Robert Amirault

A self directed artist, Bob paints in a representational style and has been painting or involved with art related activities since his teen years.  Landscapes, seascapes, faces and figures are his favourite subjects and he continues to spend his time experimenting and studying the craft of painting fine art in an effort to reach an ever elusive goal.  Bob continues to be fascinated by the effects of light on the subjects he chooses to paint. Though realistic in his painting style he seeks the beautiful abstract patterns that he finds in nature. The changing qualities of light and abstract patterns, combined with bold brush work make up Bob’s unique vision of the world.

Many of Bob’s oil and watercolour paintings have been created on locations in various parts of rural Ontario, the Arctic, the Maritimes or other places on his travels outside of Canada. His larger paintings are created in his home studio working from his ‘Plein Air’ studies and reference materials gathered on his journeys.  Bob has exhibited his paintings in many group showings in Toronto and London, Ontario starting in the mid 1960’s. For over 30 years he annually held successful, by invitation only, exhibits in the Markham area. In 1984 he participated in a two-person show held in a restored castle in Stia, Italy, a small town outside of Florence.  After being elected to membership in the prestigious and historic Ontario Society of Artists, Bob exhibit in many of the societies annual juried exhibitions. He was an active member of the OSA in the early 1980’s attaining the position of vice-president.  In 1997, after his watercolour paintings were juried he was invited to join the Canadian Society on Painters in Water Colours. One of the many exhibitions he participated in was the International Watercolour Biennial, held in Mexico City in October 2000. One of his paintings hangs with the societies Diploma Collection in the Art Gallery of Peel, Ontario. He served on the executive committee for a number of years.  In 2005, Bob joined with five well-known Canadian artists and established Plein Air Canada, an organization promoting painting out of doors…in the open air.  Bob was one of 25 artists, in 2006, who traveled to Canada’s North West Passage to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its discovery.  Born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1938 Bob and his wife Mona recently moved and now reside in the Niagara Region of Ontario.