Phil explains the transition in his artistic style: “For years I had focused my attention on drawing
very realistic- ultra realistic charcoal drawings. As my career as an artist continued I wanted to go a different direction and focus more on colour and painting. I was touring the country traveling with musicians from coast to coast doing art and music shows and I was fascinated by the engagement of viewer to the musicians. A spotlight would draw the attention to the
musician and then the music would take you away. It did not matter what the musicians looked like as the emotion of the music captured the soul. So I thought- what if I created the musicians in paintings where it was based on just atmosphere. The spotlight, the colour....the faceless nature of the musicians would allow the viewer to just enjoy the colour and feel of the painting rather than focus on the visual of the musicians. Maybe this way the music would flow out of the character I portrayed more than if I focused on the ultra realism of my past images.”
After achieving success with his art at a young age, Phil explains, “I made it a mission of mine to try to get more people to appreciate art and into galleries. That is why I created Night of Artists, more of an art party where it does not matter your art background...all that matters is you like to go out for a social activity and you will be bombarded with a remarkable are of visual stimulus.” With Night of artists still going strong twenty-one years after its inception, and Phil’s involvement with Mural Mosaic, Phil’s personal art has taken a backseat the past few years to his other projects. With Mural Mosaic’s current Canada 150 project, Phil has helped create 100 murals in just three years, involving 80, 000 people. “It has been a bit of a task,” he admits, “but very exciting as well.”
'CLOSING TIME'
'WAYNE GRETZKY'
'MICHAEL JORDAN'
'THE JANITOR'