Doug Levitt is an artist specializing in Alla Prima painting techniques. He is an avid En Plein Air painter (outdoor painting from life) and he loves to paint anything that visually grabs him. His passion for growing as an artist is his driving force. This is what motivates him to paint such a diverse subject base. His main theme has been historical Native/Cowboy themes but he also paints contemporary portraits, landscapes, still life, and anything else that catches his eye. Looking for a drawing challenge, or something that will push his ability to tell an emotional story in paint are the main ingredients that will infect him with a need to paint. His other passion is teaching - or passing on knowledge - which is sacred to him. Trying to help others reach their artistic potential is another addiction level pursuit. ‘It’s a sacred thing to be asked to help someone along in their passion and the need to take it seriously is crucial’, he says. Doug feels artists have a responsibility to be cultural ambassadors in our society and teaching others to grow in their creativity is a main avenue to accomplish that goal for him.
Background
More about doug
Although Doug Levitt always wanted to be an artist, he never pursued it through most of his life, even though he drew avidly as a kid. “Something about it just intimidated me I guess and even though it gnawed at me, I always just put it off”, he says. Almost dying in an accident in 2001 changed his mind and focus however, and armed with a fresh load of art supplies he decided to conquer the demon. Surprised by the strong positive reaction from friends and family and with time on his hands recovering from the accident and subsequent surgeries, he decided to start attending art shows and sales.
“I’ve been painting full time ever since. I’ll paint anything that interests me or offers me growth as an artist, including portraits, still life and plein air landscapes, but my main focus is western art – particularly Indigenous/First Nations culture, inspired by dream images I kept having early in my career. The images were so clear I just closed my eyes and ‘saw’ the image and then painted it - and I never remember my dreams as a rule - so that struck me as a special thing”. Doug began approaching First Nations people for answers to his inspirational dreams and quickly found both models and friends within that community who began to teach him more about their culture in an effort to aid him in depicting the images with a deeper correctness and respect than would otherwise have been possible. He has been very embraced by the culture and has received many gifts – including feathers and various artifacts, most notably a turtle shell medicine pouch.
The last five years has seen Doug focus deeply on an expansive new 'Painting Alberta' series. Painting en plein air infected Doug with a deep desire to capture the beauty and stunning diversity of the province that has been his home. The latest arm of this series has been focused solely on Alberta Birds.
In 2008, Doug was commissioned to paint the image used for the 2008 Calgary Stampede poster which promoted the Stampede world-wide. The painting was sold for $63,000 and was purchased by the Hudson's Bay Company. Doug has also won Artist Choice (2), Collectors Choice (2) and Best of Show booth at Stampede. In 2013, he was honoured with the Outstanding Artistic Achievement award.
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Doug’s approach to teaching uses humour and great analogies that help his students understand concepts in art. His depth of knowledge is staggering and his willingness to share is a gift. Doug is able to draw out the inner artist from his students and encourages individualistic styles.
/ annette resler /
Teaching
Doug has been teaching painting for 13 years. His commitment to his students is paramount. His fundamental belief is that he isn’t asked to create ‘mini-mes’ in painting - getting people to imitate or adopt his style - rather, he believes that he is tasked with helping each student to develop their own style as they grow. This takes more attention and focus on his part but is the source of his joy as a teacher. Watching people come into their own as creatives is not only fulfilling, it’s a blast (in his words). Thrilling is another one. In his time teaching, Doug has had 5 apprentices ‘go pro’ under his tutelage. This gives him immense satisfaction. He is an unselfish teacher, offering his full knowledge base without holding anything back. ‘I often get asked by colleagues if my teaching style causes me concern in that I’m basically giving people a leg up to be competition to me. I don’t believe in that. I know there’s only so many people buying art so I get that there’s only so much money going around, but buyers collect what they fall in love with and that’s too subjective to be competitive. 10 artists could be at a show and all painting landscapes (which happens often) and all will sell work. People want what they want and they’ll buy according to that taste, so competition doesn’t enter into it in that sense. I also believe that the more artists we have in our society, the more people will notice art and get interested which broadens the collector base - so the more the merrier, I say!”
Doug has been teaching - or ‘passing on knowledge’ as he calls it, since 2007.