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A former business-owner from Barrhead who began painting late in life will be participating in his first show on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5-6.
Once again, the Barrhead Art Club will be holding its annual Fall Show and Sale at the Barrhead Art Gallery, (located at 4814-53 Avenue. Visitors can take in the show from 7-9 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
One of the artists displaying their work is Bob Lee, who retired about 20 years ago after operating a flower and gift shop on Main Street for many years.
While his father was a carver and painter, Bob himself never painted or drew for most of his life, though he does recall one time when he was a boy and his teacher gave him the highest mark possible for an art project (while his incredibly talented friend received a lower grade for not following instructions).
About 10 years ago, he accompanied his wife to an appointment in Morinville, and while he was waiting for her, he saw a beautiful church nearby and thought about drawing it
“And so I did,” he said.
Then, a couple of years later, he and his wife were visiting Stettler where their son was working as a teacher. They went to a restaurant where they were served these rather ornate napkins decorated with a house nestled in the trees with a stone fence in front of it.
“I thought I would try and paint that when I got home,” he said.
Initially Lee just used regular paper and worked on a table, but his children began to purchase art supplies and eventually he began working with a proper canvas.
While it was just a hobby at first, Lee really threw himself into painting after the passing of his wife due to cancer.
Although he also has quite a large garden, Bob really can’t tend to his garden anymore due to a spinal injury he suffered after a fall. Even painting requires him to alternate between standing and sitting when painting.
Bob also has to deal with shaking in his hands, which obviously poses a challenge when painting.
“Every line takes maybe three or four lines before I get it,” he said, adding that he sticks to it due to his heritage as a “bullheaded Norwegian.”
At one point, Bob would paint birds, but that is no longer possible. Now he mostly sticks to subjects like landscapes, using pictures and images provided by his children to paint from, such as vacation photos taken by his daughter when she went to Victoria, B.C.
And despite his physical challenges, Bob is still quite prolific in his artistic pursuit, as evidenced by his basement filled with pictures.
As to how he came to participate in the Barrhead Art Club’s fall show, Bob notes that he is friends with one of the artists and she convinced him to participate.
“I’m a newcomer and not very good compared to most of them,” said Bob, who incidentally will be taking his very first art class in November.
