John Topelko's oil paintings, at times reminiscent of the Group of Seven works, depict wilderness landscapes of Ontario and Quebec with strong vibrant colours and simple lines. By his own definition Topelko is a "colourist". Particularly striking are his treatment of lakes and skies in later works.

An avid outdoorsman who enjoys skiing, hiking, canoeing, sailing and climbing, Topelko paints on site where he is fully immersed in the beauty of Canada's wilderness and has ample opportunity to record his interpretation of moments in time.

John Topelko, a long-time resident of Ottawa, was formerly art director at Cantebury High School. He received a Canada Council Grant in 1974 and 1976 for explorations in printmaking and lectured this year on block print techniques at the Bytown Museum and the Billings Estate.

From 1986 to 1997, John's paintings were featured in many solo exhibits in Toronto and Ottawa. His paintings can be found in collections in Ottawa Parliament buildings, across Canada, England, the United States, Japan and the Ukraine.

Updated:1/19/2008 Copyright 2007 Tay River Gallery