Begin on a journey as an artist
From a very early age, I knew that I wanted to paint and pursue Art. I started taking classes, learning from masters and polishing my technics.
Inspired by the European and Canadian landscape that I called home, I began what would eventually become an art career by creating simple drawings and sketches of the places and people that I encountered on a daily basis, later developed a passion for painting in oils and watercolour.
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Pursue a second career as a Printer and Photographer
In the early ’90s painting alone wasn’t economically suitable for me but, I found success in instructing how to develop negatives and print optically at the OCAD University, also taking photographs and printing fine art photos (B&W and Colour) for a variety of clients.
Third career as a Therapeutic Recreation/ Gerontology
In 2011 started a new career as a recreation therapist, combining both my education and experience. Therapeutic Recreation means systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being.
How much can one learn about an artist by looking at his work?
Hamid Karimi
Abandoned houses; deserted city streets from the small towns in Spain, Europe and in Canada; long rolling, country roads disappearing into the distance. Each scene conveys a sense of peace and solitude, while simultaneously portraying a feeling of whimsy, a joyful stroll down a sunny lane. Hamid’s bold use of colour and strong compositional elements convey the intense beauty the artist sees in the world around him. His paintings invite the viewer on a journey to explore a world that lies far from the hustle of everyday life.
Hamid Karimi’s journey as an artist began in childhood. Born in the late ’60s in Tehran, Iran, Hamid showed an aptitude for art from an early age. Hamid spent years travelling through Europe, led by a few find friends along the way who were happy to show him areas not often glimpsed by foreigners. They visited small villages and travelled by back roads into the Mountain range. The sketches and photographs Hamid compiled on the journey kept him painting furiously once he returned to Toronto Canada. “In fact,” Hamid admits, “Europe especially Spain still finds its way into my work.”
Hamid’s travels inspire a wide range of subject matter in his work. One canvas may depict the flamenco dancers at the stage, the next landscapes and the cityscapes from Canada and Europe, each painting vibrates with artistic energy and colour, entertaining the eye and mind. Hamid currently divides his time painting and working as a Gerontologist in, Toronto Canada.
Exhibitions and Awards
1985, 1984 Tehran Iran
group exhibit From contemporary art University in Tehran Iran
1986, 1987 Madrid Spain
Group exhibition presented by the city of Madrid, helping new artists recognized
1993 awarded form Kodak Co.
First place for helping to create software for colour correction
1994, OCAD University
Worked as an instructor for developing and printing B&W photographs
1995, Paris France
Solo exhibit, landscapes from travel around Europe
1998, Awarded from Kodak Co.
Awarded first place for best colour correction and recognition of the wide range of colours in printing.
1994, 1996 and 1999 Toronto Canada
solo exhibits, Photography, with the help of the Ontario College of Art and Design.
2003 and 2004, Arta Gallery, Toronto Canada
Group exhibits, flamenco dancers (oil painting)
2006 Toronto Canada
Solo exhibit, variety of Portrait from ordinary people
2012 Toronto Canada
solo exhibit, Fine Art Photography
2017 Awarded
Awarded for outstanding work for creative programming for patients with dementia and Alzheimer
2019, The O’neill Centre, Toronto Canada
Certified Masters of Music Care for residents with dementia and Alzheimer
2021, Main Street Terrace, Toronto Canada
Given the opportunity to work and create an art Mural for Dementia and Alzheimer Unit.
Hamid Karimi 