Robert Huffman was born in Belleville, Ontario in 1951, and
grew up on a farm north of the city in Thurlow Township. He demonstrated
artistic talent in early childhood, and was painting in oils by the age
of eleven, featuring landscapes of his rural surroundings.
After a brief period of formal training at Ontario College of
Art in Toronto, Huffman was employed in graphic arts in that city for 10
years. During that time, he continued working in oils, making frequent
trips North to the Canadian Shield country for landscape subject matter.
He also worked extensively in print-making, and showed his work in Toronto
and Belleville galleries.
In 1981, Huffman returned to the countryside of his youth, and
since that time has been self-employed as a fine artist. His disciplines
include paintings in oils and watercolours, charcoal and pencil sketches,
print-making, and designing and building in stained glass.
He has exhibited extensively in Belleville and the surrounding
area, including three one-man shows at Belleville Public Library Gallery.
He has received awards in juried shows, and has been commissioned by Hastings
County Board of Education and other institutions for painting and stained
glass windows.
A high pine bluff overlooking a wind-blown northern lake...paper white
birch trees leaning above autumn reflections in a quiet pond...the pristine stillness
of a blue-shadowed winter trail in the woods. These are among the many subjects
of Robert Huffman's paint brush. Whether in the jewelled intimacy of a 6" x 8" plein-aire
sketch or in the sprawling gestural brushwork of a 36" x 48" canvas, Huffman explores
the possibilities of the expressive colours of our native landscape.
Huffman grew up in Hastings County where he began painting as a
child. After formal training at Ontario College of Art and work in commercial
art in Toronto, he returned to the fields and forest of his youth for his inspiration.
His work includes various commissions and one-man shows and has received awards in
juried shows, including Best in Show, ECOAA Algonquin Park Exhibit in 2000. Huffman has
also served as Artist in Residence, Bon Echo Park.
