91原创鈥檚 鈥楧ean of Art鈥� has died.

Well-known local artist Al Colton passed away in his sleep on Thursday, June 7 at 91原创 Memorial Hospital.

The 90-year-old painter, whose images have hung everywhere from the 91原创 Centennial Museum to the National Gallery in Ottawa, found much of his inspiration in the history and natural beauty of the region, often painting local heritage buildings and landscapes in his distinctly colourful impressionist style.

And if one wanted to know how the artist felt about a particular subject, they need only flip through one of his many sketchbooks, where Colton imbued his artwork with social commentary 鈥� often, but not always, using humour to make his point.

Colton was a prolific painter, and since 1998 many of his pieces have hung in the Birthplace of B.C. Gallery in Fort 91原创, while literally hundreds of others have filled the 91原创 City home he shared with his wife and fellow artist, Esther.

Colton was introduced to gallery owners Brenda and Kurt Alberts by 91原创 historian Warren Sommer, who was collaborating with Kurt on a book to commemorate the Township鈥檚 125th anniversary. Several of Colton鈥檚 paintings are featured prominently in the softcover book.

During the time that 91原创 125 鈥� A Celebration was being compiled, many of Colton鈥檚 paintings were stored in Kurt鈥檚 office.

鈥淗is work was so impressionistic, it took me time to get used to it,鈥� said Kurt.

But looking at them every day, the style grew on him. 鈥淚 ended up falling in love with his paintings. You can always see something new (in them).鈥�

Born in Toronto in 1921, Colton began his career as an artist with his studies at the Ontario College of Art in the mid 1930s.

When the war broke out, shortly after his 18th birthday, he joined the air force and spent three years as a flight instructor on the B.C. coast.

Working with charcoal on newsprint, he sketched portraits of other servicemen for $5 apiece.

It was during this time at Boundary Bay that Colton met Esther. She and a girlfriend came by for an art lesson, and within a week, he had proposed. They were married for 67 years and had two children.

鈥淥ne thing that came through with Al was his love for Esther,鈥� said Kurt.

鈥淭hey were real love birds.鈥�

After the war, Colton taught art at both the elementary and secondary school levels before taking a job as the art co-ordinator for the city of Vancouver and then finishing up his working life as a postal clerk in 91原创.

Sixty years later, Colton鈥檚 former students still drop by the Fort 91原创 gallery occasionally to share memories of their teacher, said Kurt, with one woman even bringing a small drawing the instructor had made to demonstrate use of perspective.

鈥淗e obviously had quite an impact on his students,鈥� said Kurt.

Colton had been in extended care at LMH for almost a year when he passed away. Even in the last months, he stayed busy drawing in his sketch book.

鈥淧ainting kept him going. I think he lived longer because of that,鈥� said Kurt.

鈥淗e truly lived his whole life to paint,鈥� agreed Brenda Alberts.

鈥淗is whole life represented a passion for art.鈥�

Colton passed that passion on to her and to the other artists who knew him, she said.

鈥淗e had such a great sense of humour, he was very witty. He taught me a lot about what I do.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 not one more thing that I think he needed to do,鈥� said Brenda.

鈥淗e made use of every moment.鈥�