I hate writing about myself but getting someone else to write your biography never seemed right to me, like a penguin directing a falcon to take flight. The remainder of this text will be written in third person.
Born January of 1987 Colin Ross grew up on the far east coast of Canada, in Nova Scotia. He had a pretty run of the mill upbringing on the rim of the Atlantic. With great family and friends, an outdoor enthusiast with and an ever flickering inner spark to create.
After a growing pain filled journey through High School he graduated with low flying colours. With exception given to some honorable mentions in English and Art, the distractions of growing up out muscled academics more often than not.
Colin put together a portfolio of edited videos, photos, mixed media drawings and paintings, and applied to Nova Scotia School of Art and Design with toes and fingers crossed. With the reception of a highly anticipated letter of acceptance, he moved from the suburbs to downtown Halifax and into an exciting new world.
Four years passed by of changing minors to majors, laptops to film equipment and majors back to minors. Making transitions from fine arts, to dark room processed photography all the way to design. Colin finally decided to take a semester off in an attempt to gain perspective on what, and how far away this ‘light’ at the end of the tunnel really was. This indefinite semester off would quickly turn into a train ticket to Montreal, Québec.
The initial goal of prioritizing art work was in full effect in this refreshing new city, full of culture, life and many distractions. After a few months he got a job at a local Irish pub where his focus quickly turned from cross hatching fine ink lines – to changing kegs and counting quarters at 4:00am. Almost two years had passed, it was time to see what else was out there for the born again traveler.
He headed west to Vancouver in the beautiful province of British Columbia in early 2011 with only a suitcase full of clothing, anxiety, and excitement. A few months down and things started looking up when he landed a job working in the art studio of a widely known Sid Dickens. Six months passed and enough had become enough, a lot was learned friends and acquaintances were made. This would end up being a crucial turning point in Colin Ross’ life.
With this new found looming reality that human beings with creative endeavors can actually succeed in their chosen craft, he returned home for a brief visit. In early January 2012
‘CDUNKillustration‘ was launched. Moving between apartments and couches for a new months he landed a studio and living space outside of the busy city to really focus on his work. To this day he continues to paint and illustrate under his own, sometimes stubborn commands.
“It took a while and it took experiences that seemed totally meaningless at the time, but I’m realizing that a train nor a plane can take you where you want your life to go. Who I am, what I do, and what makes me happy has always been right here, where I am in this second. It was just a matter of stripping down all the bullshit I had up built up over who I really am. I think a lot, and if I have an idea that makes me have strong feelings, I feel an obligation to visually illustrate it. If I don’t draw it or paint it, it is just a waste of my talent and my mind, and that thought – scares me”
Contact: cdunkillustration@gmail.com
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Previous Work
- Gallery In The Garden (Delta Arts Council) July, 2012. Vancouver, BC
- Arts Off Main Gallery (Solo Exhibition) July, 2012. Vancouver, BC
- K Zhang Gallery (Solo Online Show) July, 2012, San Francisco, CA
- G.G.D.I.B Gallery (Group Show) August, 2012. Vancouver, BC
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