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Media - Acrylics
Address - 2035A Alberta Avenue, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan S7K 1S2, Canada
Email - [email protected]
Website - www.weitzelart.com
As a boy Al Weitzel spent many days on the banks of the North Saskatchewan
River, often with a sketchbook in hand, sketching the birds and plants. As a teen his
interests shifted to comic book art and for a time he filled his drawing books with
superheroes. But while attending university to study fine art he found that most of
those who shared his interests anticipated very moderate lifestyles at best. He met so
few people involved in art who believed it to be a viable way to make a living that he rapidly
became very discouraged and soon traded in his dream for more conventional employment.
Then, in 1994, Al learned of a material called scratchboard. This largely overlooked art
medium has changed his life quite a bit since then.
He soon began entering his work into local, provincial and national competitions and despite
confusion about his media and technique he took home numerous ribbons. Demonstrating his
techniques in public also created quite a stir, as people were able to see his creations grow
out of the black background of the scratchboard. As a result his images began to sell
and a reawakened life-long dream began to be realized.
Al's remarkably detailed and lifelike works have inspired hundreds of other artists, both
professional and amateur, to try their hand at this unique and exciting art medium. His
Scratchboard workshop kit, designed as a learn-at-home version of his popular introduction to
scratchboard workshop, has created a legion of new artist and crafters who enjoy the
challenges and rewards of scratchboard. He spends much of his time in schools throughout
Saskatchewan, sharing his knowledge of art with students and teachers. He has won over a
dozen awards in provincial and national art competitions and has been asked to judge several
Western Canadian art competitions. Through donations to charitable events his works have
raised thousand of dollars to protect wildlife and to feed, clothe and educate the
underprivileged.
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