​The Canadian Shield holds a limitless fascination for myself, as well as countless others, and this recent painting highlights the awe inspiring magnificence of that ancient rock.  jutting out of the clear waters of Georgian Bay, this massive rock formation tells a story as old as time in its rugged texture.  Of course, this scene was witnessed by canoe, the very best way to really explore and absorb these natural wonders! 

​Not all dogs are friendly, and in some, we can see the connection to their wild forefathers quite clearly.  With this piece, I close cropped in to maximize the impact of those intense eyes.  One of the biggest paintings I have ever produced, the title of the painting 'Prey' describes the feeling one feels when falling under that stare!  

Memories of quiet summer days spent leisurely along some idyllic waterway sustain us through the long challenging seasons that pass before those cherished times return.  I embarked on this piece in the middle of the long, cold transition from winter to spring, when the memory of summer seems fictional at best.
A swimming dock and nearby hammock, although minor in the composition of this work, seem to call out in a most powerful way!

Just west of town along a quiet country road runs this little nameless creek lined by a few wind weary cedar trees.  Dried out by the ever-present westerly winds, their colour shifts from olive green to an almost rust red which set against the blues of the snow covered ground, makes for a striking winter scene.

Recently I had the honour of participating in the prestigious CobbleBeach Concours de Elegance car show.  Patterned after the famous PebbleBeach show in Monterey California, this event showcases some of the finest automobiles on the planet, offering magnificent examples ranging from the earliest days to the most cutting edge current designs.
A select group of artists are invited to show their automotive themed work and I have included 3 of those new works here.  All are currently on display and for sale at my gallery in Clarksburg Ontario. 

It's always rewarding (in multiple ways!) when a painting is sold and lands in its forever home.  Typically these choices are made by the customers based on a number of points such as; suitability for the room, colour palette, size, subject, mood etc.
Whenever possible I request a pic of the art in its new home, with the intention to share with my audience and allow them to see how the pieces work there.  Here are a couple new ones I'm especially proud of in the way they fit their new environment.  
 

Some new paintings to go along with the new spring!

It can be a challenge to get the perfect image of one of my paintings in their final home setting, things like walls, plants etc sometimes obstruct the best angle.  Regardless, I feel it is useful and rewarding to show my artwork in the place they ended up.  Here are a few of this years sales, more to come!

There are times we are asked to serve.  
Recently I participated in a juried event, and I will happily report it was a pleasure!  Myself and 3 other professional artists were asked to make up the jury for the 42 Annual Juried Art Show held by the Blue Mountains Foundation for the Arts in Collingwood.
As expected, the quality and variety of work entered was exceptional and inspiring, making the selection process a true challenge.  The categories included; student, adult 2d and 3d, and computer generated.  
​I have successfully participated in the annual show myself a number of times and can attest to the continual high standard of work included.
The show runs till May 28 and I heartily encourage anyone in the region to make time for a visit and see the new headquarters for the BMFA!

below see my painting 'Brownie' which won best of show a few years back at the BMFA Annual Show

click on thumbnail for larger view
With new art coming soon, my gallery will be, once again, getting a shake up.  Before that occurs, here is a quick peek for all those who haven't been able to attend in person.
Some of the accessories are my own while others are generously loaned from my pal Dan Field of Dan Field Antiques, just up the street.
The ample seating offered is there to encourage visitors to sit and relax and really soak in what's around them, and give the gallery greeter a pat as well! 

One of the great pleasures of my job is to revisit places of significance in my memory with my art.  As a child, my family and I would travel up to Manitoulin Island, camper in tow, staying a few memorable weeks at the Providence Bay Campground.  Magically, over all those years, the sites, sounds and landmarks of this place remain much the same.  Creating artwork from this place for me is as much an act of drawing upon memory as it is drawing upon the present day visuals encountered during recent visits.  
With the coming of spring, the ferry will once again be making its run to the island from the mainland. It's always my wish to be onboard and once again reconnect with one of my most powerful muses!  Watch here for more additions to this collection of paintings in the months ahead!

Holidays are long past, commissions are wrapped up, winter has arrived, and that nasty covid virus is still stubbornly hanging around, so the right time to paint, paint , paint!
Here is a quick peek at some of the new work, proper pics and details soon to come, as well as more new art, stay tuned!

Over the past summer there was much to do getting my new gallery up and running as well as moving ahead with the long awaited re opening and recovery.  In addition to these  at times mundane realities that are part of a gallery owner and artists' day to day,  new art must be coming along, always!
A good bit of this creating time was directed to the planning, execution and finishing off, (varnishing, framing etc) of 2 new large works, both showcasing the much admired splendor that is Georgian Bay's eastern shoreline, all set in the glorious season of autumn.
With projects like these and the very considerable time that goes into each, I tend to work away at each for a few days or even a solid week, then typically put it aside for some reflection or away time, redirecting my focus onto something else for a while before coming back to it.  The separation allows me to reignite the initial enthusiasm for the project and see past the many challenges of getting things to my liking with the artwork.

While working at both of these pieces, I imagined myself crawling up and over each of the landscapes depicted, becoming intimately connected with the intricate and varied terrain and all the elements contained within and upon it.  My goal was to create paintings that presented themselves as almost sculptural, fabricating the illusion of 3 dimensions from 2.
These sweeping depictions of the Canadian landscape, manufactured with brush, paint, and a lot of care are now available for repeated hikes and explorations of the mind, even as they  hang on some wall; a clear reminder of  the rugged, captivating beauty that exists just a short journey from home.
Here they are situated in the Kilby Gallery.  Professionally copied images will follow soon, allowing for a closer, more revealing presentation of each.