Jewels of June

I'm happy to be part of a group exhibit at Peter Lewis Gallery.  I'm in very good company with five other artists, so it should be a visual treat for those attending.

I'll have some of my new boat paintings in this exhibition which is a preview for the series of paintings that I will complete this year for my grant project.  I'd love to meet you there and tell you more about the background of the paintings.

The opening is on Saturday June14th from 6:30 - 9:00pm and the exhibition will continue until July 5th.

I've just splashed out an obscene amount of money on supplies for my new series and even if it is grant money, it still makes my heart beat a little.  When I reach the point in a funded project where I start purchasing and planning, it turns into reality.  That reality turns into momentum and the closer the deadline creeps, the stronger the impetus.  I should have the project completed by the end of March 2015 and ready for exhibition in the spring of 2015.

Study for Pink Gin

I won't be sharing the paintings with you through my blog or website except through snippets here and there as I want to make a splash at the exhibition.  But it won't be silence and there will be lots more art and sketches to share along the way.

Catching up

 

Underwater Attitude

Available from Daily Paintworks

 

I have been extremely busy since the last blog post and while vowing to up my game at the start of the new year, I haven't always met my promise of twice to three times a week. Forgive me. I shall try harder.

Summer becomes the season for gallery activity locally with seasonal galleries reopening after languishing all winter and exhibitions taking place, projects coming to life and weather (at last) improving. As with each year, I bemoan the fact that I am so busy with the season, but I enjoy it also, as productivity and deadlines are the things that drive me forward.

 

Pink Gin

20 x 24" oil on canvas

Available from my website

 

So many paintings have headed out the door lately that I barely have anything left in the studio and work continues to build with commissions, teaching for workshops and private lessons as well as a major project taking form.   I was lucky enough to be provided with a grant from NLAC that will allow me to create a series of wooden boat paintings using a palette knife. I will also produce  sketches of the chosen boats, the type of boat, its environment, etc. and make them available in hard copy as well as e-book version.  This exhibition will culminate with a solo exhibition in early summer 2015.  I like to allow myself plenty of time to fit in everything I need to do for this as well as all my other work.

Moored Speedboat

pen and wash, Stillman & Birn sketchbook

One of my designs was accepted by Clean St. John's and I will be painting it on a traffic box in the city in July.  I can't tell you much more than that right now, but will find ways of sharing the experience and the final painting with you as it progresses.  Its great to see colourful original art around the city and research shows that it deters vandalism through graffiti so I hope the program continues until every traffic box is painted.  If your city doesn't have a public art program then start one! It brings community together and supports local artists.