Deryk Houston

Artist in Victoria, BC. Canada

The National Film Board of Canada: Featured Deryk Houston in the documentary, “From Baghdad to Peace Country”   http://www.nfb.ca/film/from_baghdad_to_peace_country/

His work is in the permanent collection of the Canadian war Museum in Ottawa. (On the recommendation of the National Gallery of Canada)

He represented the city of Vancouver, BC., in a solo exhibition of his work in the former Soviet Union.

 

Happening



Deryk at Ogden Point, Victoria, BC. (photo by Elizabeth)


WOODWYNN PEACE GARDEN
Woodwynn Peace Garden at Woodwynn Farms, a therapeutic community for the homeless. The Peace Garden includes a labyrinth with herbs, fruits and vegetables incorporated.



GALLERIES
I am currently featured at Art Works Gallery in Vancouver BC Canada.
And the Greater Victoria Art Gallery rental program.

“Floating Strands”

This new series is exciting for me because it allows me to experiment with something new. I start by wearing blue protective gloves and dig my hand directly into the big jar of paint. I then take a large dripping handful and smear the entire canvas, leaving it with deep finger marks streaked across the surface. I then let that dry overnight.
I do the same with several large sheets of canvas, smearing them with thick coats of colour mixed with wite or whatever pleases me at the time. I let those dry overnight as well.
The next day I cut the canvases into thin strips and lay then onto the surface of the prepared canvas. (Or whatever colour I have painted the canvas the night before)
The beauty is that one can mix and try various combinations of colours without the problem of having the paint mix together. One can just enjoy the beauty as each strip is laid over each other in a nice tangled sort of way.  When I think I have the right combination of colours I then pour liquitex medium all over the strands and use my hands (in gloves) mix it all together. The medium goes on milky but dries overnight into a beautiful glossy surface. It has a high gloss which brings out the colours and the texture of the overlapping strips of canvas.

I am fascinated by how life began on earth…….I think of strands of DNA floating down from space as part of that process. These paintings refer to that idea.