The Poplar-painting Poet

Creativity and a positive outlook transformed one man’s life-changing accident into a life of art

Iunderstand what it’s like to create work in which one can take great pride. I’m the owner of a promotional marketing company, as well as a self-taught artist/writer who designs and decorates wood canvases with my own poems and art. My journey began with a creative hobby and then slowly turned into a business. But it all began with an accident.

After an industrial mishap in 1998 cost me my left index finger—i was 31 at the time—a doctor at the hospital in Edmonton told me to write about the accident to help me cope and take my mind oˆ the intense pain I felt when I was recovering. That was the lowest point in my life, and at that time, there was no support of any kind—it was just me and my writing. So, I began to write poems.

Then, one cold night in November 2000, I was inspired to take a piece of plywood, a poem and a wood burner, and create my first piece of art, which I titled “The Planet Earth.” I now create my one-of-a-kinds on various types of wood—poplar, pine and even plywood—with design themes that range from holidays to animals to religious symbols, and in sizes that range from 71/4”x51/4” to 151/2” x 11”. Some of my works include my poetry; some poems are hand-painted, others are wood-burned and at times I use a combination of styles.

But like the poetry, I wasn’t a painter before I began this endeavour. I just wanted to do more, so I bought some paint and brushes—and the art on wood came to life.

Each piece takes a few days to complete. They’re all plastic-coated, with felt backing, so they can be used as either indoor or outdoor decorations.

The first piece I sold—at an Art Walk Festival in Edmonton—was a plywood canvas that showed a tree during autumn with the leaves falling to the ground.

ART IMITATES LIFE

My marketing business, Ken’s Promotional Marketing in Edmonton, grew from my hobby and passion of creating art.

After I graduated from Mar-tech College of Marketing & Management (now closed) in June 2000, I decided to include writing in my work. As part of the school program, students had to select a company to work with, so I chose the old Alberta SPCA Thrift Store. I created business and marketing plans and promotional flyers for them. It’s what I’m great at. Give me a word or two, what you want and what your business is, and I can create a promotion for you.

I truly believe in doing what you love. My motto is: “Every day is a great day when one can do what they love to do.” That motto comes from a passage in a book

I read; it said that if you do what you love for free, eventually it will give you more than money: it will give you lasting relationships, it will make you happier, it will give you freedom of lifestyle. You’ll be doing what you want to do, not what someone else tells you that you should be doing.

What I love—my greatest joy— is knowing that I made someone’s day by creating something for them. There is so much beauty in the world around me, and I see it all as art. The world is an inspiration for what can be created. I

If you’d like to order an original, one-of-a-kind wood canvas from Ken, please send him an email at kensmith122@hotmail.com to discuss your idea.