By TREENA MIELKE
Tyler Jordan can take a photograph, and with careful, delicate brush strokes and great attention to detail, create a masterpiece on canvas.
Some of his diversified artwork graces the walls of his Rimbey business, All Smiles Denture Clinic, providing delightful eye candy to waiting clients.
He also has a special studio set up in the clinic where he endeavours to slip away for a few quiet, uninterrupted hours to work on his art.
Jordan, who grew up on a ranch near Rimbey, began drawing at a very early age.
“I’ve enjoyed drawing ever since I was little,” he said. “A lot of my work has a western theme. I enjoy horses, especially. I grew up with horses, riding and training them. We (his family) used to go to the mountains and ride horses and used them to round up cattle. I find them fascinating.”
While drawing, painting and creating pictures on canvas has been a passion for Jordan for as long as he can remember, his career led him in a different direction.
After training in Edmonton to become a denturist, he set up clinics in Rocky Mountain House and Ponoka, finally coming back to Rimbey where he established his clinic in 2009.
“I enjoy Rimbey. It is my home town and it was good to come back here.”
Working as a denturist allows Jordan to practice his creativity and love of detail.
“There is a lot more to it than people realize. It is a little bit like sculpture and requires great attention to little fine details. I enjoy that and I enjoy making people look nice.”
Operating a busy denture clinic, spending time with his wife, Maria, and daughters, three-year old Jerika, two-year-old Janaya and seven-month old Jessica, and pursuing his love of art requires a balancing act, but Jordan does his best to juggle all three.
“The clinic is really busy but I try to take part of Friday to do some art,” he said.
In the last few years, Jordan has taken commissions for a variety of clientele from Canada, Holland and the United States. His work includes graphite drawings and acrylics. He works mostly from photos, paying great attention to detail.
“I like photo realism, the closer I can make it to appearing real, the happier I am. I enjoy the little fine details.”
Jordan’s keen artist eye and attention to detail are evident in all of his work, whether animals, scenery or people.
He is working on a commissioned acrylic piece that depicts a doe standing in a clearing of tamarack trees being watched by two coyotes. To create the picture, he took several photographs and used his own artistic license.
The almost-finished product is in his studio waiting for a few final brush strokes.
Drawing donated for raffle prize Jordan has donated a 20- by 33-inch graphite drawing of three horse heads to the Rimbey Ladies Auxiliary for its raffle.
The draw for the winner of the artwork and two quilts will be made at 3 p.m. on May 11 during the Ladies Auxiliary Strawberry Tea to be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Rimbey Legion.