This exceptional Carp artist is celebrating his retirement after thirty years of teaching art (and biology, shop, and sometimes, less enthusiastically, even math) to high school students by fully investing in creating his own art. The results are superb. Original. Innovative. Mastersmith is combining his finely honed skills and extensive arts knowledge to explore mixed media. He is melding his talent as a painter with his photography expertise, and topping it off by experimenting with his experience as a printmaker. The results are extremely rewarding.
Many of his current mixed media artworks are celebrations of his love of nature. Birds rate high among his many photographic interests, and his backyard is a major source of inspiration. His beautiful home on the Carp ridge backs onto 400 acres of protected habitat owned by Ducks Unlimited, and he has trained chickadees to take a special combination of bird seed and nuts from his hand on his back patio. In a current series of works he is using his expertise in printmaking to incorporate fascinating textures and patterns into the tree branches that shelter his feathered friends. His unique approach provides a fresh look at this popular scene.
Mastersmith credits his education in printmaking as a student in Fine Arts at Queen’s University with teaching him how to layer images and play with different marks and textures and imagery, juxtaposing realism with abstraction. He admires the work of Gustav Klimt, and readily admits the famous artist inspired him to add gold accents to an owl in a recent composition. He has also been influenced and intrigued by the French Fauvism Movement, with its wild, non-naturalistic use of colour and simplified form to express emotion.
This is how he describes his current series on his eye-catching website at mastersmith.ca — “While birds and the natural world remain his favourite subjects, his recent work takes a non-traditional approach. His paintings and mixed-media creations transcend the boundaries of realism through layered colours, juxtaposed patterns, textures, and collaged objects. Each piece reflects his emotional connection to the subject rather than merely depicting their natural habitat. By placing each species in a reimagined environment, Graham invites viewers to see birds and the natural world in a creative and unique way.”
That is certainly how he sees them. His vision is supported by decades of study and summer holiday travel to many foreign cultural hotspots. He says, “I like to experiment! I want to invite the viewer to see the world in a different way.” He has spent his whole life immersed in teaching, creating, and appreciating art. His past three years of retirement have “been a blessing — a gift to finally have time to be an artist, be creative, travel, enjoy life fully. I love being inspired by seeing other cultures and going to galleries.”
Happy-Go-Lucky
His artworks reflect his happiness. Graham Mastersmith considers himself a very lucky guy, and he truly appreciates his good fortune. He comes from a long line of creative people, and he knew he wanted to be an artist since he was a kid. His daughter, Kyla, is an artist; his partner, Jane Wharton, is an artist. Whitby artist and instructor David Wysotski is his cousin, and the list goes on. He is inspired by Jane’s talents and creativity and love of pattern, and he enjoys his daughter’s feedback. Kyla recently completed her B.F.A. in Fine Arts from Concordia University, and her art is on display at the Twin Muses Wine Bar and Dining Room in Carp.
Graham earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Biology so he would have two “teachables”. His father was a history teacher, and like him, Graham loved teaching — inspiring kids and encouraging creativity, watching young people flourish. He began his career as a supply teacher in Ottawa, and taught for three decades for the Ottawa Catholic School Board. He eventually became a Creative Arts Consultant, working with teachers on curriculum development and procuring funding for arts projects. One of his most satisfying pursuits was working with “phenomenal Indigenous community partners.” He particularly enjoyed working with Algonquin Traditional Teacher Albert Dumont (Ottawa’s English Poet Laureate from April 2021 to April 2023) who was pivotal in the introduction of Indigenous literature and culture to OCDSB students.
Another truly rewarding experience was guiding students from All Saints Catholic High School on humanitarian trips to the Dominican Republic. The students brought clothing and other badly needed essentials, helped to build structures, and supported a tiny early education centre in a sugar plantation. The young teenagers were deeply moved by how other people survive despite extreme poverty and hardship, and how they find happiness by relying on community for support.
Throughout his career he has made full use of his summers off. In addition to his travels to experience foreign cultures and inspirational art galleries, he is an avid whitewater canoer. He continues to make trips to paddle the Spanish River and to other destinations in northern Quebec. While his buddies relax and play cards, Graham creates lovely plein air watercolour paintings of the rivers he’s paddled.
Nourishment for the Soul
Now that he is retired, Graham Mastersmith is finally fully investing in his own art career. As a member of Arts Carleton Place, his soul-refreshing art is frequently on display at the members-run Art Hub Gallery at 127 Bridge St. in Carleton Place, open seven days a week. On November 8 and 9 his smaller works will be on view at their annual Itty Bitty Artisan & Art Show at the Carleton Place Arena. As a member of the West Carleton Arts Society, he is participating in their holiday Artistic Creations Sale, held on November 28 and 29 at the Mess Hall at 2240 Craig Side Rd. in Carp.
Be sure to cut and keep (or copy and file) his Artist Trading Card at the top of this page for more details on how to explore and enjoy the highly original and upbeat artwork of this talented local artist!
