Art
Darrell Chocolate got a mining job when art school was too expensive. Now he does both for a living
Portraiture is hard; ask any working artist. Get one line wrong, misshape an eye, and you’ve blown the whole thing. But for Whitehorse-based Dené artist Darrell Chocolate, portraiture is a joy.
Growing up in the small Tlicho community of Gameti, the self-taught artist always had a passion for capturing the human face, drawing pictures of his favourite athletes — NBA stars like Allen Iverson. As a teenager, he’d hoped to go to art school in Alberta, but a lack of money and distance meant that wouldn’t happen. Instead, he went to work in a nearby mine, keeping art as a hobby.
In 2009, a colleague at the mine noticed Chocolate’s drawings and asked for a portrait of his wife. That moment made Chocolate start to take art more seriously. And while he still works in mining, he now has a second career as an artist — and a distinctive style of portraiture that both accurately captures its subjects while showing off his own point of view.
Chocolate will be exhibiting his work as part of Toronto’s Outdoor Art Fair. We caught up to him about life as an artist/miner, why he loves painting nature, and how he honed his portraiture skills.
So tell me how your love of basketball helped you hone your art skills.
I used to go buy Slam Magazine, and I’d see all the photographs in the magazine of their dunks. And that kind of intrigued me to do drawings in my sketchbook. So that’s how I grew my skill level, too — by drawing these NBA players doing dunks.
That kind of caught the attention of my peers in school. And when they saw my art, they were always amazed, seeing what I could do on the paper.
You have a full-time day job in a mine, and you also have a pretty active art practice. How do you balance all that?
[My schedule is] two weeks on and two weeks off. So the two weeks on, that’s all work, and on my two weeks off, I pretty much have all the time I want. So that’s how I balance the two. Obviously I spend time with family, but I make time for artwork. Being creative — the process of creating new work, whether it be wildlife or human portraits — it’s just a passion of mine.
It was a colleague at the mine who got you to start painting again, right?
I [hadn’t been] doing any painting since [I left] high school, when I went to work in the diamond mine. Painting, for me, wasn’t that big of a priority. That drive wasn’t there for me. Being young and hanging out with your friends is more of a priority in your 20s. In 2009, one of my coworkers knew that I could draw portraits and he asked me to do a portrait of him and his wife, because it was his anniversary coming up.
Originally I thought I could do it with coloured pencils, but then I knew that it would take me a long time. So then I thought, I knew I could [paint] portraits back in high school, so I picked up some paints and some brushes and started painting. My painting skills started to come back, and I just haven’t stopped since then. I have to thank that co-worker for commissioning me.
A lot of professionally trained artists struggle with portraits. What do you think makes you so good at it?
I think I just really see the facial features: the nose, the eyes, the eye, the cheekbones, the jaw line, those sheep ears and all this. I think what really brought my skill level up was drawing these NBA players doing dunks.
You do a lot of nature painting, too. What speaks to you about that?
Wildlife is something that every artist here in the North has for their main subject in their artwork. So naturally, I just kind of picked up on that, too. Some challenges I face are trying to capture the details: the fur and the little strands of their whiskers, the claws and the beak of the owl, the feathers. To me, it’s almost like a therapy.
What else inspires you?
One of my paintings comes from the movies. I have one from The Last of the Mohicans — Daniel Day-Lewis and the late Russell Means in the ending scene. When I [watched] that scene, I was like, “I gotta make that into a painting.” When I was working on it, that got a lot of take-up on social media. I posted it on my Facebook, a short timelapse of me sketching the subject. That wound up selling to someone in England.
Do you want to make art a full-time living? Is that a goal?
You have to keep in mind, I still have a mortgage. I still have a vehicle payment. I have five kids to provide for and a wife; she’s a stay-at-home mom right now. Once my youngest goes to kindergarten, maybe she can go back to work, and if she gets something steady, I can try and be an artist full-time.
Art
Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.
Alleged Fraud Scheme
Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.
Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.
Massive Seizure of Artworks
In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.
Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.
Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed
In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.
Court Proceedings Ongoing
The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Impact on the Local Art Community
The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.
For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.
As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.
While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.
Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.
As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
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