Art as therapy: How painting helped David Blackwood through long hospital stay

A well-known artist who specializes in prints and artwork showcasing Newfoundland culture is bouncing back from a life-threatening illness with a new exhibition in St. John's.

David Blackwood said he finished most of the paintings in his new exhibition Images of Home during a lengthy stint in an Ontario hospital room.

With nothing else to do in the hospital except read or watch TV, Blackwood said he decided to convert his room into a studio.

"I ended up in hospital for two years," he said.

"Working on watercolour painting — some of them are in the St. John's exhibition — it helped me survive."

Blackwood has since regained much of his health.

He said starting to paint again helped get him back on track.

"Any kind of painting is therapeutic," he said.

"It keeps you busy physically and mentally and it's an ongoing thing you're working on. "

At the worst of his illness, Blackwood said he was unable to walk and feared for his life.

"I could not walk and now I'm running around. It was an incredible recovery," he said.

"It's a wonderful thing, a great gift. I guess a second chance you might call it."

Exhibit now showing

Images of Home is showing at the Emma Butler Gallery in St. John's until May 28.

According to incoming gallery director Alison Butler, it marks a departure from Blackwood's usual style.

"When you think of David Blackwood's work you think of the typical kind of dark, stark etching of Newfoundland life," she said.

"When people see these really colourful watercolours and these 3D relief and wooden sculptures, I think people are going to be surprised to know this is also David Blackwood."

Blackwood said that he won't be able to make the opening of the exhibition in St. John's, and he'll miss interacting with people who want to discuss his work. 

"You always hope that it would have some kind of influence in younger people who are influenced in what you're doing and would come and see and be inspired," he said.