John Dennison is a Vancouver artist infatuated with the ephemera of everyday life. With a focus on the anthropomorphic nuances of his subject matter, he creates sophisticated graphite drawings that transcend their ordinary circumstances. In his new work, Dennison has literally sequestered the souls of three shoes, which are among his favourite things to draw. Whether he is sketching antique boots, baby shoes or fashion heels, he reveals the subtle textures of objects through layer upon layer of cross-hatching.

Four large-scale pieces currently on exhibit have the quality of statuary. Drawn in black-and-white with a hundred tones of grey in between, a huge lifesaver and three portraits of women’s shoes are like monuments to drawing itself. His sleek, sophisticated rendering of the three-dimensional forms clearly shows Dennison’s abilities as a master draughtsman, while the resulting sheen of graphite compliments the surface qualities of the originals. It is no surprise that he counts Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg and Albrecht Dürer among his exemplars.

John Dennison studied fine art at the Vancouver School of Art (now the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design) between 1968 and 1971, where he majored in photography, commercial art and design. He worked as a freelance photographer before taking a full time position with the advertising department of a major company. All the while he has drawn inspiration from his extensive travels in England, Europe, and America. From his earliest years he has devoted equal passion to his own drawing. Currently Dennison is drawing full time and is developing a comprehensive book surveying years of his work.