Painting Bryan Trottier

 

I went back and forth with the organizers of the Celebration of Indigenous Hockey Legends as to what Bryan Trottier picture to reference for my live painting at the September 30th event at the Conexus Centre in Regina. In the end, we all agreed that this moment had all the right elements that would be well received.

Generally speaking, when I do live painting performances I pre-sketch the subject back in the studio before leaving. In this case, I also stained parts of the canvas. That was my starting point when I was all set up on a small stage to the audience's right of the main stage that would host the hot stove components of the evening. 

I must have had a sense that I was up against the clock with this one as I felt I had to jump in right at 4 pm. I was right. Having so many subject in the composition added a layer of complexity different from most of my other live painting performances. By the time guests started to arrive at 5 pm, I had made good progress on many of the uniforms.

I continued through the program, pausing only to have a short visit with David, Nicole and Andrew from BOUCHER, the main sponsors of the night. I am connected to all three from many years of living in Fort McMurray. I also stopped for the grand entry of all the legends, dignitaries and Chiefs. It was a powerful way to begin an evening that would celebrate the contributions of some of the indigenous players that made it to the NHL, particularly powerful as it was happening on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

I brought the painting to its conclusion near 9 pm, almost five hours after I put the brush to canvas. I knew I had touch ups to do back in the studio, but for the moment I was ready to sign the piece and clean up my gear.

I was washing my brushes in the backstage bathroom when a gentleman walked in to use the urinals.

"You're doing a great job on that painting," he said doing his business.

"Ahh, thanks," I replied. 

"I need a nap now," I said laughing.

"It is a very special painting to me on a very special night," said the man.

"Bryan? Is that you?"

It was! We spent a few minutes catching up and talking about the evening. We had met on several other occasions. His memory of my two previous live paintings was bang on. He knew one was in support of the Alzheimer's Association and the other for Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. 

When it came to start the auction, Bryan asked for the microphone and said a few words about the moment that inspired the painting.

His reflections inspired a slough of bids and the price went up to $7,000. The painting was purchased by Matt for a sports lounge that is being built attached to the Brandt Centre, home to the Regina Pats. 

After I loaded up my gear it was well after 11 pm. I had not eaten in a long time, so I drove to a 24 hour Denny's. I always need a little decompression time after these major painting events. Even then, I had a devil of a time sleeping and gave up by 4:30 am.

Screw it, I thought to myself. Let's just get on the road. I left Regina by 5 am and was back in High River by 1 pm.

My deepest thanks to Garth, Mark, Jennifer and all the committee members who put this great event together and invited me to be a small part of it. They are part of a terrific organization called the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation. You can read about their work here.