I'm Back

Hi All, I'm back. I sure don't need to spend more time on this computer, but I do need to get my work out there and seen, and spread the art-love around a little better.

This blog will be focused only on my art, and the art I like. I am planning to give self-critiques of my work, and explanations of intention, and discuss my techniques. Comments and crits from other artist are welcome.

I am surfing a huge wave of creativity right now, for the first time since I started painting, and painting again after a dry spell of about 5 years. So this exciting, and I want to share it.

Of course, (almost) everything is for sale on here. If you really want a piece, email me. Special prices are available for family and friends. This isn't intended as personal creative narcissism, but rather a serious endeavour as a professional artist. I want to make good, lasting art that will actually be hung on walls--and hopefully in museums--to bring lasting enjoyment to people.

To start with here is some recent stuff:

"Lighthouse, Mayne Island" Oil on canvas. 14 X 18". There is a little bit of perspective distortion in this piece compared to the photo (which gives it a bit more drama--some great diagonals going on there), but the tonalities are bang on, and the colours a a bit revved up. The main thing in this one for me was achieving that intensity of blue without glazing--by painting over a cream ground. Duh. Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. Another thing that was a bit unusual for me was my treatment of the sky--I started off by rubbing pure Manganese Blue over the ground with a bit of medium, then slapped on the same colour in a strong tint over top. From now on, with the odd exception, all my paintings will be done on an off-white ground. Photo was taken from the Ferry to Vancouver.

"The Happy Isles" Oil on Canvas 14 X 18". Title is from an Arthur Lismer painting, and I liked it because it made me think of Psalm 65. I got some remarks from a friend in Romania that it is "not me" being a bit keyed down and not my usual coloured self. But the tones are spot-on, the composition unexpectedly structured and the paint quality fresh--therefore it pleases me. I did it in less than 1 hour, which is fast by my standards. Not a good photo. I will do an entry here sometime about tonalities and my struggles with that. Photo also shot from the ferry. (BC Ferries should buy my stuff! ;)


"Orange House, Fernwood" 10 X 12" Oil on panel. This is one of those delightful pieces that "just happen". I did the sketch outside, and then filled it in back in the studio. After studying the results, I realised that the composition was a lot more structured than I had realized--I didn't stop to analyze it at the time. The substrate was a bit too smooth but I am not displease with the brushwork. Has that "etude" feel. I enjoy the rhythm of diagonals and the tension across the center created by the verticals. the circular motion created by the different elements kinda locks the eye in. I am not letting this one go cheap.

More later--Lots more!

Peace.