artist statement

My paintings are a mix of realism and fantasy. I often use humour, particularly satire, to comment on "the human condition." I generally work in series, often for years before exhausting particular themes. I spent most of the 1980s on my Art of War series, which culminated in my self-published book, Art of War: Painting it out of the picture. My Angel looks series followed, and I am planning to self-publish a book on this series in the spring of 2004. My most recent series is Canuckiana, in which Canada forms the surface imagery.

selected biography

Geoff Butler is a painter, writer and book illustrator. He was born on Fogo Island, Nfld., near Brimstone Head which has been designated by the Flat Earth Society as one of the four corners of the earth. Geoff practises his art daily so as not to fall over the edge. His most recent illustrated book is Ode to Newfoundland ( Tundra Books).  He is a graduate of Memorial University of Nfld. and Syracuse University. He also studied at the Art Students' League in New York City. His paintings have been exhibited at, and toured by, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. He has been the recipient of a Nova Scotia Arts Council Creation grant and a Canada Council Established Artist grant.