“All my paintings are based on something I have seen, and it may be an amalgamation of ideas or scenes. I do a lot of observing, sketching and traveling outdoors. All of this is in my paintings. I also study many great and not so great painters work, and this also influences my ideas when thinking about how I will paint something. However, it is all finally distilled down into a single thought about the subject, and how it will be painted. I consider the painting finished when it is a reflection of the original idea. I am not looking for a particular pattern of brushstrokes, style, or any other technical aspects in a final painting. I am looking for a feeling when I look at it that says it is a complete idea. I understand that it could always be better. But I have never liked perfect things.” Garth Armstrong
Garth Armstrong (1960-)
Toronto native Garth Armstrong draws inspiration from his keen observations of the world around him. His paintings, often an amalgamation of scenes and ideas, reflect his time spent observing, sketching, and traveling in nature. Armstrong’s creative process is influenced by his study of both renowned and lesser-known painters, which informs his approach to how a subject should be painted. His work is distilled into a singular idea, with each piece considered complete when it conveys the feeling of a fully realized concept, rather than adhering to any specific style or technique. As he puts it, “I have never liked perfect things.”
A graduate of the Ontario College of Art’s communication and design program in 1983, Armstrong initially pursued a successful career in graphic design, working as an art director and marketing executive. His paintings, created in oils on wood panels and canvas, are characterized by an impressionistic style and palette that capture the essence of his outdoor experiences.
Armstrong’s work has been recognized internationally, most notably when he was selected to represent Canada at the Societe National des Beaux-Arts’ Salon des Beaux-Arts at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris in December 2018. In August 2019, his work received the Artist Merit of Distinction at the McMichael Gallery’s Plein Air painting competition.
An avid outdoorsman, Armstrong frequently follows in the footsteps of the Group of Seven, hiking, canoeing, and painting en plein air. His deep connection to nature allows him to capture its tranquility in ways that create a unique, immersive mood in his art.
In 2006, his painting Winter Wonderland was featured on the Hospital for Sick Children’s annual holiday card. Armstrong is a member of the Ontario Society of Artists, Canada’s longest-standing art society, and the Oil Painters of America.
In 2016, Armstrong launched a series of paintings inspired by Ontario’s Bruce Trail, which was accompanied by the publication of Trails: The Bruce Trail and Other Places. A portion of the sales from the exhibit supported the Bruce Trail Conservancy, reflecting Armstrong’s commitment to both art and conservation.
Garths paintings can be found in private and corporate collections around the world.
Select Private and Corporate Collections:
Lundin Mining Corporation
Enbridge Corporate Offices
Canadian Canoe Museum
Hospital for Sick Kids
Bruce Trail Conservancy Foundation
Publications:
Garth Armstrong – Northward: A Retrospective – 2010
Garth Armstrong – Trails: The Bruce Trail & Other Places – 2016
