Adjustments

Sometimes you suddenly see an older work with fresh eyes. I was showing this painting (Facing the Light: Tashina 3) to a visitor and a comment he made stayed with me. I’d always felt slightly uncomfortable with the angle of my model’s front shoulder, and after this feedback, I decided to go back and fix the issue. The original pose was itself a bit awkward, making Tashina’s forward shoulder look strange. So—when you can’t fix it, hide it! By repainting the jacket and adjusting a few other small things, I think I’ve improved the piece greatly! Maybe she’ll find a new home sometime soon.

Facing the Light: Tashina 3 oil on canvas on board 18 x 18 $800 framed

Thanks Crawlers!

Well, you did it again—you braved rain and cyclone force winds to come out to appreciate art! What a great community. I am very pleased with the sale of my books during the weekend—36 copies went out the door to eager readers!—and especially touched that this painting of a favourite spot in New Zealand went to an authentic Kiwi now living right here in Halfmoon Bay. Thanks James and Jenny—I hope you have many years of pleasure from your purchase!



Crawlin' in the Rain

It seems as if it happens every year—our Art Crawl weekend is awash in steady rain! After the summer drought, however, we cannot complain—our forests badly need this deep drink.

So—it won’t be a weekend for boating or hiking—come on out to my studio instead, enjoy a hot drink (and maybe a little Hallowe’en treat!), sit back, and enjoy gazing at my new paintings. I’ll also have all three of my novels on hand and will be delighted to sign them for you! I’ve even got copies of a new children’s book I was asked to illustrate!

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm.

See you soon!

In a Quiet Season, pastel, $695

I’ve been revising older works—here’s an acrylic that had promise but felt a little too brash…so I unframed it and painted over it in oil…

…and created First Snow in the Maple Woods (oil) $1200. Come see what you think!

Getting ready for Art Crawl 2021

It’s that time again—I’m in the studio, creating new works for this year’s Art Crawl. (Oct 22-24). Yes, there will still be Covid protocols, but we managed last year and will do so again.

Here’s the first new work for this year, a 36 x 36 oil titled Mist in the Valley ($1500, framed). It’s based on a photo I took in 2019 in New Zealand. Frank and I got up at about 4 am to catch the sunrise over this magnificent valley near Hastings (North Island). The low-lying mist was an unexpected bonus added to an already stunning vista.

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Landing Artists Show opens in a week (July 31-Aug 2)

My fellow Landing Artists and I are so very excited to be staging a show—our first in 18 months!—at a new venue: the Sunshine Coast Botanical Gardens at 5941 Mason Road, just north of Sechelt. The gardens themselves are worth a visit—you should SEE the gorgeous blooms in their terrace garden, in beds that have not been watered even once since they were planted four years ago! Astonishing and inspiring for all coast gardeners facing summer drought conditions. Stop watering and plant for the conditions!

But about the art—my friends Charmaine Bayntun (whose poetic work graces my first two book covers), Ed Hill, Nancy Hugh, Trisha Joel, and Coralie Swaney will be on hand all weekend with me with paintings and prints, photographs and fibre, and we’ll also be showing Diane Clark’s jewellery and Che Kehoe’s quirky repurposed vintage lamps. It’s a great location and a lovely place for a day trip.

New this time around—we’ll have a daily draw for a gift basket stuffed with treats from each artist. There’s no admission fee, but we’ll gratefully accept donations to a fund focused on a scholarship for one or more local Indigenous students, which has been set up by the school district and Pulling Together (a local indigenous/white paddling initiative).

Saturday and Sunday 1-6; Monday 1-5

Hope to see you there!

PS—yes, I’ll have signed copies of all my books available too ($25 per book)

Flight Path; 24 x 36 pastel; framed $750This multi-image pastel seeks to depict a boy’s imaginary flight. Can you see the plane?

Flight Path; 24 x 36 pastel; framed $750

This multi-image pastel seeks to depict a boy’s imaginary flight. Can you see the plane?