A
professional artist
since 1970, Conrad was born in Poland in 1938 (to German parents) and
raised and educated
in Germany. Although he sketched and painted from an early age, family
and economic pressure led him away from art to pursue a more
"respectable profession".
In
my family,
painting was considered a hobby, not a profession.
Following high school,
Conrad entered into a three year apprenticeship to learn the art of
bookbinding and restoration of books. During that time, he participated
in two nationwide bookbinding competitions. His work won him silver and
gold respectively at the competitions. He undertook further studies at
the Graphic Academy in Munich, graduating in 1963 with a Master
Bookbinder certificate.
In 1965 Conrad
immigrated to Canada, working for the first five years with a
publishing house in Toronto, and in 1970, with his work meeting broad
acclaim in Canada and abroad, he made the decision to abandon his
"respectable profession" in favour of his art.
Today, he continues to
paint. His work is meticulously detailed, yet always with a spiritual
undercurrent that draws the viewer in, to become part of the scene —
and part of the artist's feeling. He works in either watercolour,
acrylic or
egg-tempera, and although most of his work is done in his studio, he
takes weekly breaks hiking in search of new subjects and new
inspirations.
I need to get
into things, the smell and feel of the shaded dampness where leaves
have fallen, the sound of the wind or the quiet. When I'm back in my
studio I try to put that feeling — or put myself — into the painting. I
try to become what I am painting. The subject matter or the location of a particular
painting could have been recorded a year ago or a week ago. That's not
important, what's important is that I spend one day a week in the
outdoors recharging myself. The "discharging" comes over the next six
days in my studio.
For inspiration, Conrad
draws primarily on the rural countryside of southern Ontario.
Here all four
seasons are equally beautiful. I get excited by the changing moods of
each season, by the separation of sun and shadow, by the shapes of
discarded farm implements, by an animal stealthily observed from a
distance, or the feeling of peaceful loneliness that bare trees impress
on
me.
My favourite
season is probably winter. I love the snow,
the intense contrasts of the time, stormy skies, strong shadows, the
contrast of earth and snow, and moodier feelings created by fog or mist.
Today Conrad's work is
exhibited extensively at home and collected around the world. He still
lives and works
from his studio in the same townhouse that he and his late wife Deedee
purchased in 1974 in the City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Their only
son Paul
was born here in1976 and 19 month later his wife parished in a car
accident. Ever since, Conrad has dedicated his time to his work
as an artist, to raising his son on his own, to finding his place and
leaving his mark in today's sociaty, through his creative work, his
campassion and his humanity.
His son Paul has graduated from University and is today a practicing
physiotherapist. He, with his wife Sara are raising already 2 sons of
their own.
Throughout
all of his
career and success, Conrad remained an unassuming, modest, and down to
earth person. He enjoys most a hike in the country, the solitude of his
work, or a quiet
dinner in the company of family and/or some close friends. He is a
deeply religious man, lives by
himself and states:
I live at peace
with myself and with the world around me, and I strive to keep it that
way.
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Selected
exhibitions
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2004
& 2005
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The Buckhorn
Wildlife Art Festival, Buckhorn, Ontario, Canada |
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Since 1985
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Exhibiting and
represented mainly by Studio 737 Art Gallery in Tweed, Ontario,
and Gallery on the Lake in Buckhorn, Ontario. |
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1971 to the
mid-1980s
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Continuously
exhibited at the Eatons' Art Gallery in Toronto, Lourie Art
Gallery in Toronto, and Juliane Gallery in Scarborough,
Ontario. These galleries closed down in the 1980s. |
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Publications
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2003 -
2007
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"Access" Fine Art Ltd.,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Limited edition giclée canvas reproductions, and small format
giclée prints.
See
the images on this website, used on
these reproductions...
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1986 - 2008
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UNICEF,
Canada and USA
UNICEF has published 10 cards and has reserved several images for
future
publication. All publication rights have been donated to UNICEF.
See
the images on this website, used on these cards... |
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1982 - 2006
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1986-1992
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Canadian Art Prints,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Limited edition reproductions and art cards.
See
the images on this website, used on these reproductions...
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1981
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Royle Publication Ltd.,
London, England
Christmas card.
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2010
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Included in "Who's Who in Visual Art," 100
Artists in Painting, Graphic Art, Digital Art, Sculpture.
Published by "Art Domain Whois Publisher," Dresden, Germany.
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2010
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Included in "Best of Worldwide Water Media Artists," Volume
1. Published by Kennedy Publishing, Williamsburg, VA. USA
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Awards
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Numerous
awards at juried shows in local, national and international
competitions, including 3rd. prize at an International Watercolor
Competition in London, England.
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| 1999 "Arts
Person of the Year"
awarded by the City of Brampton,
Ontario, Canada |

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