Artist depicts 'emotions and situations' in abstract exhibit

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A Lamèque artist will share a number of his surreal abstract oil paintings at an upcoming exhibition in Bathurst.

Bathurst Art Society member Gary Gress will celebrate the opening of his exhibit at the Bay Breeze Art Gallery, at the Promenade Waterfront, April 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“I’m really trying to represent emotions and situations with these objects,” he said of his abstract paintings. “The object, no matter what it is, is representing a human being most of the time, or their state of affairs or their situation or state of mind.”

Originally from Toronto, Gress grew up with a talent for drawing. With an interest in making and designing things, he pursued a career in mechanical engineering and went on to work in the aerospace industry and later in manufacturing, designing products.

His interest in painting started in his 20s when he was inspired to paint based on dreams he’d had.

“All I could do for the first five years is just draw these dreams and I still have a collection of those drawings,” he said.

The technique of painting, and not just putting paint on a brush to paper, took time to develop for Gress.

“I thought that somehow paint would come magically off your brush and you would get the shading in the right places but I was painting like I would paint a wall. It was just back and forth and it was just a horrible mess.”

It wasn’t until he came across a book on art while on vacation in 1987 that the technique of painting really clicked.

“I think it was one paragraph that changed everything – it’s not about special paints it’s about how you hold the brush and what you do with the brush – dabbing instead of stroking back and forth.”

That year was when he started painting art he felt he was able to share with others.

“Ever since then it’s just been an extension of that really,” he said.

He started out painting objects to be as lifelike as possible, and later moved toward abstract work when he took a break from engineering in 1993, to attended the Ontario College of Art.

“Things changed and I haven’t done a realist work ever since. But at the same time, I’m still trying to get people to step into my paintings… They’re rendered as real with shading and light and shadows but of course these objects aren’t real.”

Gress’ work will remain on display until April 27, with the gallery being open Thursday to Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those who wish to view his works.