view of something. There is natural beautify abound where I live, and in addition to painting that I try to find beauty in the simple, somewhat mundane subjects that I might be tempted to overlook.

My Inspiration - "Low Tide, Schooner Cove"

For the last couple of years I have been painting landscapes and seascapes almost exclusively of Vancouver Island, where I live - many favourite spots are just minutes from my home. For "Low Tide, Schooner Cove" I traveled a couple of hours to the west coast, a trip I make two of three times a year to collect information for future paintings and to enjoy time with my family. I planned to visit Schooner Cove and checked the tide tables prior to leaving, as access is difficult or impossible at higher tides. There are several islands that lie just a few hundred meters from the beach, and I was drawn to this particular one. With mountains, mist and trees in the distance, it presented a classic west coast scene to paint.

This interview is an excerpt from International Arist magazine (April/May 2012). Ray Ward was the Grand Prize Winner of Challenge No. 68 - Landscapes.

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