Mark W. Canada has practiced the profession of architecture since his graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1977. After founding his own Austin based architectural firm in 1983, Canada + Associates, Architecture has been fortunate to be the recipient of numerous architectural design awards.
Having been the lead architect on hundreds of building projects that frequently take years to complete, Canada yearned for a more spontanious approach and execution to the design process. Initially begun as a hobby, Canada hopes to develope painting into a complimentary profession.
“I have been drawing nearly my whole life. Over the past 30 years my drawn lines, by necessity, have become quite exact and rigid. My antidote and compliment for the professional practice of architecture has become abstract expressionist painting. Painting has influenced my architectural designs and architecture has most definately effected my painting. Architecture is a science, art, business and discilpline with many similarities to painting.”
Canada’s decision to develope his talents as a painter came from the desire to enhance, expand and compliment the more methodical architectural skills with the painter’s creative impulse- an impulse that is freed from the engineering, economic and utilitarian requirements of the practice of architecture.
“In a typical architectural project that may take 3 years from inception to building completion there may be about 2 weeks of creative design work where all things all possible. This magic occurs early on in the preliminary design phase. The rest of the project can be exhilarating and fullfilling, yet, it cannot usually be characterized as spontanious, intuitive and intimate. The art of painting is these things and much more, from inception to completion.”
The qualities of composition, illusion, allusion, texture, scale, balance, light, color, contrast, rhythem and perspective- all part of the architectural design process- find dynamic new expression when the medium is paint applied to canvas. Canada believes passionately that more people should live with original art. He believes abstract expressionist art creates a mood and relationship with the viewer that is unique for each individual and is potentially much more intense, complex and intimate than that which is possible with figurative art.
“I have designed entire custom residenses around artwork for my clients. I formerly surrounded myself with other artist’s work and their work added richness to my life and office. Now, most other artist’s work has been replaced by mine in my home and office. I like to rotate it frequently, both literally and figuratively.”
