Frequently Asked Questions about Gordon Currie’s Art
- When did you start painting?
I started painting in about 2003. My wife gave me a gift certificate to attend some paint lessons at the local Art Museum in Dawson Creek, BC. I then took private lessons with Marjorie Henn ( watercolorist from Beaverlodge, Alberta ) and Cal Cameron (Moberly Lake, BC and Comox Valley, BC). I took a number of online painting courses and studied traditional art for over 10 years. Both my father and younger brother paint watercolour and acrylics. I have a great uncle on my mother’s side that was a full-time painter. I had a brief hiatus from painting in 2010 after being involved in a car accident and then 2 years later when I suffered a stroke. But as of 2018, I am painting every week.
- What is your primary motivation to paint?
I find painting very rewarding, enjoyable and relaxing. My mind is 150% focused on painting, and not money, family, work or politics. Its the one thing stable in my life that gives me hours of pleasure.
- Why paint flowers, gardens, fantasy, steampunk, European buildings etc…
I paint things that are bright, cool textures, historic, action packed….you name it. I do NOT normally paint portraits, children or pets. Maybe one day.
- Do you use special paints or have favourite brands?
I use a variety of paints from a variety of manufacturers. They include name brands but also brands associated with companies like Opus Arts in Canada. I have painted with paints and mediums from Atelier (from Australia / New Zealand ). The majority of brands are professional and not student grade for the quality of pigments and light fastness.
- What are you influenced by when painting?
I am heavily influenced by areas I lived or grew up in ( Victoria, BC, Vancouver Island etc), or images I have collected ( Architecture from Europe) and the experiences I have had. For example, I painted a few paintings of Firefighters on the fire ground. As a retired firefighter, I spent 6 years full-time fighting fires. many influences are tied to books, games and fantasy that I have read or been exposed to.
- How long does it take to paint a typical painting?
Watercolours and Acrylics – Every painting takes different times based on the size, colours chosen and mixed. I can average anywhere from 20 hrs to 45 hrs or more. I typically paint about 3-4 paintings a month with the rest of the time used to research paintings, designs, concepts and themes. Sometimes I will develop colour studies or tonal studies as part of the research phase. The actual painting time is only a part of the big picture.
Digita Paintings – These take about 10-12 hours depending on the level of detail and effects. Most images size wise are 3000px by 5000px. Thats about 10″ x 16.6″ at 300 dpi – This resolution is print quality.
- Do you sell prints of your original work?
Yes. But I limit the acrylic prints sizes, print runs. In the past 5 years, I have chosen about 50-60% of my work to provide prints. But in small numbers (less than 500 in most cases). I do NOT make prints of paintings that are gifts, commissions or artwork donated to auctions or special events.
Digital Art Prints – I do sell Digital Art Prints as well. These images and art are created on a iPad Pro tablet and are digital watercolours and oils.
- Who typically buys your art?
The market for my work really varies. Paintings and prints for garden / outdoor scenes are normally men and women in the 25-65 age group with many buyers collectors over 50. That said, I have sold work (primarily fantasy, architecture, firefighter paintings to those in the 20 – 35 age group. You don’t have to be a certain age or gender to buy my art. My prices vary from $250 to $3000 depending on size and theme.
Digital Artwork – in 2019, I started painting alot of Steampunk artwork and Japanese Gardens / Streams.
- Do you sell your work outside Canada? or North America?
I normally sell the majority of work in Canada and the US. But I have sent prints overseas to Japan and Europe. But it depends on the size and also the particular company that ships. Each situation is unique.
UPDATE: I am working on selling my Art more and more to collectors in Europe. I may have prints printed in Europe. Just setting up the business connections. Watch my blog for updates!
- Do you paint commissions?
Yes, I do print commissions but prefer to review the image or pictures before committing. In order to paint a piece of art that the clients like, there is a process for coming up with some initial designs. Also, I have a payment process with a deposit in advance.
- Do you number and sign your prints?
The majority of prints are signed and numbered. If they are part of a batch of artist proofs, they will include “AP” for artist proofs ahead of the number. Artist Proofs are normally smaller than the original image.
- Do you do anything special to preserve the acrylic paintings before shipping?
Yes, I spray varnish or a protective finish to prefer fading and ultraviolet light. This spray not only protects the art but can brighten up the colours and offer a nice look. As indicated below, prints are shipped in protective sleeves.
- Do you mount and frame your watercolour prints?
My watercolour prints are shipping in a protective clear plastic bag mounted on cardboard for shipping. I do NOT frame them or provide mats as most buyers of art prefer to mat and frame to match their walls and display locations.
- Do you insure prints and original paintings before shipping?
I can provide shipping insurance depending on the distance I am shipping artwork and the size of an original. I don’t normally insure prints under $200 unless a client requests it. I will normally insure original artworks for loss or damage. If a client has a concern about shipping, please contact me in advance of the final sale.
- How long do your watercolour prints last?
The majority of watercolour prints today will last 100-150 years. They use special archival paper and inks that are designed to last years and not fade or degrade.
- What is a Giclée print?
The word Giclée (pronounced “g-clay”), is derived from the French verb gicler meaning “to squirt or spray”, Giclee, is used to describe a fine art digital printing process combining pigment based inks with high-quality archival quality paper to achieve Giclée prints of superior archival quality, light fastness and stability.
- Are you related to artist David Currie from Whistler, BC.
Yes, David Currie (www.currieartworks.com ) is my youngest brother. He lived in Whistler for 25 years and is living in Squamish, BC. He is an accomplished acrylic painter with a large group of collectors. His work is west coast BC themed and highly collectable.
- Do you sell your prints or originals through galleries?
At this time I do not currently but would LOVE to. I am looking at establishing relationships with galleries in western Canada and possibly US based galleries. If you are a gallery owner, please feel free to contact me at the contact information below.
- Do you offer your clients first chance to purchase new paintings before going public?
Yes. If clients purchase a painting or print, I will ask them if they wish to be notified when new art is available. These clients will have one week to contact me before I go public with artwork for sale. Every effort is made to give existing clients first access to purchase.
- How can I pay for my artwork I purchase from you?
I accept cash, money orders, e-transfer and in some cases Paypal. I do not accept cheques or transfers from certain countries with fraud risks. Shipping is typically quoted and included in the purchase price.
- What is the easiest way to reach you? Are you on social media?
The easiest way to reach me is via the following:
Gcurrie@eldoren.com
(250) 784-8383 (8am till 9pm Pacific
timezone) 1512-113th Ave. Dawson Creek, BC V1G 2Z5
Website: www.gordoncurrieart.com
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