ATYEO, BRIAN M.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Brian moved with his family to Peterborough, Ontario where he completed school.

As an artist he is primarily self taught through books and the observation of other artists methods and philosophies on art. Brian spent time in commercial illustration, where he learned the practical end of applying paint and design principles in creating an image. Brian was challenged by finding himself in career for which he had very little training. He was quick to learn the difference between emotional response (what he would like to paint) and what is required to make an image work. This period of his life was important to the development of skills, self-discipline and the critical eye, so necessary in daily use of one’s ever evolving creative process.

Painting, for Brian, though spiritually motivated, cannot be merely an act of emotion or intuition. The primary condition in the act of creative painting is one of hard, logical and experience based decision making. Through a study and understanding of the academic principles of image making, a painter is freed to step into that place of self, where all is new and untested, where risk is a bridge to the new path, and conclusion merely an introduction to the next painting. Working in both transparent watercolour and acrylic-mixed media, Brian is constantly challenged by where he has not been. “Hard work is always the answer to the questions ‘how do I do this?’.”

Instructing painting workshops in watercolour and acrylic-mixed media continues to be a wonderful extension of Brian’s creative painting. He currently resides in Haliburton, Ontario. His paintings hang in private and public galleries and collections across North America and Europe.