Art Walk

Art Walk Bellingham is happening this Friday Sept. 2nd at 6pm. Come down if you can to my studio at the Waterfront Artist Studios located at 1220 Central Avenue, Bellingham. I am in my new Studio D, a nice larger space where I have been busy creating some new pieces. We have Live music and refreshments, Hope to see some old and new faces!

OIl

I have been working in oils again as of late. It has been awhile since using this medium and a nice change of pace. The fluidity of the oil is such a contrast from the dryness of pastel. I have been enjoying the challenge of what this medium offers and love the result. My goal is to complete some large format works where pastel has its limitations due to framing and weight considerations. Lately however I have been focusing on small pieces. This has its own set of challenges as I find composition is really critical with such a small format. I generally start with a toned background, usually acrylic as I do with my pastel works. The only real difference is my pastel support surface is mixed with pumice for texture. Once a composition is worked out by sketching I begin laying down large blocks of colour, using palette knives almost exclusively. I find the knives allow more freedom of paint application and force me to paint more loosely. I can push the paint around the canvass or scrape it back off when the rare ( inevitable ) mistake occurs.
I plan to continue on this course for awhile forming a new body of work with strong composition, bold colour, and expressive use of line. I have not quite achieved what I am after yet but I see it on the horizon. It is exciting to continue to challenge and push myself into new areas. I find it necessary for my own growth and interest to do so, I have never been able to stay in one spot for too long.

For the birds!

I have a friend who is a birder. He can identify I don’t know how many species by song. He takes his binoculars with him everywhere. He is a bird geek. If I am being honest I was always intrigued and impressed by this ability although never really understood it. I have always been an outdoors guy spending my life enjoying nature, but have I really seen it? I would hike and nature walk taking in the different wildflowers in bloom but secretly embarrassed I knew what very few actually where. Birds all around singing and doing the things birds do, whatever that was. I knew Eagles and Canadian Geese (being Canadian as a rule you have to know these). I knew Crows and pigeons, Gulls and Herons. All the big ones that fly right in front of your face. So recently, for whatever reason I’m not sure I picked up my binoculars and began to look.  I suppose I wanted to show my friend I knew at least a few species beyond the elusive Robin. Then something strange happened, I got interested. I began to really look at the birds, notice their behavior, listen to their songs. I went to the library and checked out a few bird identification books, then purchased my own. I read and looked more. I went on nature walks with my binoculars and field guide. I searched. I hunted. I listened. Did I find that rare species that only shows itself for twelve minutes a day on the third day of the second month in early spring? No. But I found something else, a new world. A world where I can get lost in the beauty of nature. A world where I can really appreciate what is going on around me and begin to understand it. A world where I can if only for a short time, forget the daily stresses that affect us all. So I am beginning to identify more birds, some even by song. I now take my binoculars everywhere. I am becoming a bird geek.

Procrastination

I have found that if you are a born procrastinator it touches all areas of your life. The fact that my artwork suffers from this affliction is a given. I must say as of late I have been fairly productive in the studio. Recently I have competed two new paintings for upcoming shows, the Allied arts member show as well as the Northwest Pastel societies juried exhibition. So feeling pretty good about this I look out my studio window into the wet backyard. I take in the newly acquired wood chip play area for my boys to play on without getting covered in mud. I take in the once green lawn now replaced so effortlessly with yes you guessed it, mud. My fence in sore need of painting leads my eye to a great subject of this procrastination, the garden. Now don’t get me wrong I did indeed have a fairly prolific vegetable garden last year. I even managed to fence it in to keep my dog out. Unfortunately because I was late in planting last year I lost all my beloved broccoli due to it flowering. So this year was the year. Early starts, well planned sheet mulching to build beautiful loamy enriched soil. I saved cardboard and was able to start by laying it out in nice even layers. I topped some of it with straw to begin the process.Then it stopped. I ran out of cardboard. The effort to find more proved to overwhelming to continue. So I turned on the TV. Now here I am a few months later gazing out my studio window at a garden half covered with cardboard and straw and the cherry blossoms near full bloom. I know if I want to sheet mulch at all this year I must complete it soon, very soon. So I make a promise to myself to get motivated and complete this thing. Maybe not now though, it looks cold out there. Besides I think Oprah is about to start.

Fall

  Well, it seems as if fall has arrived with vigor. The leaves are turning, the wind blowing, and our Northwest ritual rain. This is such an amazing time of year. Something in the crisp air and beautiful colours that inspires me to paint. This is refreshing after a long break from the studio. I recently completed my Permaculture design course which has given me a new perspective on our land and how we walk upon it. I hope I can bring this new found connection to my work and share it with others. I am currently working on a new submission to the Federation of Canadian Artists show on Being Canadian. This is a challenge for me and I may have a little different perspective than some as I live in the States. My search to find that image within that will emote the power of being Canadian will be no easy task. I think I will go and drink some maple syrup and think about it, eh.

Welcome!

Welcome to my newly designed blog. Within these pages are some observations on subjects relating to Art, nature, and crafting a more simple purposeful life. Also some thoughts on how my own Art work is conceived and how it relates to the world around us. My ultimate goal is to express some ideas on how we walk our paths and inspire meaningful reflection. Thanks for visiting and I look forward to any comments and feedback.

New Studio!

I will be in my new studio space as of April first. It will be pretty hard to find as it is a whole eight feet across the hall from my old space. It is a little smaller but has incredible light and even hot water! So come by April third 6-9 pm for the Downtown Gallery Walk and share some refreshments and view my work.

301 W Holly St. St. U5 Bellingham Wa.

Public Hanging opening tonight Jan. 9th at the Blue Horse Gallery 301 W Holly Bellingham. Come and view over 100 artists work at this annual show hosted by one of Bellinghams premier Art galleries. I will be showing one of my latest works “Red Valley” as well as many pieces from Artists around the region. Please come and take a look. The show will be up through the 30th.

Downtown Gallery Walk

This Friday Oct. 10 at 6pm is the Downtown Bellingham gallery walk. Come out and support the local Artists and Galleries that make up this great community. I will have new work on hand as well as refreshments to enjoy. Hope to see you there and tell your friends!

Birthday!

Well, yesterday was my Birthday. It was a great day spent with my family relaxing and feeding ducks. It was nice of the Olympic committee to decide to have the opening on my day as an honor to me. I think this is the year that team Canada is going to sweep the Olympics! Thanks to everyone who sent me Birthday wishes. To those of you wanted to send me gifts but the shipping charges were too much I will gladly accept cash in an envelope. This just makes it easier for everyone.

As for Artwork. I just hung a few new paintings at “La Vie en Rose” cafe. Go and check them out…… right now! These will be showing until September.