About the Artist

Martin Sollanych grew up in Ontario where he liked drawing as a child, and he discovered art through a friend of his mother’s who was a portrait painter who gave him some pastels.  Also one of his school teachers knew A.J. Casson whom she invited to speak to the class, and she arranged a class field trip to the McMichael home to view paintings by the Group of Seven which was very inspirational.  

After his family moved west Martin studied Engineering and graduated from UBC.   He worked in Telecom for 35 years.  He started off painting in oils as a hobby in 1980, and then switched to painting mostly in acrylics in 2007.  Martin has taken night classes at Shadbolt Centre, PomoArts, Poirier Centre, and Emily Carr.  He has also been on several art retreats and workshops.  Martin primarily paints landscapes of local scenery and vacation spots, as well as some spiritual and impressionistic works.  

In 2012 Martin decided to become more involved in art in the community.  He has served a total of seven years as Treasurer and President of Art Focus Artists’ Association in Port Coquitlam.   He has also been volunteering with the Knights of Columbus and the Port Moody Artists Association.  He has lived in B.C. for over 40 years mostly in Port Coquitlam and more recently in Port Moody.  His works have been displayed in local art shows, including Leigh Square, the Michael Wright Galley, Western Sky Books, and the Port Moody Art Centre.