 Glen Munholland |
Glen grew up in Southwestern Ontario but has called Calgary home for the last thirty-odd years. As a single Dad raising his two young boys, he continues his drawing as a means of relieving the stress that can come from such a position. He says he has enjoyed drawing still life for as long as he can remember. "The challenge for me" says Glen, " is to use a single hardness of graphite while trying to maintain fidelity to the original "color" image I have in my mind, with an objective towards having the viewer see that same "color" image in the black and white print".
"Being hospitalized with cancer at an early age has instilled a love of life and laughter in my soul," says Glen. "I'm not as disappointed about the setback of such a challenge as I am ecstatic about the opportunity to continue my drawing as I see fit to enjoy and, hopefully, for the viewing public to enjoy as well."
By his own admission as having been the "Black Sheep" of a family of five kids coupled with his love of the outdoors seems to often exude a haunting loneliness in many of his works. Glen used to give away all of his works as gifts until his son suggested selling the works for others to give as gifts. This suggestion by his son has set in motion the idea of completing what he calls the "Canadiana Series" of limited edition prints, observing different images from each of the Canadian Provinces and Territories. The four drawings on this site are the first of the eventual twelve to be completed.
"Janice's Cove" was named after a past and forgotten love. Glen remembers she was from Nova Scotia so he drew a seascape to remind her of her home. "I guess she didn't like the drawing because I haven't seen her in years but I still have the memory of the beautiful Nova Scotia seascapes that this drawing reminds me of," he says.
"Winter Round-up" "hits closer to home and I would imagine it's a very familiar scene for those Cowboys that live the life of the character depicted in this drawing. It's not an easy way to make a living but the sense of accomplishment, the independence and the high regard for self worth must make it a personally rewarding way of life," Glen says.
"Abandoned" exemplifies the bitterness of the prairie winters and smacks of that haunting loneliness often seen in Glen's works. "Both of my folks were from the farm and although this scene could be found most anywhere east of Calgary, it's Saskatchewan that still holds these sort of memories for me," says Glen.
"Winter's Grip" is a scene most of us remember from the summer time. The water seeping from the rock faces of the Canadian Rockies but captured and frozen in time until Old Man Winter decides to release his hold on the ways of nature. "Playing with the direction of the sun's light was the greatest challenge and the most fun in doing this piece," says Glen. "Maintaining the depth of darkness in the background trees while portraying the translucence of the ice and its shadows in the foreground was an ongoing test that was almost a disappointment to finish."
Glen says, "the fifth drawing in this series will be a secret until it is completed. Only my sons and I will know its composition and that might be a little fun in itself. I would like to plan 2 to 4 pieces per year depending on the popularity of my work and the personal circumstances of being a single Dad." The complete set will total twelve original works with ten "Artists Proofs" for each and a limited edition run of 2500 personally signed prints for each. They will measure 11"x17" and continue the same mediums of single-hardness graphite on white vellum to identify the prints as a "set", offering a unique compliment to both residential and corporate interior designs.
Buying the first four in the set all together allows the purchaser the benefit of being the first in line for new releases as they become available and being able to purchase new releases at reduced prices. The individual unframed pieces are priced at $99.00 each while the set of all four purchased together is priced at $300.00 for the set and $75.00 for each new release but only for those who purchase the original four as a set.
Glen can be contacted at: gmunholland@shaw.ca
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Glen Munholland Fine Art
Calgary, Alberta
Phone: (403) 280-4406
E-mail: gmunholland@shaw.ca
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