Size doesn't matter to MaHaffy

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Michael J Brethour

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Nathan MaHaffy, an area artist and member of the group Artists Below the Line is pictured here beside his brightly coloured murals at the Little Rascals daycare on Dundas Street West in Belleville.

Michael J Brethour, Belleville EMC

Nathan MaHaffy, an area artist and member of the group Artists Below the Line is pictured here beside his brightly coloured murals at the Little Rascals daycare on Dundas Street West in Belleville.

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Michael J Brethour, Belleville EMC

EMC Entertainment -Belleville - Size or medium it doesn't matter to Nathan MaHaffy, so long as he is able to create his art, the Belleville native is content.

MaHaffy would be the first to tell you he is one of the lucky ones, able to support himself working as an artist doing what he loves.

Currently MaHaffy is working on a set of brilliantly coloured and themed murals at two area daycare centres, Little Rascals and the Kinder Learning Centre, themed and designed to inspire creativity in the children who attend the two facilities.

Though children's art would not have been his first choice if asked, the mild mannered artist noted that he accepted it as a challenge.

"I came into it not knowing exactly what to do, but also knowing that I have been a child and the things I liked then would most likely resonate with the children here," he explained.

Walking through he two storey complex on Dundas Street and viewing the roughly 6,000 square feet he painted, which included hallways bathrooms and other rooms, the brightly coloured and gaily styled wall murals make anyone viewing them feel lighter and inspired.

Indeed the staff of the daycare has nothing but smiles and respect for the working artist.

"There are no limits, it's all there, it's my job as an artist and creative person, whatever medium suits the idea ... I just go for it," he said. "I love symmetry and illusion and try to use them both at the same time."

That said MaHaffy prefers to keep his own political and social views away from his work, rather focusing on their beauty and creativity and allowing the viewer to bring what they can to the pieces.

"I'm not trying to change anyone's mind or make a statement. I just love to make big beautiful art," he said. "I want to create vibrant things that create attention and let people know it's a part of me."

Though he never envisioned doing children's art he said that is not an area he limits his art too, nor to such large a scale in the future. With his membership in the newly formed artists group entitled Artists Below The Line, Ma-Haffy will be participating in the group's show beginning February 29 at the old Parrott Gallery nestled within the CORE centre downtown Belleville.

Obviously showing his wall mural pieces would be exceptionally difficult, so when asked what the public can look forward to seeing at the much anticipated show, MaHaffy gave some teasing hints.

"There are some smaller pieces that I want to show and some bigger pieces that are near completion that I really want to show. I want to have as much new stuff as possible to show to the public," he said.

He said the pieces are heavy on symmetry, planned out prior to execution on graph paper until the work is translated onto a larger canvas.

"I love symmetry and asymmetry, with a lot of bright colours that will hopefully just pop," he said.

There will be a Coffee Music Night fund raiser for ABTL at Sweet Escape located at 194 Front Street on February 9 from 7 until 9 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for the event that will feature a variety of musicians and artists including Victor Cooper and Matt Smith.