The day is very close, lots of last minute touch ups and running around going on in preparation for my first showing at the Concours de Elegance auto Exhibit this coming Sunday.  Things are coming together and the weather is showing signs of co operating so I look forward to being a part of this amazing celebration of the automobile as art!  Besides displaying my automotive themed artwork, this will be an excellent opportunity to scout the multitude of breathtaking automotive jewels on display, and line up some models for future paintings to come.  Looking forward to meeting with enthusiasts and sharing our appreciation and love for the featured machines; drop in to say hello at the Artist's section on the 18th green.

Hope to see you there!

​Don

Here is a few of the paintings sold from the Kilby Gallery in their respective homes.  Its always a pleasure to see how the art works with and enhances the lovely homes and offices of my clients!  This work will also be seen under the 'Gallerys' section of my website.  Watch for many more additions to this collection.

Along the southern shore of Georgian Bay, there are countless miles of waterfront that look much like the scene painted here.  The water tends to move to a slightly different collour palette as the seasons change, and this painting is based on a late fall period, before the cool greys of winter return.
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I like to believe that my painting efforts are all about revealing a thing of beauty to whomever my see the work.  Often the term 'beauty' would seem a leap for some of the eclectic subject matter I delve into, but in this case it seems beyond obvious to proclaim this Italian racing stallion as beautiful.  The combination of shapes, curves and edges, coloured in rich arresting reds and golds is, to me, mesmerizing and enchanting, even a t rest. Now when this magnificent beast is fired up , well . . . that is another thing altogether!
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On a calm sunlit day as the one depicted here, the colours and setting are pleasing and friendly, which is not the type of day, or night, a lighthouse like this would have been erected for.  This one is located off the harbour town of Tobemory, where the waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron meet and mix.

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As a certified car 'nut' I probably have far to many 'favourites' to count, but the Ford A.C. Cobra has to been situated near the pinnacle of my personal list.  An iconic design to be sure, and even a glimpse of the machine, such as this front corner view, makes the car immediately identifiable.  It was hard to pick just one view to highlight, so I expect other angles of this beast to show up here eventually. 

Happy to show this new large format (38" square x2) piece based on a local scene. Ive never been a fan of square format artwork but when doubled up, it creates a nice landscape with the added element of being in 2 pieces!  When choosing what to paint here, I realized I really hadn't done anything that reflects the big beautiful sky that is always a part of any view around here.  With no real foreground detail, the middle and background are able to step up and become the key to the painting. A drive, walk or pedal in the nearby countryside on a good day will offer up something quite similar to what I have depicted and that is what I was going for. 


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Second of 2 pieces created this year based on views from a favourite destination of mine, a wonderful old style cottage near Kilbear Provincial Park on Georgian Bay.  Often the day there begins with a heavy, clouded sky as was the case on this morning, but already the sun was finding places to peak through and make its warmth known.  Looking forward to the next visit to this magical place and the next painting that will come from it!



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At first glance, it is hard to tell clearly what you are seeing in this piece, the dark field with snow scattered through it, appears almost like dark water with ice floating in it.  The drama of first light is at times intense, and I didn't hold back in the colour choices to maximize that effect with this painting.

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Another painting based on one of my visits to the summer retreat of the late iconic Canadian Painter Doris McCarthy.  The  property consists mainly of fingerlike formations of rock that reach out and slide into the clear blue waters of Georgian Bay.  I am forever fascinated by the patterns, shapes and textures of the rock under my feet when visiting here, and I designed this painting to showcase the wonderous complexity and beauty that exists there, while including a view off across the Sound to place everything in proper context.  
As soon as I leave this special place, I begin the countdown to when I will be returning, and then seek out another special painting to begin!

An iconic Landrover, of course!
​After aquiring one of these legendary trucks myself, I have come to truly love and appreciate the unmistakable lines that define this unique automotive offering.  While working up this painting, I tried to image the vehicle emerging from a dense, humid jungle setting, far from the comforts and security of civilization, slightly muddied, but nonetheless ready for more action!
I finished this painting  with a simple yet elegant hand made wooden frame and it is currently available for purchase at the Kilby Gallery.   

My focus on this piece from the beginning was to communicate a peaceful and calming mood.  The soft uncomplicated greenish background and relaxed contemplative pose of the sailor exhibits a nice 'no rush here' kind of vibe.  Compositionally, I  enjoyed playing with the balance point between the long uniterupted reflection set against the form of the boat and sail visible in the frame.  

Very excited to announce here a new art show at 'The Barn' co-op between Meaford and Thornbury!
Not long ago I was asked to fill in for the spring to summer art display at the Barn.  Because this was a last minute replacement with no lead in time, this proved to be quite a challenge.  I quickly determined that I could not give up enough work to fill the considerable space available for art display in the Barn myself.  An alternative solution came to me which was a group show consisting of some artist friends I have accumulated over my considerable time as a professional artist.  Some are illustrators, some fine artists, some work realistically, some impressionistic in style, but each is a serious artist living and working in Southern Ontario who's' work I had come to greatly admire.

Putting together is a big undertaking (who knew?) and combined with the difficult weather Mother Nature has thrown our way this spring,  getting everything up and all the details checked off is still underway but the finish line is clearly in sight!

Running till the end of June, this unique collection of artists, (most who have never even met each other)and their respective work, showing in this wonderful space which includes an organic grocery, yoga studio, juice barn and lounge, massage room and gift store,  is a very special collection that will be well worth the trip to see.  All works are available for purchase and range from very small affordable pieces right up to large impressive original paintings.  Don't miss it!

As an admirer and companion to many adog, I have come to realize that they show their true self when in the environment that they love most.  For these 2 formidable yet friendly beasts, that would clearly be out in the woods behind there home on a crisp winter day with lots of deep fresh snow to revel in.  My focus with the painting was to try and communicate some of that obvious joy these two shared with us while hiking and exploring the winter wonderland.

With one more coat of varnish to come on the frame, this substantial commissioned work is finally reaching the time where it will be hung in the client's home.  With the painting I utilized an unusual arrangement of the horse and riders within the format, a landscape style, which was deemed most suitable to the wall spaced the painting would ultimately reside on.  The balance of the piece is resolved by having the trunk of the great white pine leaning out to the edge of the frame opposite the riders.  Lots of complimentary colours also at play here to keep the eye moving around the image and make the colours and shapes 'pop'.  Looking forward to hanging this in its new home and hearing the comments to follow

My painting workspace can at times be quite become quite cluttered, with paints, brushes, sample pieces, sketches and books competing for the best locations.  One of the books most frequently open for study and inspiration is a big hard cover book about the Group of Seven painters, which includes Tom Thomson.  Within that treasure of wonderous beauty are a number of paintings that feature a stark young red maple sapling against a northern backdrop.  While working away at this painting, I studied those works intensely and decided that this piece was to be 'my red maple painting', hence the name.  
Complimentary colours are lend a striking vibrancy to any work and they play a significant role in causing the work to 'pop'.
Framed painting is available for purchase at the Kilby Gallery in Clarksburg Ontario.