John Boivin
John grew up in rather idyllic circumstances on a farm south of Ottawa, Ontario in the 1960s and 70s. His youth was spent reading and drawing comic books with a pair of very talented friends, brothers who lived on a neighboring farm. He dreamed of one day becoming a commercial artist.
But life, as they say, got in the way, and John eventually trained in journalism, and has worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a radio and new media journalist for most of his career.
Still, between work and raising children, he has kept up his interest in art, first in watercolor, and most recently in acrylic. He is self-taught in both media.
John calls his paintings ‘micro-scapes’, as they are studies of a specific plant, a stand of trees, or group of flower. He finds more of interest to paint in a crook of a tree than a sweeping panorama, in a patch of grass or vein of rock than in a mountainside.
After several postings in western Canada with the CBC, John, his wife, and two children moved to the Yukon in 2000. He finds endless inspiration and beauty in the trails and forests behind his Riverdale home, and never wants to move again.
Among his influences are the Group of Seven, Ralph McQuarrie, Frank Frazetta, Drew Struzan, Will Eisner, Jim Steranko, and George Herriman.