Work in Progress

Being that the world is largely gray (at least in these parts lately), I decided to do a painting based on a gray scale initially. Once it is dry I will go back into it and refine it with colour, where needed. I quite like what has happened so far, although the photo I have taken does not do it justice. I will post additional photos to show the progress. I call the picture "Radiance in the Forest"

Vision

Thank God for my sight. Maybe we all take our vision for granted to some degree, don't you think? I just recently returned from a visit with a dear friend who has lost the use of one eye and only has 40 percent use of the other, due to diabetes. What a frightening prospect for him, an avid outdoorsman and superlative businessman. With so much focus being put on the Winter Olympics, which to a great degree is about health and fitness, it would be very good if the greater population would start to look after themselves like our great athletes do. I believe that if people would take better care of themselves we would see much less incidences of those heart wrenching sights of people losing their sight, legs and arms and ultimately, their lives to diseases like diabetes. Seems so easy yet people find it so hard to do. This pastel was painted from life, it is the view from my studio window on a lovely frosty morning, just around dawn. Enjoy, and be healthy!

Being Present

I have been giving some attention to the concept of "being present" with respect to being an artist. I know that when I am truly "into" a painting concepts such as time and even sound fall way back into the distance while awareness of the present is intensified. This acute awareness also happens when I am out of doors enjoying a particular place. One simply quietens all internal dialogue, become aware of the breath and contemplate what is before you. I have had a life long interest in eastern thought and religion and now I find that in my own way I have found a path to a spirituality through the practice of Art. The Lord works in mysterious ways indeed! The pastel above is my response to a wonderous dawn I witnessed the other morning. Hope you enjoy it.

Painting what you know

I have the good fortune to have my studio back. ( I've been without it for over a year now because of the move from The Pas, Mb. to Manitou Beach, SK.) What a wonderful place to be again! I was a bit nervous about getting back to work in there but I decided to do a pastel or two to get back into the swing of things. I chose to paint what I am familiar with, Mistik Creek, which has beautiful water, rocks and trees which are subjects that I know. That being said, there is much more to explore and learn from these subjects and I look forward to that with relish.