Colin White creates urban sketches, en plein air. Patreon allows artists to generate a sustainable income making art. A small contribution from you can help make this possible.

Consider it a subscription to art.

Colin explores change in the urban environment, filtered through the community he is working in. His artwork absorbs the authentic aspects of a place, preferring the beauty in the decaying facade of a neighbourhood store over a scenic landmark.

Patreon is the future of art patronage.

Patreon gives an artist freedom to create without appeasing an aristocratic, commercial or bureaucratic interest. It creates a reciprocal relationship in which the artist is not in fact employed — but inspired — by their patrons.

Patreon de-commodifies an individual piece of art while simultaneously propelling a new economic reality for artists. It gives an artist room to create in ways they might not have before.

It is one of Colin's goals to do a cross-Canada travelogue series, cumulating in a traveling exhibit and a book.

Along with urban sketching, Colin has been known to create comix based around encounters with people while sketching. Another goal of this Patreon campaign to begin producing comix based on urban sketching experiences again - an endeavour Colin set aside in order to make time for freelance work. These comix add another layer to urban exploration, revealing more about a streetscape or small views into humanity.

Public art & community has always been an aspect of Colin’s work, and in recent years he has been involved in a few projects which put his own — as well as other artists — work on display in the public sphere.

In 2014 he stencilled restaurants in his neighbourhood onto the sidewalk in front of each building. Through the summer of 2015 he organized a group of a dozen artists and explored various alleyways in Ottawa, concluding with an outdoor group exhibit entitled Forgotten Spaces. In 2016 he helped setup an official Ottawa Urban Sketchers chapter, organizing monthly meet-ups.

Why become a Patron?

Aside from being able to nonchalantly tell people you’re literally a “patron of the arts” - you will be giving Colin the flexibility to take on more ambitious projects, to travel and sketch beyond Ottawa, and to produce comix based on urban sketching experiences.

This is also a subscription to art, with yearly mailings of art postcards, unique 'Patreon-only' prints or original sketches.

Your patronage will help inspire and sustain all future work.

See more of Colin's work: www.ColinWhite.ca

*Please note Patreon uses US Dollars*

Banner photo: Chris Roussakis

Thank you to: Liam Mooney, Matthew Stella, Darren Brown, Anthony Parravano, Kwende Kefentse, Constantin Demner, Justin Nalepa, Richard White