Local artist Garrison Doell is diving into the joy of creativity through oil painting, music, and his comic strip Planet Garry.
Doell, who also performs music as Garry “Ezrah” Doell, recently stopped by the Eagle 93.5 FM studio to create an oil painting live on air. His subject: a vivid fall landscape inspired by the warm tones and natural beauty of the season.
“Anything looks like anything from somewhere in the world,” said Doell, as he guided the brush across the canvas. “If I paint this scenery here, guaranteed there’s a scenery outside somewhere that actually looks like that.”
The finished product: This is the oil painting that Garrison Doell did in the Eagle 93.5 FM studio (with a few brush strokes added by morning show host Jayme Giesbrecht)
Submitted photo: Garrison Doell in his “Planet Garry” studio
From comic strips to canvas
While many know Doell for his comic strip Planet Garry, featured in the Winkler-Morden Voice, his artistic roots stretch back to childhood.
He said cartooning began after discovering Calvin and Hobbes in high school, inspiring him to draw humorous reflections of his own life. “I started drawing my life as a teenager, but more exaggerated and comedically to make my life seem less boring,” he said.
In Planet Garry, the main character, Garry, often appears alongside “the little dudes,” a set of twin brothers inspired by the younger children in Doell’s life. “If I was an older brother, I’d want to be considered cool to my younger siblings,” he said.
A recent Planet Garry strip, on the topic of “Fall messying”
Finding focus through painting
Doell first picked up a paintbrush in middle school, inspired by Alberta artist Ed Martinick’s Beautiful Freestyle Oil Painting TV series. From there, he explored the “wet-on-wet” technique made famous by Bob Ross.
He says oil painting allows him to capture atmosphere more naturally than other mediums.
“Because you have that wet base to start with, the paint just flows easily,” he explained.
The artist, who also lives with ADHD, says creative expression has helped him channel focus and emotion. “Inspiration comes in moods,” he said. “If I’m in that mood to get things done, I could be in my office all day.”
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Beyond the brush
Doell continues to create across several mediums. From Planet Garry to music and illustration. He’s working on a comic collection manuscript, which has already been submitted to publishers.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed that it’s a yes this time,” he said. “I’ve already got two rejection letters from other publishers, but I consider those wins.”
Fans can follow his work on Instagram at @planet_garry_comics or on Facebook under Planet Garry Comics.
Submitted photo: Garrison Doell (left), with his beloved comic strip character “Garry” from Planet Garry.