Buddies with brushes

Neighbours, friends and fellow artists — Barry Bowerman and Royce Simpson have a good thing going.

The two Lively men live a stone's throw from each other, with family homes that share a property line. Being so close has given them the opportunity to visit regularly, developing a close friendship that revolves around their shared passion for painting.

In the late 80s, the neighbours began taking art workshops together. They had the chance to learn from greats like Robert Bateman during the Canadore Art Experience, honing their skills and developing a deeper understanding of their craft.

At the time, Bowerman used acrylic paints and focused his work primarily on wildlife. While his medium of choice hasn't changed, his work now includes a healthy combination of animals and landscapes. Detail, however, has always been a strong aspect of his work. On numerous occasions, Bowerman's art has been recognized in competitions that demand realism — details like how a duck's body is resting on the water can take an image from simply visually pleasing to artistically accurate.

“You have to do lots of research,” Bowerman said. It's not just to ensure the animal is anatomically correct either.

“The environment there in is important too,” he said.

As a result of the year's he has spent painting, Bowerman has developed a strong knowledge about the creatures he paints.

“You learn so much about the species,” he said.

While Bowerman's portfolio of natural scenes is ever-growing, Simpson is doing much the same with his collection of era-inspired artwork.

While Simpson has been a lifelong art lover, his professional passion is relatively newfound. Like Bowerman, Simpson also uses acrylic paint as a medium of choice, typically enjoys recreating history and nostalgia with his paintbrush. His work includes paintings of “early Sudbury” and the old farms in his hometown Creighton.

He also documents his travels around Ontario, recreating old buildings, beaten up farm houses and the glory of yesteryear. His work is based on a combination of what his eye sees and what his camera sees, using the finest of fine details to accurately portray what naturally exists.

“We've been criticized by other artists for detail,” he said with laugh. But that's OK with both Sampson and Bowerman.

“You select where you put your detail,” Bowerman said. “That has transformed my art.”

While there are some similarities in how they work, the two Lively artists do function independently. They'll create in their own spaces, but come together for opinions, critiques and criticisms. The result is something both artists can be content with.

On April 6 and 7, the two are hosting their seventh biennial art show and sale at the Travelodge Hotel from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.

Everyone is invited to take in the show.