My Life As An Artist

I have to say that my Grandpa Robertson,was the most influential person in my life as an artist. He had a gallery in Toronto and sold a lot of his paintings . Some to Casaloma and other commissions that

he did along the way. He signed his work H.LEROY

I remember as a very young child running home from kindergarten excited about climbing the stairs to my grandpas studio and being able to paint with him for hours at a time. He provided me with my own little easel and masonite board and all my paint on a wooden pallet. The joy of mixing colours was addicting.The first thing I remember learning to paint was a landscape . Clouds, skies, grass and trees . On some weekends we would pack up a picnic lunch and go to Kleinberg on the street car. We would then set up our easel and primed board and art supplies to get ready to paint our little hearts out.

At that time being so young I didn’t realize that there was anything special about those days. Sitting with other artists on the grass all of us painting ,and sharing our thoughts I was in heaven. Later around the table Grandpa would talk to our family about A.J . Known to me as Mr. Cason and other friends in this gathering. Now known as the GROUP OF SEVEN.
My grandpa wasn’t a member of the group,but anyone that wanted to paint was always welcome and we thought that it was just an exciting outing . When I look back on it today I see what a privilege it truly was. I still have one very special painting that my grandpa did on Masonite board of the Toronto Harbour and I can see a resemblance in my art today and how I was so influenced by the excitement of painting through his eyes.
In 1970 after my formal education, I moved back to Bobcaygeon and started teaching from my kitchen table .Since that time I’ve owned two galleries and now teach and paint from my studio in my home.

RUTH ROBERTSON BELBECK 2022