Today we’d like to introduce you to Wade Ganes.
Hi Wade, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am a Southern California artist who’s been practicing art and landscape architecture since 2000. I was raised in the Midwest but have spent my professional career as a Landscape Architect and Artist in California.
Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and moved around a bit growing up. Iowa City, IA, Craig, Co, Kenmare, ND. I studied Landscape Architecture and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Design, a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture, and an Art Minor from North Dakota State University in Fargo ND.
From there I moved to Southern California and have been practicing Landscape Architecture since. In my free time I create Art, raise a family and enjoy the outdoors whether it be on a bike, golf course, or running shoes.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
All journeys have some degree of struggle. When I look back at my life thus far, however, I have been blessed with a loving wife, children, parents, and a sister who have always believed in and supported me. Work has its challenges of course regardless of what you do, Motivation to create art has its challenges, finding the time to create is probably the hardest. But nothing is more challenging or rewarding than raising my kids. If you’ve raised children, you understand your wants and desires become secondary and any challenge becomes worth the sacrifices when you see your efforts come to fruition through someone else’s success. I suppose that line of thinking has put me in a position of leadership in my chosen career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While I practice Landscape Architecture and am very passionate about it, I’d prefer to discuss my Art. I dabble in various mediums, but I’ve focused on a process over the last decade where I take memories or others’ memories and abstract them into color and form. I start with simple pencil sketches that I then paint over with an ink brush. From there I bring my work into the computer and refine the ink by making it smooth and sinuous. After that, I apply color. This is the most satisfying part of the process and where the work comes alive. I will then finalize the work that gets printed on brushed aluminum. Understanding the entire process to my Art is important as it goes through a long process to become something tangible. At the end of the day how you light it becomes integral to the work as when you move past it the various angles of light change the colors ever so slightly making it kinetic. I am most proud of whatever was created last and if I have to define what sets me apart from others, I believe it is creating a process that takes what would be considered giclée’ and transforms it into fine art.
How do you define success?
I believe I am successful in that I’ve made a living creating art and designing spaces that people enjoy. If your work creates joy in any way, I believe that you are successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: wadeganes.art
