BIO

Geoff Farnsworth (b. 1968, Kimberley, B.C.) began his art training in Vancouver, B.C. in classes at the Federation of Canadian Artists, Emily Carr, and in the Graphic Design & Illustration Program at Capilano College.

Relocating to New York City to train at the Art Students League from 1997 to 2002, Geoff painted from the live human model in figurative realist classes before working in the abstract painting studios of William Scharf and Frank O’Cain. A figurative abstract process took hold in his work. Exploring linocuts and monotypes in Richard Pantell’s printmaking studio prompted new approaches in his painting.

Living and painting in Toronto for the next five years concentrates his studio art practice and direction. A year in Thunder Bay after this instills an appreciation for nature in his work.

Geoff currently lives and paints in St. Catharines. He has taught part-time in the Graphic Design Program at Niagara College and at the Willow Arts Community. He served on the board for the Niagara Artists Centre, and has been a guest artist at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts where his work was exhibited, and published through Small Walker Press.

His paintings have been shown in Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Niagara, New York City, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Sweden, Norway, and Trinidad.

“My paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base.  It is important to me that the paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy, while also building a compelling image. Working with people and objects from my personal world, I focus on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance.  My figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape.”