When the hippie culture waned and disco rose, David Low was playing with leather.
He was a leathersmith, but besides shaping and moulding the hides, Low also found himself painting them.
"I dropped the leather work and kept on with the painting," Low said.
Today, the Golden resident's brushes are busy colouring canvases. Living on a 30-acre farm outside the town just west of the Rocky Mountains, Low is inspired by the surrounding mountains, glaciers and wetlands. Influenced by the Group of Seven, Low has been dubbed "West Coast visionary impressionist."
On Saturday, Oct. 15, Low will share his tips at the Brackendale Art Gallery School of Art. The oil painting workshop is meant to get people started the right way, so artists don't feel discouraged, Low said.
"I want to keep it fairly informal," he said.
Low doesn't paint landscapes from his surroundings or photographs, but rather from his imagination. Of course, he said, the images tend to reflect the world around him. Painting is a great emotional outlet, Low added, something he wants to share with other people.
"It is a fantasy, an escape," he said.
The workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $90 fee includes canvas and paint. Participants must register before the day of the event. To do so visit the gallery at 41950 Government Rd. or call (604) 898-3333.
For more information on the workshop visit www.brackendaleartgallery.com.
