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"I must save the history of this wonderful place. When I stepped off the train in 1959, I had never seen open spaces like the prairies where trains define the landscape. The light forced me to paint. I had to capture it. I had to preserve it. You have to live here 20 years to understand it. I only know after nearly 50 years on the prairies. I have almost captured the storms, the light, the skies, and the snow. Trains and painting are my life. I must paint all the stations west of the Hudson Bay or the history will be lost." -- William
Elgin, prints available Train with Caboose
Gainsborough, Saskatchewan "All That's Left" Huntsville Railway Dock
Gainsborough, Saskatchewan, CPR Railway Station, Actual Station Fully Restored by Hobbs
Esterhazy, Saskatchewan Komar Family Collection The Esterhazy Flour Mill was declared a national historic site on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Boissevain, Manitoba
Virden Komar Family collection prints available
Minot, North Dakota, USA Melville, Manitoba The town was named after Charles Melville Hays. He owned the Grand Trunk R. R. and drown on the Titanic.
Gimli, Manitoba Komar Family Collection prints available Hello Dr. Hobbs, I would like to place an order for a print of "Forty Below Zero" (in Gainsborough Saskatchewan of the city street). The print you sold me for Christmas for my father was a big hit-he was completely speechless, it was a very memorable moment. Thank you kindly, Andrea Busby Richland, Washington, USA Great Northern Station, Brandon, Manitoba
Ninga, Manitoba, prints available |
Royal Visit Manitoba circa 1970 CN La Broquerie, Manitoba Commission Painted June 2009 click on image to enlarge
Brandon Heritage Series No. 7 Commission August 2009 McGuire Collection The painting is of the Brandon, Manitoba, Great Northern station. The GN line ran from Churches Ferry ND to Brandon from 1906 until 1936. The GN ran a passenger train to Brandon daily (except Sunday) for this period of time. The train to Brandon was Number 209 and it is this train in front of the station. Around 1930 in order to cut costs, the steam passenger train was replaced by a self propelled Gas Electric car, which was capable of pulling another coach if the traffic called for it. In the background is a GN steam locomotive which would have been working as the Brandon Yard engine. The time is the early 1930's. Prints Available for Fund Raiser Christmas 2009
Gorlitz, Saskatchewan "Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Station in Saskatchewan circa 1915" On linen, Painted 2009 The pastel colours show the happy times as the train departs leaving provisions for all. FOR SALE
Fairfax, Manitoba Canadian Pacific Railway in Manitoba circa 1910 Collection of Samson Engineering Inc. Painted 2009
Destination of Dreams Canadian Pacific Railway Station - Regina, Saskatchewan 1892-1911
Collection of Ms. Wallis Zbitnew Commission 2008 Prints Available with Donation to Restoration Project contact Wallis Zbitnew for information.
Gainsborough, Saskatchewan 2008 FOR SALE
Brandon, Manitoba The Empress Leaving Brandon 2008 Collection of Samson Engineering Inc. Gorlitz is Snowing 2009 For Sale Painted during the very cold winter of 2009. The black sky and the little dog turned away from the viewpoint, perhaps reflect the mood of the Artist during a bitter cold winter. The winter was a particularly long and difficult winter for the Artist living in Brandon, Manitoba. If you click on the image you'll see the snow falling and perhaps you'll see the Native shivering in his Hudson Bay blanket.We hope there will be many more paintings. Carnduff, Saskatchewan click on image to enlarge The Canadian Pacific circa 1930's Commission 2008 for Mr. Brian Avery "One little secret of the CPR station in Carnduff has fascinated me for years. There was a trapdoor in the freight shed floor. Below a small space had been dug out and there was a wooden cabinet. My father felt that it had probably been used in the rum-running days when Carnduff was one of the distribution points for alcohol to supply the USA during prohibition. Alcohol may have been stored temporarily below the trap door and boxes could have been piled over the trap door. This is a very distinct possibility considering the amount of alcohol that apparently moved through Carnduff to the USA." -- Brian Avery from a Railway Family
Old Case Steam Tractor 2007 Underhill, Manitoba Private Commission
The Trespasser Komar Family Collection, Winnipeg, Manitoba (30x40) Painted in 2006 Reston, Manitoba 2007 SOLD Wauchope, Saskatchewan Komar Family Collection, Winnipeg, Manitoba Painted 2008 October 20, 2008, KEY "M' AUCTION NEWS FLASH Dellan Mohrbutter of Key "M' Auction sells first print of Wauchope railroad station painted by Dr. William Hobbs for $1800.00 Dellan Mohrbutter of Key "M' Auction sells first print of Wauchope railroad station painted by Dr. William Hobbs for $1800.00 dollars at annual Health Foundation Fundraiser Oct 18-2008. Buyer was long time resident and prominent business man Emil Dangstrop. This is the second year running that a Dr. Hobbs print has topped this Fundraiser.
Swan River, Manitoba by Prairie Artist William Hobbs Painted 2007, Private Collection (commission) Cannington Manor, Saskatchewan "Didsbury" The Birthplace of Western Canada by Saskatchewan Artist William Hobbs Painted May 2007 sold
As seen in Dr. William Hobbs's painting; front protective panels were draped from the yoke of the harness. Not only were these panels implemented to keep the horse's chest warm, but the decorative touch was designed in accordance with the strict dress code of the "Didsbury Equestrian Set". These warming panels were an invention of the Beckton's stable. Read more about the gentlemen's horse races and the very tall trainer the Beckton's employed. Fairfax, Manitoba sold by Train Artist William Hobbs Komar Family Collection, Winnipeg, Manitoba
THE ALMIGHTY! 7 ENGINES FOR THE BIG PUSH by Canadian Artist William Hobbs Painted July 2007
Kemnay Prairie Artist William Hobbs Painted 2008
Wawota, Saskatchewan Prairie Artist William Hobbs 100 Year Anniversary Painting 2008 Prints will be coming soon and proceeds will go to Wawota Health Center to help buy a machine that warms blankets.
Lylton Prairie Artist William Hobbs Painted fall of 2007 for sale please inquire
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba Manitoba Artist William Hobbs Painted 2007, for sale Birchwood Gallery, Winnipeg
Morden, Manitoba Painted 2007 SOLD On show Focal Point Vision Care, Boundary Trails Place, 32 Stephen Street, Morden
Part of talk at book launch (Sept. 2007) " I would like to thank Dr. William Hobbs, who painted this wonderful picture for the cover of my book. Early into my research of station styles I became aware of the paintings of Dr. William Hobbs. I finally telephoned him and I said " I see that all of your stations are painted sitting on snowy ground or barren ground. Are you aware that most of the stations had gardens around them?' He said he was but he had never seen any good pictures of station gardens.I told him I was writing a book about station gardens. Dr.Hobbs was ecstatic and so encouraging. I asked him if he ever painted the Kennedy station, he said no, but he had practiced at Wawota, and he was familiar with Kennedy,etc. I said that Kennedy was my hometown, that the tracks were gone but the station and remnants of the garden are still in tack,rather unique. I commissioned him to paint The Kennedy Station which I thought I might use in my book about the Kennedy station gardens, but when Dr. Hobbs sent me a picture of the painting, it was an instant decision to use it for the cover for my book. Now- this is one book that I think you may judge by it’s cover! Shirley Harris Morris Painted 2007, for sale Birchwood Gallery, Winnipeg
"Forty-one Below Zero" Storthoaks, Saskatchewan A chilly prairie railway station! Painted in December 2006
"Dominion Sunrise" CN Terminis Calgary, Alberta Alberta Railway Station Circa 1910 SOLD www.birchwoodartgallery.com/local.asp (painted 2006) The train reversed to exit the terminis, up the Bow River. The painting reflects the boom times in Alberta's industrial era -- see the Oilman walking into the station. This is Hobbs' finest work and this image does not do the painting justice.
Bellis, Alberta Ukranian Cultural Heritage Village See the lady with the scarf Painted November 2006 Komar Family Collection, Winnipeg, Manitoba
South Africa's First Train, Private Collection
Brandon Heritage Series, No. 5 Brandon, Manitoba 24 X 36 on linen canvas 2006 original SOLD
Brandon Heritage Series No. 6 Brandon, Manitoba A Beautiful Manitoba Railway Station 30 X 40 on linen sold 2006 The Brandon Heritage Series is a Major Work of Hobbs painted from 2000 to 2006. Brandon Heritage Series, No. 4 "The Summit of Steam" This beautiful hotel was the finest one West of Toronto. The guests waved from their balconies as the train departed. Sadly, it was torn down. See the romance of the Steam Era reflected in the lovers in window.  Morden, Manitoba (Bobby Curtola's private collection, 2005) (click on image to enlarge) Winnipeg Beach Station Winnipeg, Manitoba FREE SCREEN SAVER ** **The Artist gives you his permission to download Winnipeg Beach 24X36 on Belgium linen 2006 sold
Dominion Sunset Portage La Prairie, Manitoba Private Commission, Oct. 2006 Moonlight Express Mixed media on linen canvas SOLD Description: In the late 1890's, this train travelled over the lonely prairies. Its whistle and its bell the only sound with the clatter of the wheels in harmony with a lonely coyote. It had the mail and news, money, and a few passengers in the back. If the train arrived in winter on the night of the full moon the farmers gathered at the station awaiting the arrival. The cow-catcher snow plow was essential to the trains on the prairies. The buffalo liked to stand on the tracks and block the train. It was impossible to keep the buffalo off the tracks, but by this time, they had been wiped out by the buffalo bounty the railroad companies had to use to run the trains. Artist's Comments: The train brought life to the lonely prairie. I love the play of light on the snow, water and moon. The colour change is minimal, but it's subtlety sweeps the eye across the snow and into the sky. The warmth and speed of the train make the painting great.
Carnduff, Saskatchewan Private Commission 2008 Can you see the artist in the painting?
Rico Station SOLD Rio Grande Southern
Rivers, Manitoba
Macoun Elevator
Melita, Manitoba, Prints for sale
CN Rail Station
Pipestone, Manitoba Collection of Samson Engineering Inc. Painted 2007 SOLD
Ninga Station, Manitoba
Ridgway, Colorado, U.S.A. SOLD Rio Grande Southern #20
Souris, Manitoba $8,500. On Display Hillcrest Museum
Teaming Wheat to Elevator Manitoba 16X20 original on linen SOLD Description: This prairie scene shows the struggle of the prairie pioneer taking his harvest to the market on the first sunny day after an inevitable early fall blizzard. The scene is whimsical because in the lonely cold prairie the towns are bustling with optimism. Turning the crop to cash and getting ready to join in a nice hot fowl supper after the wheat is gone East for processing. Artist's Comments: I could feel the cold run down my spine as I painted this in the attic of my old house in Manitoba as I heard the wind seeping in through a crack. I decide to let the cold in so I could feel the suffering of the early settlers as they fought to survive the unforgiving, relentless prairie wind that never seems to end.
Milford Trestle Bridge, Prints Available North West Mounted Police on horseback near Wawanesa, Manitoba.
Elgin SOLD Prints Available
Carman, Manitoba SOLD
Brandon Heritage Series, No. 3 Passing the Brandon Brewery, Toronto Express Train circa 1935 PRINTS AVAILABLE
Tilston, Manitoba
Hartney, Manitoba Click to go to Contact Information |
Copyright 2006-09 William Hobbs
Please respect Dr. Hobbs hard work and do not copy or print these images without his authorization. Violators will be referred for prosecution to the full extent of the law.