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LISTEN🍁US: Art Show & Tell, of a Point of Order, add a little ice cream, my just reward. A young woman, lingering with a tattooed crowd in downtown Edmonton near the library, complimented my artwork. After finishing my rapidly melting ice cream in the 24°C heat, I walked over to her gang to show the backside, titled Disorder. Suddenly, a young man lunged at me. "Get the f*** away from here!" he snapped. Before I could react, the group's matriarch—Mama Tattoo—spoke up. "I like your painting," she said, her voice steady. The young man’s demeanor shifted. He looked at the artwork again, his expression softening. "That's an amazing piece of art," he admitted.
The Selfish Pursuit of Artistic Truth
🎨Selfishness often gets a bad rap. It’s branded as greedy, thoughtless, a trait best left on the villain’s shelf. But peel away the stigma, and you’ll find that in art, selfishness can be revolutionary—especially when it’s paired with vision, vulnerability, and integrity. Take the Group of Seven: A.Y. Jackson and Lawren Harris didn’t have their fame handed to them, even though Harris had wealth from the Massey-Harris fortune. They worked hard, committed deeply, and “selfishly” pursued an unshakable idea—that Canadian landscapes deserved their own voice in art.
🎨By rejecting European traditions, they carved out space for a uniquely Canadian aesthetic. Their boundaries weren’t barriers—they were a declaration: We paint what we believe. Contrast that with the Indian Group of Seven (Professional Native Indian Artists Inc.). These artists—Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Alex Janvier, and others—had no silver platter, no institutional warmth. What they had was fierce resolve. Their “selfishness” wasn’t about ego—it was survival. They refused to be typecast as cultural artifacts and instead demanded recognition as contemporary creators. They built their own galleries, funded their own shows, and shaped a legacy that fought erasure with artistic defiance.
🎨And then there’s Jack Bush. Trapped in the commercial art world for decades, he suffered anxiety and depression. He longed for a life of emotional honesty—one where color, not corporate briefs, spoke for him. Inspired by the Group of Seven and later mentored by Clement Greenberg, Bush “selfishly” chose abstraction, ditching safety for soul. His art didn’t chase trends—it chased feeling. And in doing so, it soared internationally.
🎨Mindful selfishness, the kind that: Defies conformity to pursue personal truth. Sets boundaries that guard mental, emotional, and cultural health. Turns pain into inspiration. Gives others permission to be unapologetically themselves. Yes, privilege played a role. Yes, systemic barriers shaped outcomes. But at the core, each story is a testament to how “selfish” choices—when made with integrity—can spark transformation in not just the artist, but the world they paint...
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Painter’s Notes — Doug Brinkman
For 13 years, my art has explored creativity, community, and quiet resistance. I call it Social Art—a practice rooted in connection over confrontation. Through brushstrokes, cartoons, and doodle notes, I’ve aimed to share truths and spark reflection.
This journey began in 2007 with Civil Information Activism, a citizen-led news movement built on listening and sharing information with the public. I became the media simply by showing up when my community cried out for justice. My art lives in public spaces, inviting dialogue and building bridges.
🍁 Denied Access, Not Silenced
For over nine years, I’ve been denied press access to the Alberta Legislature and Edmonton City Hall—not because of inexperience, but because I’m an independent Canadian citizen journalist, unaffiliated with corporate media.
With decades in journalism and graphic arts, I’ve reported freely since 2007—no paywalls, no ads, no financial backing. Just truth and public service, as one citizen participating in Canada’s democracy.
Despite exclusion, I persist. Canada’s Charter guarantees freedom of the press, and that freedom belongs to all citizens. I continue to report, document, and speak truth to power—not with bitterness, but with resolve. Free Press is Freedom.
🖌️ Thirteen Years Outside
As September 2025 draws to a close, I reflect on thirteen seasons of painting outdoors—art created for connection, not commerce. From Truth and Reconciliation in 2015 to Birds of a Feather in 2025, each project has responded to the world with openness and care.
I’ve addressed climate change, bullying, censorship, and legacy—always listening first. Even when banned, I responded with creativity: turning protest into fashion, exclusion into expression.
Faith
Democracy
Nature
Incorporated
