by Jo Barnes | photo by Tanya Murchie –
He’s no longer at the helm of his sailboat. However, he still enjoys seascapes as he artistically interprets them through his painting.
Sidney artist, John Moloney, spent many years after his retirement sailing both locally and abroad, and for the last 14 years has been actively involved in painting, often focusing on the sea and sky imagery of the West Coast.
It was after he sold his boat in 2008 that he picked up the paintbrush. “I began painting first in watercolours, then tried acrylics, and recently switched to oil painting,” shares John. “My paintings are 70% coastal imagery depicting the sea, sky and land; the other percentage is gardens and inland imagery.”
After retiring from his profession as a draftsman, John was invited by a friend to try sailing. That positive experience led to sailing lessons near his home in Calgary and courses on off-shore sailing. “I was hooked!” adds John enthusiastically.
After crewing on a 33-foot sailboat, voyaging from Rarotonga to Victoria in 1996, he decided to live full time on the water. “I bought a boat and lived on it for 10 years. I sailed to San Francisco, Mexico and El Salvador, and then to Hawaii and back to Victoria,” he remarks. “I sailed next across the Atlantic to Ireland, circumnavigated Ireland, then sailed to the south coast of England and finally reached London.”
The sea experiences left a lasting impression. “When I was sailing, I would see nothing but water and sky, sometimes for days on end. It was fabulous. I saw a lot of sunsets and recall the colours,” he shares. “Now, I’m surrounded by the coast and images that I really like.”
Painting provides not only opportunities for artistry and imagination, but also a chance to get outdoors and appreciate nature and local geography. “There are plenty of local places to paint on the Saanich Peninsula, including Coles Bay, Roberts Bay, Moses Point, Mermaid Creek, and sites along West Saanich Road, many of them overlooking the sea,” relates John.
Of particular interest to John is the appearance of the sky each day. He talks about its changeability and the emotions it evokes, all of which fascinate him.
“I love to paint the sky. It’s so elusive and constantly changing. If there are no clouds the day I’m painting, I like to put them in anyway. I love stormy skies especially. The contrast between calm and storm shows the power of mother nature. A placid scene is comforting and reassuring, while the discomfort and danger evoked by stormy skies heightens the emotion.”
As a former draftsman, John knows the importance of precision and detail in work. “In Edmonton, I worked for the government making maps of oil fields and pipelines,” he says. “It was meticulous work getting the maps just right according to the surveys. I had to be very careful about what I was doing, and in those days, it was all done by hand.”
While he’s no longer doing professional drafting, he continues to applies his drawing skills to art. “Before starting a piece, I now do two to three thumbnail sketches about one inch by 1.5 inches in size, drawing the key shapes,” notes John.
For many years, John has enjoyed the medium of watercolour. Like many art forms, it takes practise to develop good skills.
“Finding the right colour can be difficult. I ask ‘What is predominant in the mix of colour that I want?’ It takes trial and error,” he comments. “Sometimes you don’t get it right, and you have to start again.”
Nowadays, John is exploring the medium of oil painting. “With oils, you can layer the paint,” he notes. “If you’re not happy with the result, you can usually paint on top of it.”
Since 2012, John has been an active member of local painting groups which has offered him an opportunity to grow in his skills, meet fellow art enthusiasts and share his own art experiences. “When you are a part of a group, you have an obligation to show up and to be committed to your painting. There are many painters with skills and experience. I benefit from others and can receive a tip or sometimes give one,” shares John.
A member of both Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts (SPAC) and Peninsula Plein Air Painters, John has exhibited his works at a number of locations including SPAC Art Shows, Tulista Gallery, and Alexander’s Coffee Shop.
While John enjoys the creative process, he receives a lot of satisfaction from sharing his art as he relates: “People love to look at art. It brings joy, and this is rewarding for me.”
While he might have swapped his tiller for a paintbrush, and now navigates his way around the intricacies of colour and hue, John still steers a course of exploring and sharing the world through his artistry.
For those interested in John’s art, visit his website at
www.johnmoloneywatercolours.com.
