 LUBOŠ ŠMEJKAL |
Mr. Šmejkal has studied art at various schools including Langara College and at the former Emily Carr College of Art and Design (now Emily Carr University) and studied under Hele Kowallek and Judith Brackman-Sharp.
From the artist: “All of my inked drawings, whether colour or black and white, are executed with ball point pen. There are no corrections, whiteouts or erasures on any of the drawing. The Potted Bush, Boat, Tree and King Salmon have been executed on the spot, with zero preparation or study. Basically, they all originated from an arbitrary line that I drew on a blank page, and then I developed the picture from there. That is how I get most of my ideas: I draw a line, and then go from there. Every mark on the paper that is made thereafter relates to the original mark and other marks, and the image then starts to take shape. Most of my drawings, unless drawn from a model or still life, are developed more on a subconscious, right-brain level and little conscious, logical (left-brain) thinking is involved. Of course, when I colour them then decisions have to be made, but initially, the images are developed using methods I have developed and absorbed in over 25 years of artistic work and study. I liken it to driving a car. Once you learn how to drive, then you don't think about it any more: you just do it. Basically, the car is an extension of your body. Same thing with me: the pen, brush, or whatever is an extension of my body and I don't think about it logically anymore.”
“Aside from some properties peculiar to oil paint or acrylic paint that cannot be reproduced by the other medium due to chemical properties, the oil/acrylic debate has now been reduced to the preference of the artist, the time frame to produce a work, and the intended use or display of the painting. The oil and acrylic are just vehicles for carrying and suspending the pigment. Oil does not dry. It cures and hardens over time - sometimes years. Acrylic (a form of plastic) contains water which evaporates and once it's gone the acrylic molecules bind together in an unbreakable and permanent bond. This can take from a few minutes to several days, although if other acrylic products are mixed with the acrylic paint - which increases the acrylic medium's abilities far beyond what oil paint can do - it can take up to several months as well, depending on paint thickness and chemical composition, etc. Lightfastness of colour varies equally in oil and acrylic paints, with the more expensive paints having purer and higher quality pigments, and are therefore considered archival quality. All the paints I used are the highest professional artist/archival quality and will hold their colours indefinitely. The special acrylic glosses and sealers I have used are UV resistant as well, although I think any painting, oil or acrylic, or almost any coloured drawing or oil pastel, will lose some colour if constantly exposed to direct sunlight.”
Mr. Šmejkal follows in the footsteps of his grandfather who used to sell his art on the Charles Bridge in Prague in the 1930’s and 40’s.
Mr. Šmejkal spent most of his life in British Columbia, being inspired by the beautiful West Coast. He spent many years in Chilliwack, enjoying the scenic vistas including Mount Cheam and the Vedder River.
He is married and has two teenage boys.
His artwork is available through his agent, Marcela Montgomery at arborlynn@hotmail.com
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Click on a picture for a larger image and ordering information
LUBOŠ ŠMEJKAL
Ontario, Canada
Artwork can be purchased through Agent, Marcela Montgomery
E-mail: arborlynn@hotmail.com
All rights reserved by LUBOŠ ŠMEJKAL
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