Biography
J.P. Hiscock
At a very early age, John’s mother and grandfather, who were both art teachers and professional painters, exposed John to oil painting. He counts as his major influences the Group of Seven, John Pike and Ted Kautzky. John fell into watercolours almost by accident when he started playing with his children’s paints. He was fascinated by the colour and movement of paint on paper which was so different than his experience using oils. He found that there was a correlation between the way water moves in nature and how it moves on paper. He has pursued his watercolour painting since 1990.
John sometimes applies as many as 5 or 6 layers of paint. This method of layering paint enables the expression of his numerous feelings for the landscape and the divergent moods of nature. Extensive masking is another trademark of John’s work that allows consistency of background as well as a spontaneous expression of the painting. The unique strength and boldness in John’s work is achieved by a “sculpted painting” technique as well as traditional technique with stress on the use of high and low values. These methods accompanied by his ethic of illumination gives the impression of lively movement of light. Light is one of the main criteria in the choice of subjects for John’s paintings.
Colour and form are also deeply considered in the chosen subjects. The paint is applied with strong, quick strokes with consideration to the expression of movement. The palette can be one colour such as sepia or a range of colours such as New Gamboge, English Red and Prussian blue. Complementary colours and the warm and cool colour principle are frequently employed. The technique of impressionism has given John the vehicle to express the atmosphere of a subject while at the same time giving an interpretation of his own feelings about that subject.
John feels that the act of painting is inspired from the deeper portions of him. Here barriers to the earth are removed. In effect he speaks for the earth and gives it expression in the form of paintings on paper. He sees his own work as one of those many living expressions that this living being called earth uses to speak while at the same time affirming his own reality as a man and an artist.
John has been featured in many solo and group shows in galleries including: Galerie Corbeau Bleu, Vielle Chevre, The Wakefield Mill and Galerie Marche des Artisans in Wakefield, QC, Moth Gallery in Merrickville, Britannia Gallery in Ottawa, Galerie Old Chelsea and Studio Gallery in Farmpoint, QC. He also exhibited at the 2007 Ottawa Fine Art Festival, the Ottawa Watercolour Society shows from 2007 to 2009 as well as the Chelsea-Wakefield Studio Tour, “Artists in Their Environment” in 2007 and 2008. John is currently represented by Capulet Art Consultants in Vancouver. He has work in private collections in the USA, Europe, Great Britain, and Australia. John currently resides in the quiet village of Lac des Loups, Quebec.
10-4e Ave. La Peche, Q.C. ~ 819 456 3695
expressionsoftheearth@sympatico.ca
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