- Words by David Wylie Photography by Darren Hull

In his early 30s, Rick Bond found himself in a new home with bare walls. The pharmacist had just moved to the Okanagan with his young family.

And so he began to make art to fill the empty space.

香蕉视频直播淚 knew I had to do something creative, but I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what it was,香蕉视频直播� he said in a recent interview.

Rick began with illustrations and cartooning for his sons. Then he watched instructional videos and bought paint, laying it out on his kitchen table.

香蕉视频直播淪omething just clicked. I just became absolutely dedicated,香蕉视频直播� said the Vernon-based artist.

It was a jolt back in time. Born in Victoria, Rick grew up in the Gulf Islands off the BC coast. His first recollection of being excited about art was in elementary school, when he did a crayon drawing of an atmospheric cloud and a boat on the water.

香蕉视频直播淚 can remember so clearly being excited about how it looked like a cloud香蕉视频直播攁nd then I went into an artistic stupor for 30 years,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Rick went to the University of British Columbia in the late 1960s to study pharmacy. From James Island he moved to Burnaby, and then back to Victoria for seven years, before finally settling in the Okanagan.

香蕉视频直播淚 kicked around in my left brain for about three decades,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the opposite of art. I didn香蕉视频直播檛 really find art until I got to Vernon.香蕉视频直播�

Living in Coldstream and working at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Rick found time on weekends or after his shifts to chase his passion. He started out by watching videos from Bill Alexander, creator and host of The Magic of Oil Painting television series. It was easy to follow and learn the technical basics, he said.

Rick started to go to art workshops regularly and all of that learning coalesced into his own unique style, loose and vibrant in a way that could be considered contemporary impressionism.

香蕉视频直播淚 started to look at what excited me aesthetically, and that was abstract art, colourful art and unique designs,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Rick joined the Okanagan Artists League香蕉视频直播攁nd was encouraged when his work was used to advertise an art show. (He still has that pivotal painting.) During one fateful workshop, fellow artist Brian Atyeo encouraged Rick to leave the 香蕉视频直播渃omfort of the nest and fly out on his own,香蕉视频直播� telling him he needed to go paint for himself.

Rick香蕉视频直播檚 art life even offered up surprises during work hours at the hospital. He recalls being paged over the PA, while he was manager of pharmacy operations, to take a call from a gallery owner who wanted to carry his work. In 2006, Rick left the pharmacy to create art full time.

He香蕉视频直播檚 now painted for more than 40 years, including the illustrations he created for his kids back in the 香蕉视频直播�70s.

Rick started with oil paints, but over the years he transitioned to other types of paint, over concerns about toxicity. He tried his hand at painting watercolours, which he enjoyed, but they proved expensive to produce because they needed to be framed under glass before being sent to galleries. Some sold and some didn香蕉视频直播檛.

香蕉视频直播淚t was becoming too costly,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Using acrylics became a practical solution, as he didn香蕉视频直播檛 have to frame them香蕉视频直播攔ather just send them to the galleries as canvases. But acrylics also suit his style: 香蕉视频直播淚 love painting fast. I love painting with a lot of energy,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Rick香蕉视频直播檚 paintings start off as photos, move into sketches and are then painted on canvas. His subject matter presents a bit of a dichotomy; he paints landscapes as well as musicians.

香蕉视频直播淚 love jazz. It has this abstract quality to it. I love the aesthetic of the instruments,香蕉视频直播� he said.

The musical paintings have provided a break from landscapes and allowed Rick to explore compositions. He said colour, shape and energy are similar in both genres. Plus, not a lot of people are painting musicians.

Working for decades in pharmacy has given Rick a left-brain/ right-brain harmony, helping him along the road to becoming a professional artist香蕉视频直播攊ncluding his commitment to administration, communications, finances and other behind-the-scenes aspects of the craft.

香蕉视频直播淭he business side of art really came from being disciplined in the pharmacy,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really grateful to have been exposed to that training.香蕉视频直播�

Rick also does commissions, including some for major corporations, such as Coca-Cola.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 harder work on the front end. You have to spend quite a bit of time talking to the client so you get a really good idea of what they香蕉视频直播檙e looking for,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Rick香蕉视频直播檚 paintings are in galleries across Canada, including Alberta, BC, Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. In the Okanagan, see his work at Hambleton Galleries in Kelowna. His works can also be found at Madrona Gallery in Victoria.

To learn more about Rick Bond, visit

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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