Welcome to personal web site of John Dowding!

There’s a certain magic in the photographic process that has compelled me, from the moment I bought my first camera, to find new and expressive ways to see like a camera and to create Surreal images of the world I see. Infrared film and the broad spectrum of Photo Impressionism are the building blocks of this work. The key is the magic I feel when I work with camera and film.( and lately, Digital).

Photography is always more than the sum of its parts. It is a world where dreams become visible and a little child morphs to a faerie princess . I also find it satisfying to teach workshops in these processes. Maybe that’s because ,as the old adage goes, when you teach, you learn.

ONCE A PONTIAC

HAVANA DANCE

HAVANA

MACHU PICCHU

NOH DRAMA

GR M

Background
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, a surprisingly beautiful place if you’re lucky enough to live in a High Rise overlooking the city in the days when the great steel manufacturers were in their glory. The fiery orange red of the blast furnaces set off against the deep purple of the bay is forever etched in memory. So too is the annual ritual drive to nearby orchards on Blossom Sundays and Car Rallies that wound through the beautiful small towns along the escarpment that surrounds the city. Lucky was I to come from such a place and time.

Education
B.A.A. (Photographic Arts) 95 Ryerson Polytechnic University
Rep. Ryerson U. at Protege Program, Niagara Inst. Of Photography, 95 Award of Excellence
Specialist’s Certificate, Art Education , U. of Toronto
BA McMaster University, History and Fine Arts
Graduate of Teachers’ College, Hamilton

Teaching Resume
Haliburton Summer School of the Arts (1993-05) Photo-Impressionism
Academy of Artisans, Toronto ( 1996-05) Beginners/ Advanced Photography
Lorne Park Secondary School, Mississauga, Head of Art Dept. ( 1969-86)
Ont. Ministry of Education, Specialist’s Summer Course,Art Ed. Design/Adv.Painting (1966-74)
Blakelock High School, Oakville, Head of Art Dept. ( 1966-69)
Barton Secondary School, Hamilton, Head of Art Dept. ( 1960-66)
Hampton Heights Senior School , Hamilton, Art teacher, (1955-60)

My Exhibitions
Beach Studio Tour Show, Toronto, ON (Spring and Fall) (1994 – 2009)
Faculty Shows, HSTA,Fleming College, Rails End Gallery, Haliburton, ON (1993-2009)
Old as the Hills, Pre-Cambrian Rock Formations, Cobalt Gallery, Toronto, ON (Sept 2008)
Arts on King Gallery, Toronto, BST Group Show, Dec. 2001
Ryerson Univ. Student Show (1993-95)
D-Max Gallery, Toronto Group Show (Platinum Prints) 95
Koolartstuff Gallery, Kingston Rd. Toronto Jan to Dec. 2001
Grand Manan Show, Permanent Collection, Lorne Park Secondary School, Mississauga (1983 to 05)
Barrie Kempenfest Summer Art Show (1985-87)
Total: 49 exhibitions