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14 - PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, May 20, 1992 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Area artist a Canadian success By Marnie Luke Port Perry Star Walter Campbell well re- members that fateful Monday morning back in 1971. After only four-and-a-half months of art classes at Sheri- dan College and the Ontario College of Art, he was just about ready to throw in the towel. Thinking he wasn't getting enough practical experience at college, he decided to try his ar- tistic hand out in the work force. Mr. Campbell recalls, "I put together a portfolio of my work, woke up that morning, and said to myself, 'If you get a job today, then you're not going back to school." More than 20 years later, per- haps partly thanks to the intui- tive Toronto art studio owner who hired him that day, Walter Campbell is one of Canada's most prominent artists. He is known for his unique dry brush watercolor painting technique, seen in each of his 39 limited edition prints. Each of his works depict high- ly detailed Victorian architech- ture, and nostalgic scenes of the lifestyles of past generations. "My paintings are like a fan- tasty. Today, everyone 1s rushed, working at their com- puters and fax machines. I let their imaginations go back to a time when there was a tranquil existence," Mr. Campbell said. And based on the sales of his paintings, the public appears to be enjoying that mystical re- treat back to the Victorian era. Each one of the four to five limited edition prints he pub- lishes per year has sold out, in- cluding his latest piece, 'Morn- ing Hunt". Currently, 40-year-old Mr. Campbell is working on his 40th painting, which is expect- ed to be available to the public some time in August. Mr. Campbell said he always wanted to be an artist, and as a child, he loved to draw. His uncle was an artist, and Mr. Campbell recalls being fas- cinated by his paintings at a young age when he would visit his home in Lindsay. When Mr. Campbell was in Grade 7, he visited the art gal- lery in Kleinburg, Ontario. It was there that he first saw the work of The Group of Seven, and became an immediate fan of their work. Local artist Walter Campbell, known for his dry brush watercolor paintings of Victorian archi- tecture, is working on his 40th painting, expected to be available to the public sometime in Au- gust. See story for details. The YMCA Youth Employment service of Durham Region announces the retum of a summer program, formerly known as W.O.W., for Port Perry youth. Work Orientation Workshop (W.O.W.) has changed its name to SUMMER START! SUMMER START is a YMCA program designed to provide a positive summer experience of personal development and employment for youth aged 14 - 16. Funded through Canada Employment and Immigration Commission, youth can eam up to $850.00. Anyone wishing to know about SUMMER START can call Lori Gowans or Margaret Smart at (416) 427-7670. Tn 45 YEARS OF PERSONAL SERVICE FOR PERSONAL SERVICE vierroursowroom 108 BR UXBRIDGE MEMORIAL Quality & Satisfaction assured by our own Written Guarantee 852-3472 OCK ST. WEST COMPANY MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION GRANITE MARBLE BRONZE CEMETERY LETTERING & RENOVATIONS CUSTOM DESIGNING & LETTERING HOME APPOINTMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION BY REQUEST Bake sale Saturday at Fieldings Ee Utica by Vera Brown Church and Sunday School this week will be held in Utica atlla.m. On Saturday, May 23, the U.C.W. will be holding a bake sale on the lawn of Irene Field- ing starting at 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to donate baked goods may do so and it certainly would be appreciated. Anyone wishing aluminum pie plates for their baking can get them from me as I have lots of them for the taking. Don't forget the euchre on Friday nightin the hall starting at8 p.m. Gavin Sobil has a special birthday this Saturday when he will be three years old. Happy birthday Gavin. Ron and Anna Lee Crawford of Cheezzetcook, N.S. were re- cent visitors with his aunt Georgina Sutcliffe, Pete and family. Many years later, Mr. Camp- bell was asked to do a show of his own work at that same Kleinburg gallery he first visit- ed some 26 years earlier. Although he became a profes- sional, full-time artist in 1973, Mr. Campbell was originally pursuing a career in the field of commercial arts. His first painting was pub- lished in 1977, and he later formed a partnership, which still exists, with Tony Wilken- son. The two own Golden Age Publishing, the company which has released Mr. Campbell's 39 limited edition prints over the past nine years. But despite his unique tal- ents, Mr. Campbell admits that his success did not come with- out much hard work. "It was a struggle, and there were years of frustration and disappointment. But I was so intent on painting, that it didn't matter to me if I was suc- cessful, because I enjoyed what I was doing," Mr. Campbell said. The lesson of patience that Mr. Campbell learned when starting out is reflected in his paintings today. Many of his works take two to three years to complete, be- cause he researches the houses in his paintings so thoroughly. He often spots a house he would like to paint, but decides to wait until an idea comes to him that he can incorporate into the picture, rather than rushing his work. ~ "I'don't just whip out a paint- ing and say 'O.K., there you go.' I'm involved in every stage, in- cluding the publishing. I never start a new painting until everything is complete with the last one," he said. Mr. Campbell claims that his painting style has changed over the years. It was not until the early 1980s that he began painting people into his pic- tures. He originally painted Victori- an houses on their own, but lat- er included people, to give his paintings more of a 'fantasy- like' quality that actually told a story. Around the same time that he made this transition in his work, Mr. Campbell also made a personal transition when he moved to Uxbridge in 1982. He lived in the area for four years, during which time he met his wife Lynn. They later moved to Sonya, just north of Seagrave, where they now live with their two- year-old son Jamie, and eight- month-old daughter Vanessa. Situated on a six acre lot, their country house does not at all resemble the Victorian homes in Mr. Campbell's paint- ings. Although his love for such houses is evident in his work, Mr. Campbell said that tor themselves, he and his wife pre- fer the country atmosphere of their own home. Inside, the walls of their house are lined with Mr. Camp- bell's paintings, both originals, and the limited editions. Mr. Cambell works out of his own home, where he paints in his large sunroom studio. "I try to live a life as simple as the lives of the subjects in my paintings," Mr. Campbell said. When he is not painting, Mr. Campbell enjoys spending time with his family, playing the gui- tar and collecting old car mod- els. But he noted that most of his spare time in some way relates back to his painting. "If Lynn and I go out for a drive and I see a house I'd like to paint, we'll stop to look at it, or I'll go back to it later. So, I'm always thinking about painting in some way," he said. After more than 20 years and 39 limited editions behind him as a professional painter, Wal- ter Campbell has no plans to stop painting. "Sometimes I worry I won't come up with another idea, but I always do. In 20 years from now, I hope to have done an- other 39 paintings," Mr. Camp- bell said. presented by - Emin The Uxbridge Chamber of Commerce WE'VE GOT WHAT YOU WANT Trades ® Services ¢ Retailers -------- A Great Show...Plan to Attend MAY 28, 29 & 30 Thurs. & Fri. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sat. 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Uxbridge Arena & Community Centre Brock St. W., Uxbridge FREE ADMISSION FREE DRAWS -- a al hi Pa Ts, i he NE lis