Bob Timmons is an Endangered Marine Animal Artist and Activist.  In a few short years his art has not only added to public awareness of animal exploitation but has also allowed him to pursue his cause internationally as the Director of Campaigns for an animal rights organization, ARK II.  I spoke to Bob about the message and inspiration behind his passion

GGN: Why don't you tell us a bit about your background as an artist?

Art comes naturally for me and I am self taught. I have been drawing since grade school and I have even won some awards for my art. During my college years, where I took Environmental Sciences, I had gotten away from art and didn't start painting again until 2004 when someone handed me a canvas and come oil paints. I absolutely loved it and decided to move into Toronto in 2007 to pursue my art hobby, hopefully turning it into a possible life-style. My apartment in Toronto was comfortably small with low ventilation so I switched from Oils to Acrylic paints and then had to learn how to use them since they dry so fast. I joined up with the Riverdale Artist Network that worked out of the Hangman Gallery and away I went to learn how to connect into the art world.

GGN: What drew you to painting endangered marine animals?

When I moved to Toronto in 2007 I watched a movie called "Sharkwater", a documentary by Robert Stewart about the decreasing shark population mainly due to the hunting of Sharks for fin soup.  This movie really opened my eyes to the outrageous human actions in the ocean. Scarborough Arts Council, a local gallery was having a Juried Gallery showing and "Environment" was the theme. I was inspired and became intensified with emotions. Sharks came to my mind and I started to paint. I felt I could fight for the sharks with my paint brush and I created my first "Awareness Painting" that told the story of WHY the sharks were being killed, a measly bowl of soup. I named it "One Shark Is Worth A Million Now". The art show was to be held during the Chinese New Year 2008 and for the first time it was being held in a Chinese Establishment. I felt this was a great opportunity and I submitted this painting to be juried. The painting which depicts a bowl of Shark Fin Soup was no selected to be part of the gallery showing. I wanted to get this message out. I looked to the internet and I found people interested in hearing about the painting.  I now wanted to use the painting as a way of getting this story told. I started to use my Myspace page and then started up a Facebook page to put out the story. I found that a lot of people were looking out for the ocean and I started to join their groups. A network was building and so was my research.

GGN: Some of your paintings portray the harsh reality that animals suffer everyday, how have these blunt images been received by the public?

My awareness paintings have not been shown together to the public but will be exhibited November 17th - December 6th at the Hangman Gallery in Toronto. I have been involved with some outdoor art shows where I have brought along one awareness painting. These paintings are 48" by 40" and really capture peoples attention.  Most people want to figure them out and want to know the story behind them. This allows me to tell people the message behind my work which is the horrific slaughter of marine life and how it affects them, the environment and contributes to the decline to the species itself. The response has been positive. Most people who enter my tent are children who know more about what is happening then their parents which makes me very happy. Children are the future and as we get older we tend to forget the little things and we become disassociated to our environment and that is when negative actions happen.  I am currently making a book about these paintings and each painting will have its own chapter telling the story for the marine animal. I'm pushing to have this book available in the fall of 2009.

GGN: Your website says 25% of profits from sales are donated to the Sea Shepherd's Conservation efforts. What appeals to you about their tough hands on approach to cease animal exploitation?

The 25% profit is from the sales of the Print Collection numbered 1 to 25 of "The Voyage Of My Soul" which is my positive response to the Sea Shepherd's Actions. My life has always been about standing your ground and making every moment work towards something better and the Sea Shepherd is just that. If you do not stand up to the actions of the corporate world then we'll have nothing left to love on our planet. Exploitation of animals is outrageous and has become second nature in our society.

GGN: How has your work affected you personally and professionally?

My artwork has affected me personally and professionally on many levels, mainly by helping me use my energy more wisely and efficiently. My network had informed me of a Holista product called '100% Shark Cartilage Capsules", a product advertised to help with osteoarthritis but scientifically had shown no positive results.  I wanted to take action against Holista and stop the production of these capsules.  I joined ARK II, (Animal Rights Kollective) who was willing to support my effort and offered me a job as Director for ARK II campaigns.  I was able to get in touch with Alex Earl of the Sea Shepherd's Conservation Society and he opened up dialogue with Holista.  I had everyone I could reach send letters to Holista and within weeks my first campaign was finished with a positive result.  Holista sent out a memo stating they would no longer be selling shark capsules.  My life took a 360 degree turn to a more compassionate and passionate lifestyle and my art is truly what I believe from within. I have become a Vegan, the International Director of Campaigns for Animal Rights Organization called ARK II and I am very active and supportive to a numerous amounts of Animal Rights Groups through Demonstrations and Marches. After one year of being active I had the opportunity to join forces with Juli Kaiss of Zoocheck Canada to bring Paul Watson to Toronto. June 17th we had a masquerade party of pirates and mermaids and raised over $5,000. I also had a fundraiser on Facebook and worldwide I raised $4,622 USD for the Sea Shepherd.

 I was just surviving before like 95% of the population, going to work and paying bills and now I'm actually living and putting out some meaningful works of art. Believe me when I say that the most amazing people I have met in my life have come to me in the last year because of my new artistic path for the animals.


If you are interested in seeing more of Bob Timmons work please visit his webpage:
www.bobtimmons.org

Links:
www.ark-ii.com

www.zoocheck.com

www.sharkwater.com

 

 

 

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