Ron Stonier

Cardboard #5

1963

Ron Stonier was a dedicated Vancouver artist whose life was an unwavering exploration of abstract painting, his works echoing the confidence and expressive power of artists like Frank Auerbach and Joan Mitchell. His artistic evolution saw him move through distinct phases, developing a unique visual language that combined colour, technique, and diverse influences. In the early 1960s, Stonier experimented with patches of paint and coalescing forms contained within broader fields and frames. By the end of that decade, his work had shifted toward a more precise style, exemplified by the horizontal bands of his Couple series and the concentric rings of his Target series in the 1970s. Later in his career, Stonier returned to a more painterly approach in large-scale works, revisiting and reimagining earlier techniques with a newfound freedom. These later pieces, laden with pigment and refinement, are a masterful display of Stonier's confident grasp of colour theory. This constant evolution was a hallmark of Stonier's practice. He was, in essence, a "painter's painter," deeply respected by his peers for his technical skill, relentless pursuit of his artistic vision, and willingness to embrace new directions. His artistic journey was deeply intertwined with his role as an influential teacher. At the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University) and the Burnaby Art Centre (now Shadbolt Centre for the Arts), Stonier inspired countless students with his exacting standards, passion for art, and thoughtful mentorship. He encouraged them to delve into their creative depths, fostering not only their technical skills but also their artistic voices. Stonier's paintings were exhibited widely throughout his career, gracing the walls of the Vancouver Art Gallery, the UBC Fine Art Gallery (now Morris and Helen Belkin Gallery), and the Burnaby Art Gallery. His legacy was celebrated in a 2019 retrospective at the West Vancouver Art Museum and the 2019/2020 "Painted Paper" exhibition at the McGill Library, curated by the Burnaby Art Gallery. Inspired by his mentors, including Gordon Smith and Jack Shadbolt, as well as by Japanese architecture and Modernism, Stonier's artistic philosophy was encapsulated in his own words: "To live in the present is to include the future with the past. To live in the future is to lose the present and end up in the past." This sentiment speaks to his deep engagement with the artistic traditions that preceded him while maintaining a firm focus on the present moment and the possibilities it held. Stonier painted and drew daily until his passing in 2001, leaving behind a remarkable body of work that stands as a testament to a life lived in pursuit of artistic truth and the enduring power of abstraction.