Painter Andy Gerlach has been doing his art for more than 40 years, using a definitive West Coast style to depict first nation artifacts, fishing boats and, one of his first loves, motorcycles. Gerlach moved to Powell River from Vancouver 38 years ago with his dad, a sign painter, and said it was “the best thing we ever did.” Gerlach recently showed some of his motorcycle paintings at a recent screening of Easy Rider at Patricia Theatre as part of the Black Point Show and Shine motorcycle rally.
How did you start doing art?
I started in high school drawing tattoos on my friends with pens and drawing motorcycles. Then I got into drawing fishing boats, so I drew a lot of those. From there, I got into other styles of art.
How has your art expanded over the years?
At the beginning I did pen and ink, then I went to watercolour and trying different things. Now I mostly do acrylic on big canvases.
Are you still enjoying drawing and painting as much as you did when you were in high school?
Well, I’m retired now. I’m starting to get back into it and enjoying it again. I don’t want it to become work though; that’s the thing. I don’t want doing my art to become a pain, rather than enjoying it.
What’s the secret to enjoying it?
To take some breaks and not take it too seriously. Just keep it simple.
A lot of artists are very self-critical. Would you agree with that?
Oh yeah, I’m my worst critic. And my wife is my worst critic, too. Please put that in the article.
Tell me about your motorcycle paintings and how the biker culture inspires some of your art?
That came from when I was a child. I was around bikers in my neighbourhood and they were a big influence on me, and they are still with me. I love motorcycles and enjoy painting them, too. It just goes hand in hand.
Do you get the same feeling from painting that you do riding your bike? Or is it totally different?
Oh, it’s totally different. Riding is just getting away. Painting is hard work; it can be hard emotionally and physically. If you’re going to be a painter, be prepared for hard work.
For more information, search Andy Gerlach Art on Facebook.
