- Story by Chelsea Forman Photography by Don Denton

Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 Blu Smith, one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most prestigious abstract artists, is garnering international recognition for his innovative abstract landscapes.

But BluB次元官网网址檚 signature style as an artist didnB次元官网网址檛 begin where it is today. And as he points out, artists go through many style stages B次元官网网址� often reflecting their life paths B次元官网网址� and each phase is imperative to the continued growth and evolution of their work.

In 1989, Blu moved to the island from his hometown of Vernon. He completed the four-year fine arts program at the University of Victoria and worked at a sign shop. After graduation, Blu remained at the sign shop for several years, continuing to pursue his career in painting on the side.

B次元官网网址淚 would show my art anywhere I could B次元官网网址� from furniture stores to hair salons B次元官网网址� just trying to get my work out there,B次元官网网址� he recalls.

During his time working at the sign shop, Blu was immersed in a pop art phase of his career, and he credits this for cultivating an adoration of large-format art.

B次元官网网址淏ack in university B次元官网网址� like most young artists B次元官网网址� I was experimenting and trying out different techniques and styles to figure out what was going to fit for me,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 was doing a lot of pop art, which really stemmed from my work in the sign business. I was implementing lettering, and working in large format B次元官网网址� one component that I still use today.B次元官网网址�

Blu became involved with several local galleries in Victoria and from there, his work began to slowly trickle out across western Canada, eastern Canada, into the United States and eventually overseas.

Before the advent of social media, he says, it took an all-consuming effort for an artist to gain recognition. But the various platforms available these days have helped elevate his career.

B次元官网网址淲ith social media, the potential now is unlimited B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檙e instantly worldwide with the reach that you get. It has been an instrumental part of my business over the past few years. It really allows an artist to take control of his or her career a lot more,B次元官网网址� he says, adding, B次元官网网址淭he old model was more challenging because you would get into galleries who would be responsible for marketing you and [therefore] allowing you to be in the studio and paint. ItB次元官网网址檚 far more of a partnership now.B次元官网网址�

BluB次元官网网址檚 style progressed from pop art into realistic paintings, and by the late B次元官网网址�90s, he once again witnessed a shift in his work.

B次元官网网址淚 was running into a stumbling block where I found my work was really stagnating. I was doing a lot of realistic paintings and was struggling to find the creativity in that. It was more of a technical skill than a creative approach,B次元官网网址� he says.

B次元官网网址淚 decided to branch out and experiment doing non-representational abstract pieces B次元官网网址� just throwing the paint around on the canvas and seeing what happened. It was only supposed to be about a weekB次元官网网址� but that didnB次元官网网址檛 really happen. The abstract work really took off and I found what I was looking for. The floodgates opened.B次元官网网址�

Blu didnB次元官网网址檛 look back for the next 15 years. His reputation as an abstract artist spanned globally. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until 2013 that BluB次元官网网址檚 career took the next subtle and unexpected shift.

B次元官网网址淲e moved to North Saanich, onto a mostly tree-covered property. In our previous home, we would get the sunrise. In our new home, we would get light flooding through the trees B次元官网网址� and it really affected me. I started to incorporate what I saw every day outside my studio into my abstracts. It began to develop into a really interesting journey with these abstract landscapes. I found it unique and fresh.B次元官网网址�

While Blu continues to produce pure abstract art, his abstract landscapes have gained renown for both their beauty and stylistic rarity. His work can be found in Victoria at the .

B次元官网网址淚t was imperative for me to go through the phase of pure abstraction. It was such a learning phase for me on how to handle paint and what boundaries I could push. I was able to take everything I had learned over the previous 15 years as an abstract artist and meld them with West Coast landscapes,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚f I had never done that phase, my paintings wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be where they are today.B次元官网网址�

All the various phases that artists move through equip them with tools or new skills to take forward on their artistic journeys. For Blu Smith, the evolution of his career has been unpredictable, with an ongoing inspiration to explore the limits of his own creativity and push forward through new phases. And as life unfolds with unexpected shifts, so too does the story Blu tells through his art.

To see more of Blue Smith check out and his .