In my advanced age (79 years) I see portraiture as the most meaningful form of visual art that I can do for others. A portrait is personal, emotional to the client. It emphasizes the love in human bonding be it family or friends (pets included).This has become more important to me than just painting another wild animal or pretty landscape.
Gary Lowe started sketching faces at the age of six years. He discovered the cowboy artist, Charles Marion Russell at age ten and expanded to cowboy scenes and western landscape. You can view Gary's Charlie Russell art website here.
As a young man, he would supplement his income while at university by becoming a street portrait artist. He would complete a full colour pastel in under an hour. While teaching high school, Gary would still do street portraits on the week-ends and summer holidays. His portrait work was recognized as superior art and was a satisfactory source of extra income for many years.
He moved to northern British Columbia because of his attraction to nature and a simpler lifestyle but he continued to paint western and wildlife scenes as well as commissioned portraits.. He marched to a different drummer and sold directly to the public, avoiding the control and manipulation of art galleries. With two mountain horses he always lived near the mountains and would capture his scenes by sketching or photos and later developing them into full sized paintings.
Gary was Citizen of the Year in Dawson Creek in 1984.
As he mellowed and matured with age, he began to focus his efforts completely on portraiture
He recently (2019-2020) received a second place award for his painting of"" The Discovery of Pine Pass 1876 " plus recognition for artistic excellence from the Federation of Canadian Artists. His client list spans Canada, the U.S. Australia, Mexico and Europe.. He is firmly established as one of todays leading portrait artists. "It is a personal gift when I still get phone calls from old clients telling me how they still enjoy and are moved by my art work...even after many years. It doesn't get any better than that!"
He is a member of:
- The Federation of Canadian Artists
- The Canadian Portrait Society
- The Canadian Pastel Association
- The American Society of Portrait Artists
- The Drawing Forum
- World Wide Art Resource
- The International Pencil Art Society
- The Dawson Creek Art Gallery
- The Peace-Liard Art Association
- The Grande Prairie Art Guild
- Animal Artists Worldwide
- BC Wildlife Association
- Canadian Parks and Wildlife Society
Exhibitions and Workshops:
2020 Federation of Canadian Artists juried online show "LIMITLESS" August 1-30, 2020
2020 Federation of Canadian Artists, juried show online: 2ND PLACE AWARD plus AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE May 1-30, 2020
2019 Fall show Federation of Canadian Artists, juried show Grande Prairie, B.C. Award for Outstanding Excellence in qualifying component.
Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie, Alberta
2019 Christmas show Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek, B.C. December1-24, 2019
2019 Seniors Creative Visual Art, Dawson Creek B.C. Dec 3-5
2019 Spring show Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek, B.C. April 1-30, 2019
2019 Gallery North, Fort St. John B.C.(On-going presentation)
2018 Xmas show Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek, B.C. December 1-24, 2018
2018 Terry Issac workshop, Grande Prairie, July 10-13
2010 Annual Christmas show Dawson Creek Mall Art Gallery
2003 Frank Covino workshop and Exhibition, August 10-17 Sacramento, California
1997 Annual Xmas Show, the McKenzie Inn Gallery, Fort St. John B.C.
1994 Western Art Show, Dawson Creek Rodeo, August 1-10
1989 Nawikan Friendship Centre Art Show and workshop, Dawson Creek, B.C.April 2-9
1988 Annual Xmas Show, the McKenzie Inn Gallery, Fort St. John B.C.
1987 Annual Xmas Show, the McKenzie Inn Gallery, Fort St. John B.C.
1986 Annual Christmas show Dawson Creek Mall Art Gallery
1985 Western Art Show, Dawson Creek Rodeo, August 1-10
1984 Annual Xmas Show, the McKenzie Inn Gallery, Fort St. John B.C.
1983 Annual Christmas show Dawson Creek Mall Art Gallery
1982 Annual Christmas show Dawson Creek Mall Art Gallery
Gary survived severe burns to his drawing arm and hand as well as his face several years ago, and recently had a heart attack. He has recovered well and continues to live with his wife, Linda, in the country, near the mountains.
Gary has always had passion for realistic art and also for the complexities of the human mind. He has a Master's of Education in Counselling Psychology and specializes in clinical hypnosis. He has maintained an office in Dawson Creek, B.C. Canada for over 30 years. see www.peacetherapy.com
Organizations helped with non-profit art donations:
- Childrens' Hospital, Vancouver, B.C.
- Dawson Creek Art Gallery
- Peace-Liard Art Association
- Dawson Creek SPCA
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