About the artist

Samir Ghanem is a successful professional artist of international standing who maintains a studio in the City of Ottawa. His career as a leading exponent of contemporary Canadian visual art spans three decades. Since emigrating from his native Lebanon in 1975, Ghanem has dedicated himself to the interpretation in oils and watercolours of the natural landscape of Canada and also the human dimension in nature.  His works are prominently displayed in private and institutional collections on four continents.

Ghanem's impressionism is unique and powerful. He has advanced the depiction of landscape beyond the benign parameters of pastoral beauty into the realm of dramatic dialogue. The scenes which he composes are based on personal observation and cannot be explicitly familiar to the viewer. Even so, there is often a cognitive element, not unlike the penetrative emotional impact of great works of music, to solicit intimate involvement with the canvas. Ghanem describes many of his works as, "Strong paintings". Yet the imagery he creates often proves that nature, like the artist, is inclined toward subtle humour and bucolic grace. Through his brush strokes, astonishing beauty and serenity can emerge from the conflict of nature.

The artistic style of Samir Ghanem is an example of "theme and variations". The constant theme is that of authenticity on an idealistic impressionistic axis. Variations occur in his treatment of carefully chosen subjects. Although Ghanem employs a range of techniques, his entire output displays four consistent characteristics: colour, light, depth and kinesis. The richness of natural colour is accentuated but never distorted. Seasonal light in Canada has been a source of fascination for the artist and he is meticulous in representing its effect on the quality of shadow and reflection. Depth of perspective is present to a remarkably lifelike degree. Ghanem is also the master of capturing movement in nature such as the force of the wind and rushing waters.

Stephen Habington 2003
- Ballistic Missives -