Interview
Steve Fretwell
With studios in Toronto Ontario, Columbia South Carolina and Chester Nova Scotia, Mr. Fretwell's work is a tribute to a soon to be lost generation of aircrews who participated in the liberation of Europe. His work has been described as the meeting of two great Canadian painters; Jean Paul Riopelle and Jack Bush. He is current work is an innovative rethinking of aerial reconnaissance that draws creative inspiration from the hopes and memories of allied aircrews who participated in the liberation of Europe. His From Above Collection features a series of paintings titled The Day Before D-Day, Keukenhof, Rings of Our Forefathers, Experiments in Blue and Island Hopping.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I grew up in Ottawa, the Capital of Canada and many of the teachers, sports referees and staff at the local YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs and Scouts Canada were retired military people. I saw them as being active and supportive in the community and I looked up to them. I started reading military history books at a young age and and any and all movies or documentaries on the subject have always been on the top of my viewing list. The Canadian Department of Defense Headquarters is in Ottawa and much of the architecture of the city is filled with the echo of Canada's involvement in WWII. When it came time for me to focus on a subject matter for my paintings I began with portraiture focusing on military personnel - some were real people and some existed only in my imagination. After I completed about 50 portraits it became clear to me that portraiture was not my calling so I turned my attention trying to find something else within the military history category that would capture my imagination. Through trial and error I eventually developed my my own unique style of structured abstract landscapes that have been described as Canadian painters Jean Paul Riopelle meets Jack Bush.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“I aim to pay tribute to a soon to a soon be lost generation of allied air crews who assisted in the liberation of Europe. When I listen to people who collect my work they often tell me that my paintings inspire them connect to the values of the people who gave so much of themselves to assure the freedom they and their families have benefitted from during their lifetime. They tell me that way I combine a story into the structured abstract landscapes that I paint encourages them to think about honor, duty, sacrifice and country before self. Several collectors have commissioned me to create a piece in honor of a family member who participated in WWII. By combining the person's name with a specific date, time and place where they knew their family member was present, the painting serves as a launching point for the collector to share their family history with the grandchildren or great grandchildren of the person to whom the painting is tributing. I hope that the lessons learned from the sacrifices of that generation echo through eternity serving to remind people to never let something on that scale to ever happen again.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“My work is planned in advance, and once the elements are in place improvisation takes over. My current collection is called "From Above" and features a series of paintings all inspired by the unique perspective of the world below that aircrews witnessed over Europe. Using recently digitized aerial reconnaissance images from WWII I allow the data from the image to inspire me to be specific about some of the elements of my paintings. Details such as the date, time, aircraft used, the pilots name, and weather conditions help guide me on how I want to present the elements of the painting. Since my source material is black and white, color selection is wide open for me. I prefer bright bold colors as I am trying to impart a flash of a memory rather than create a literal interpretation of the source material. I apply an alternating color field technique to the land portion of the painting. This idea came from how reconnaissance photographs were critical to the creation of maps used by ground level personnel. Following the lead of cartographers allows my work to have a predictable rhythm to it. I am free to interpret the relationship between things that were created by the hand of man and show how they connect to the natural world. I apply a heavy gloss thickener to the acrylic paint to impart a three dimensional effect to my work. It's similar to the effect of a 60% overlap that reconnaissance personnel used when interpreting the source photographs.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“I try to pay attention to how artists are reinterpreting traditional elements found in nature in non literal ways. I have witnessed an explosion of post pandemic art that's focused on the use of bright bold colors that I find appealing. Technology has broken barriers in how artwork is distributed and I think that has helped inspire people from non traditional art backgrounds to share their work with the world.”
“I aim to pay tribute to a soon to a soon be lost generation of allied air crews who assisted in the liberation of Europe.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“To get the impasto effect I want and at the same time create the color field geometry, I often use the tools of the brick mason to create my work. I find when moving large amounts of thick paint on the canvas or board it's best to have a suitably sized trowel in my hand. The largest tool I use is 6ft long and I need an assistant to help me with it! I mix acrylic paint with a high gloss thickener and have learned over time how much pressure I need to apply to my tools to get the paint to mix on the canvas the way I want it to. Sometimes, the pressure I apply is my maximum physical effort which results in a one of a kind blending of rich bold colors that cannot be easily replicated.”
What does your art mean to you?
“I've seen firsthand how my work sparks a conversation about subject such as bravery, commitment, loyalty and teamwork to name a few. I hope that when someone brings one of my paintings into their home, office, or vacation property they'll talk about the values of a great generation and think about how they can apply those values to their lives going forward.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“If the question is favorite of my own, I love them all, but the one in particular that stands out of from the rest of my work is the portrait of an RAF pilot that appears on page 65 of my coffee table book titled " Finding Peace." The research I did to create that portrait was my first step toward zeroing in on the unique perspective of the world below that air crews had. They saw the world " From Above" at a time when very few people had ever seen the world from that perspective. I shared the in progress painting with a friend who asked me to use a family member as inspiration to complete the painting. I researched the airmen's history and discovered details of his service that the family had not known. Without a photograph to work from, I took guess that he would be sporting one of those "Clarke Gable" moustaches that were so popular at the time. When I presented the finished work to my friend he insisted on buying it for the his adult son. That was my first sale. That portrait now hangs on the wall of the airmen's grandson’s home in Kennebunkport Massachusetts. Alongside my painting is a photograph of the airman who is indeed sporting a Clarke Gable moustache!”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I am currently the featured artist at Langdon Hall in Cambridge Ontario. I'll be there until the end of August 2024. Langdon Hall is part of the Relais and Chateau network of private hotels across the world.”
Website: www.stevefretwellart.com
Instagram: @steve_fretwell_art
