Mitchell Fenton

Biography

Mitchell Fenton was born in Winnipeg in 1962. He attended classes for many years at the Forum Art Institute in Winnipeg. After a brief time at the Clifton Studios in Winnipeg working as a potter, he enrolled at the Ontario College of Art and moved to Toronto. There he discovered Experimental Arts, an interdisciplinary field, splitting his time between sculpture and painting. After graduating Mitchell completed two major Public Art Sculptures in Toronto, both for Artscape.

For the last twelve years, he has devoted his time to painting. His love of outdoors has guided him to his current process of working.

Artist Statement

Mitchell Fenton’s enthusiasm for the outdoors is evident in his paintings of Western Canada, particularly those of the Canadian Rockies. We are pleased to present works by this energetic artist from his most recent visits – a TransCanada journey to the incredible landscape of the western mountains.

“When I first began painting the Canadian Landscape, I went to Lake O’Hara because of the many paintings I had seen from this area: John Singer Sargent, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris….just to name a few. It was spectacular; I have been back 10 times!”

Fenton works part-time at the Ontario College of Art & Design in the winters. During the months of summer, the artist enjoys loading the family in their VW camper van and heading west. Along the way, there are many stops at favourite spots to camp and paint – Killarney on Georgian Bay, Pukaskwa National Park on the north shore of Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods. The family always stays near Victoria Beach on Lake Winnipeg where he spent time as a boy. However, Fenton admits he must always carry on across the prairies to the mountains, sometimes with his family, but mostly solo for some intense painting.

Fenton paints en plein air with oils on small wood panels while traveling. His set-up is very portable, enabling him to hike into remote areas. Hiking has become an integral part of the artist’s painting process; clearing of the mind, acceleration of the pulse - all in anticipation of stopping to begin a composition, whether it be in small details in the lichen and rocks with wildflowers, or cropped abstract patterns of rocks meeting a lake, to the perfect alignment of a grand vista. He also takes photographs.

It has been said that, "it is not the destination but the journey, that is more important". This is certainly true for Fenton’s process, however he also puts emphasis on, and enjoys the pre-journey preparation...designing and building the equipment needed to paint en plein air. Back in the studio, some panels are chosen and worked up into larger canvases. Before entering the studio he tries to create the same state of mind as when working outside.

There is a strong tradition of landscape painting in Canada. When Mitchell Fenton first began painting the Canadian landscape, he went to Lake O'Hara, because of the many paintings he had seen from this area; work by John Singer Sargent, J.E.H. MacDonald, Lawren Harris - just to name a few. Lake O'Hara was spectacular; the artist has been back ten times! There is a reason why Lake O'Hara was and continues to be so popular with hikers and artists alike. The trails around these three intersecting valleys have been groomed and maintained for over a hundred years, and thanks to Parks Canada for implementing a quota system, the area feels to be your own.

Mitchell Fenton went to Lake O'Hara because of the work he had seen from there. He hopes he will turn others on to the beauty of O'Hara through his paintings. Although there are many places in Canada the artist enoys working in and others he has yet to explore, he thinks he will be back to the Rockies many more times. The land we live in shapes our history. We are all connected to it..