I walked up the hill loaded for bear. Easel, chair, umbrella, portfolio bag, two coats, sweater, big hat, Rubbermaid container and at least one six pack ( I didn’t know Jerry yet). I was at my first Leighton Centre Fall paint out. As I rounded the side of the house, the first thing I saw was Errol Fullen painting the famous Leighton view on a giant sheet of watercolor paper taped to the deck of the office outbuilding. He was pouring paint on and having a glass of wine (Liz Lockwood always kept us happy with a glass of wine, or two). I knew the minute I saw Errol that this place was for me.
The first painting I ever sold professionally was through the Leighton centre. I actually sold a painting before that to a next door neighbor for $250.00, but I don’t consider this professional; he had been drinking before he bought it.
The store was open for about four months when Ann Harp (Leighton centre managing director and art guru) came in for some framing and noticed a painting I had recently completed. Ann was smitten with the work and went to investigate who had accomplished this master piece - a painting of the Alberta Pacific grain elevator at Dalmead with rail road tracks going into the distance. I had painted it on a sweltering summer afternoon, standing right on the tracks with Ken Gillespie. She insisted that the painting be displayed in the Leighton Center Gallery.
The first painting I ever sold professionally was through the Leighton centre. I actually sold a painting before that to a next door neighbor for $250.00, but I don’t consider this professional; he had been drinking before he bought it.
