- Story by Chelsea Forman Photography by Don Denton

Vancouver Island害羞草研究所檚 Blu Smith, one of Canada害羞草研究所檚 most prestigious abstract artists, is garnering international recognition for his innovative abstract landscapes.

But Blu害羞草研究所檚 signature style as an artist didn害羞草研究所檛 begin where it is today. And as he points out, artists go through many style stages 害羞草研究所� often reflecting their life paths 害羞草研究所� and each phase is imperative to the continued growth and evolution of their work.

In 1989, Blu moved to the island from his hometown of Vernon. He completed the four-year fine arts program at the University of Victoria and worked at a sign shop. After graduation, Blu remained at the sign shop for several years, continuing to pursue his career in painting on the side.

害羞草研究所淚 would show my art anywhere I could 害羞草研究所� from furniture stores to hair salons 害羞草研究所� just trying to get my work out there,害羞草研究所� he recalls.

During his time working at the sign shop, Blu was immersed in a pop art phase of his career, and he credits this for cultivating an adoration of large-format art.

害羞草研究所淏ack in university 害羞草研究所� like most young artists 害羞草研究所� I was experimenting and trying out different techniques and styles to figure out what was going to fit for me,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚 was doing a lot of pop art, which really stemmed from my work in the sign business. I was implementing lettering, and working in large format 害羞草研究所� one component that I still use today.害羞草研究所�

Blu became involved with several local galleries in Victoria and from there, his work began to slowly trickle out across western Canada, eastern Canada, into the United States and eventually overseas.

Before the advent of social media, he says, it took an all-consuming effort for an artist to gain recognition. But the various platforms available these days have helped elevate his career.

害羞草研究所淲ith social media, the potential now is unlimited 害羞草研究所� you害羞草研究所檙e instantly worldwide with the reach that you get. It has been an instrumental part of my business over the past few years. It really allows an artist to take control of his or her career a lot more,害羞草研究所� he says, adding, 害羞草研究所淭he old model was more challenging because you would get into galleries who would be responsible for marketing you and [therefore] allowing you to be in the studio and paint. It害羞草研究所檚 far more of a partnership now.害羞草研究所�

Blu害羞草研究所檚 style progressed from pop art into realistic paintings, and by the late 害羞草研究所�90s, he once again witnessed a shift in his work.

害羞草研究所淚 was running into a stumbling block where I found my work was really stagnating. I was doing a lot of realistic paintings and was struggling to find the creativity in that. It was more of a technical skill than a creative approach,害羞草研究所� he says.

害羞草研究所淚 decided to branch out and experiment doing non-representational abstract pieces 害羞草研究所� just throwing the paint around on the canvas and seeing what happened. It was only supposed to be about a week害羞草研究所� but that didn害羞草研究所檛 really happen. The abstract work really took off and I found what I was looking for. The floodgates opened.害羞草研究所�

Blu didn害羞草研究所檛 look back for the next 15 years. His reputation as an abstract artist spanned globally. It wasn害羞草研究所檛 until 2013 that Blu害羞草研究所檚 career took the next subtle and unexpected shift.

害羞草研究所淲e moved to North Saanich, onto a mostly tree-covered property. In our previous home, we would get the sunrise. In our new home, we would get light flooding through the trees 害羞草研究所� and it really affected me. I started to incorporate what I saw every day outside my studio into my abstracts. It began to develop into a really interesting journey with these abstract landscapes. I found it unique and fresh.害羞草研究所�

While Blu continues to produce pure abstract art, his abstract landscapes have gained renown for both their beauty and stylistic rarity. His work can be found in Victoria at the .

害羞草研究所淚t was imperative for me to go through the phase of pure abstraction. It was such a learning phase for me on how to handle paint and what boundaries I could push. I was able to take everything I had learned over the previous 15 years as an abstract artist and meld them with West Coast landscapes,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚f I had never done that phase, my paintings wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be where they are today.害羞草研究所�

All the various phases that artists move through equip them with tools or new skills to take forward on their artistic journeys. For Blu Smith, the evolution of his career has been unpredictable, with an ongoing inspiration to explore the limits of his own creativity and push forward through new phases. And as life unfolds with unexpected shifts, so too does the story Blu tells through his art.

To see more of Blue Smith check out and his .