Welcome
to artbygrantm.com, the home site for artist Grant McLaughlin, whose giant murals and monumental sculptures have dotted Western Canada for over twenty years. Many of these large scale creations are collaborative public art pieces, often celebrating an area’s history, centennial, or to create a community or business based attraction. Several of his smaller paintings and sculptures have found homes in private and public collections.
My creative design and keen sense of interest in subject matter, and eye for detail and color have made my work in demand.“ While my home base is Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, I enjoy traveling and working in new places, connecting with communities, researching and designing new topics, as these are always exciting artistic experiences.
My personal work often involves themes of the prairies, people and nature, and when I can use my artistic vision to combine two passions, sculpture and painting, in an art piece, this is a rewarding process.
Whether I’m working with a large group, a small town or business, or creating some unique artwork for an individual, I love being involved in projects that give purpose to life.
Biography
Growing up on the Canadian prairies, I early on became aware of the interconnections we have in life- with people, their heritage, our natural and manmade environment, and these have all been constants in my personal art. Color and light, shape and design, are key elements I like to focus on.
I graduated from the Alberta College of Art, Calgary, followed by an education degree from the University of Regina, and through my adult years have either been teaching art or creating art.. My natural curiosity for exploring new mediums and techniques is something I have always encouraged in my students as well as to share our art talents within our communities, This led to the painting of murals with my students followed by my involvement with the creation of Moose Jaw’s mural program. Learning about site selection, design, materials, upkeep, budget, contracts, tourism potential, promotion and community involvement, are some of the areas I use in my own work as well as sharing those applicable through workshops with school age and adult groups.
While still doing smaller works, both personal and commissioned, I have gradually moved to larger paintings and sculptures, which allow me to do further artistic exploration, master new challenges, make people more aware of the world around them, and to create a greater visual impact.
Murals
Indoors or outdoors, these life size or larger paintings, some with sculptural components, are designed to fit with a building’s architecture and suit the subject chosen. The painting surface, the style of design, the type of paint chosen and it’s durability, are all important considerations in my work.
“I believe a mural’s purpose is to attract, inform, celebrate the arts, and to enhance the communities in which they
Sculptures
Several of my smaller and large sculptures are realistically done, made of materials that suit the design shape and work with their surroundings. My smaller works are often clay, bronze, or resins while for my larger creations, steel, concrete and fiberglass resins provide the strength and durability needed, and allow an affordable cost for commissioned work.
