Edward Spera
Wildlife Artist of the Year 2024
Canada Prestige Awards
The last time Edward Spera attended an art class was in eighth grade at 13 years old. It was eleven years later that he started to paint in earnest. After watching a documentary about wolves on TV, inspiration struck, and he found some old art supplies in the back of a closet, setting to work on what would be the first piece of a prolific career that has spanned years and continents.
It is no coincidence that Edward’s first piece was wildlife related. In his younger years, wildlife TV programs and documentaries captivated him. While on family trips in Northern Ontario, walking through the woods, or even in his own backyard, Edward always enjoyed watching wildlife. This hasn’t changed; however, his travels have extended beyond the local, and are now global.
There is a spirit or essence to an animal that you see in the wild that is just not there with a captive animal. There is a spark in the way an animal navigates the world on its own terms; whether it is searching for food, caring for young, or interacting with other animals, they are always existing with a purpose in the wild. The shape, posture, and muscle tone of an animal is very different in the wild when compared to their lethargic captive counterparts. Every line, curve and marking is representative of an individual animal’s history. Nature truly created something beautiful in the processes that have given way to the flora and fauna of the world, and Edward tries to mimic that beauty with each brushstroke.
When people see Edward’s work for the first time, one of the most common elements they bring up is the eyes. For Edward, the eyes can give a false sense of completion with a piece, which is why he leaves them for last. Conventional wisdom states that an artist should start with the eyes, since they are a focal point. Edward leaves the eyes for last, so as he works on it the painting never feels quite complete; potentially one hair or one whisker away from completion, concerned that he will shortchange the detail that he is known for. Once a piece is complete, he never goes back to it. With his attention to detail, the potential for him to spend years on a piece getting every element “perfect” is not outside of the realm of possibility.
Edward will share his travel adventures related to his art work.