Christmas Memories

We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends this year. First, my niece Sarah and her husband Denis welcomed their new baby, Chelsea Emma, into the world on November 3, 2016 and we met her earlier this month. We had my mother, brother and his family over for a small gift exchange, and this year we welcomed my niece Brianne’s boyfriend, Michael, to the gathering. Then, for the Christmas weekend, we were invited to spend it in Eganville with my son’s girlfriend, Sarah’s, family. They welcomed us with unbelievable hospitality and their home was beautifully decorated, adding to the feeling of a warm and loving home. Our thanks to Lisa and Tim for sharing their home with us in making wonderful memories.

Morning Light (Another small acrylic)

Another small acrylic study on canvas, 7x5.

Acrylic Study - Kingston Harbour at Night

A friend of mine sent me a picture he took while at a hockey tourney recently in Kingston. Just for fun I interpreted the same scene at night using acrylics. Stretched canvas, 9x7.

Another Small Acrylic 'Misty Forest'

Another small acrylic on canvas, 7x5.

Small Acrylics

Just working on some small landscapes, 7x5's, a few hours each to complete. Love the small size, quick and easy. The pics here area bit blurry though. The top image is clearer.

Light of Hope Oil Pastel (completed)

Just completed! 16.25" x 24.25", oil pastels on canson paper.

Light of Hope (Oil Pastel Update)

An update on my latest oil pastel. You can see the actual candle off to the side. I've placed a couple of "cutouts" from my digital photo of the candle on top of the candle in the painting (hands and side ornaments) to help with colour accuracy. I work that way mostly now. I'm hoping to complete it on time for entry into the Oshawa Art Association's 48th annual juried show. The second image is of an oil painting that I did at age 18, from life, of the same candle. The earlier work shows the candle a bit less proportionally accurate although it wasn't a bad effort at that age (for me anyway), and also one of only 4 or 5 oils that I've ever created.

High School Confidential - Class of 2016 • Station Gallery in Whitby

One of my pieces, “Hawaiian Farmer” will be a part of an upcoming show at Station Gallery in Whitby. It is a watercolour created in 1983 when I was 19. This show revisits the high school art period in an intergenerational exhibition featuring artwork made during high school. Artists of all ages were invited to submit their work created during their high school years. July 16-September 4, 2016.

Force of Nature

Here are a couple of images of my preparatory pencil rendering of Beethoven for an upcoming pastel portrait.

Light of Hope

Here's a pencil rendering of a subject I had painted way back in 1982 from life. This candle was passed down to me and I've long wanted to re-visit it as a subject. I'd like to do the pencil rendering as a full-size pastel.

Beached Stingray (Complete)

The full size oil pastel of my '69 Corvette Stingray. I've altered the front grille to portray a 1969 model. 25" x 14.75"

Beached Stingray Oil Pastel

The full size oil pastel is nearing completion. The acrylic sketch is seen at the top.

Remembering Sara's 50th Birthday

Sara would have turned 50 on April 22, 2016. RIP!

Beached Stingray (Acrylic Sketch)

Here is the final version, 10 x 6 on illustration board. I'll base a large oil pastel on this scene.

Stingray Altered

I've added a thin wash of transparent white to diffuse the overall affect a little. I've also altered a second version digitally to expand the cast shadow away from the Vette which makes more sense based on light direction and gives more of a solid base for the car to sit on, in addition to adding some hilites to the hood.

Beached Stingray Sketch

Further progress on the colour sketch.

Beached Stingray

Here is a ballpoint pen sketch and the beginnings of a small acrylic sketch in preparation for my next oil pastel.

Starman (David Bowie) Pastel Portrait

Just completed this oil pastel of David Bowie. It is based on an existing image but I added in the stars around his dilated eye. The theme fits in well with his last album Blackstar and his 1972 song Starman from his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. This tattoo was not used by David Bowie but it certainly fits into his penchant for bodily art. The final size is 30" x 20" and is too large to scan on my scanner so I will have to get it professionally scanned. Until then, this iPad shot will have to do.

In Memoriam

Sara, my wife of 22 years, passed away on January 30, 2013. Michael, Maddy and I think of you often. Rest in peace Sara.

Black Knights Camaros Completed

Just need to have this printed before shipping. I need to make sure the print looks reasonably close to the original.