Something new from something Old

This painting, which I worked on at the 2012 Shellmouth art retreat, had its genesis as a painting completed at a 2005 retreat at the same location.  I am becoming a bit more brutal about what satisfies me in my paintings, if it no longer resonates with me then it is destroyed or in some cases whitewashed and reborn as another creation. The painting above speaks of a trip my wife, son and I made to southern Utah a few years back, camping and hiking in the sandstone landscapes with their amazingly beautiful shapes and textures.  The textures from the previous painting really came through nicely and complemented the new paint layers. I had a bit of fun with iridescent gold paint my buddy Dean Bauche lent me. As usual, photos cannot do justice to the painting.

Shellmouth 2012

I'm just nicely back from my annual journey to Shellmouth, Manitoba where my great friend Jan Layh hosts the annual Shellmouth Artists Retreat.  It was pointed out to me that this is my 12 session!  Geez, where does the time go?  Anyways, we all had a fantastic time.  There was much merriment, art making, cooking and eating, playing of guitars, banjoes, accordions (thanks for playing Jan).  I had the pleasure of painting beside my good friend Dean Bauche and wife Barb.  We always have such a good time together.  I credit the whole gang that attends this event with my growth as an artist.  It is no wonder that one of these retreats is never enough for us, we need additional fixes so we have organized other smaller events throughout the rest of the year.  It is a great family we have created.  This summer we mourn the loss of two member artists, Mabel Munds sister Joan and Miriam Koch's friend Mildred. May they gently rest. I had the good fortune to sell this 30 x 60 oil on the last day of the Retreat.  I barely had time to get acquainted with her.  The painting is titled "Song of Autumn". At least I know it is in a home that houses many of my other Retreat paintings and is loved for what it is.

Plein Air Partners

Frenchman River

I had company whilst painting this oil. My daughter Sacha and good friends Dean Bauche and Jan Layh all sat out in the glorious morning sun down by the Frenchman River and painted in our own manner.  This was the first time that Sacha painted out of doors with me and I think she did great.  The hills around Eastend, SK are so green due to large amount of rain they have been getting.  I am told by people who travel that this place reminds them of Ireland and Wales.

Art Forgery and Superstores

No, you won't find this painting at the worlds largest chain of superstores(no need to name names) unless of course this image is stolen by the notorious Chinese art fakers who have been known to supply said superstore and other home furnishing stores with many of their so called paintings, wittingly or not.  Literally thousands of Chinese are employed at Art Factories copying Old and New Masters from all over the world.  Southern China is the world's leading center for mass-produced works of art. One village of artists exports about five million paintings every year -- most of them copies of famous masterpieces. The fastest workers can paint up to 30 paintings a day, for pennies a day. Yes, you will find this original oil painting at my studio, keeping company with many others in the same vein. 

Eastend 2012

Well, we've been back from the annual Eastend Retreat hosted by the Bauche's for over a week now. The painting above is a plein air painted at Brady's Ranch looking up at the hills surrounding the place.  It was a great day and a pleasure to be outside doing what I love best.  We all had a great time again, there was fantastic food, music performed by participating artists and collaborations on many paintings.  Can't say enough about the value of this Retreat, going to Eastend is like going home.

Going to Abstraction

A favourite theme, the former Blue Hotel in bygone days and later a brine shrimp processing plant.  Remember those Sea Monkey ads in comic books many years ago?  They came from good old Manitou Beach back in the day.  This is a pastel and charcoal piece over a heavy undercoat of marble dust and other stuff.

A semi abstract oil painting on masonite, undercoated with orange shellac.  A playful rendition of random thoughts bouncing around my skull.  It works for me. 
We are only 2 weeks away from our annual Spirit of Manitou Studio Trails tour.  Please drop by if you  are in the area, it promises to be a great event!

Somehow this painting explains where my head is at when I am in the "zone". It is a self portrait of me, don't ask me why or how, it just is. Does anyone see the family resemblance?

Untitled

This is an encaustic painting, 12 inches square, painted on a cradled wood panel.  Loosely based on a freight train speeding past my field of vision on an amazing prairie summer afternoon somewhere near Melfort Saskatchewan in the year 2010.

The Painter

I rather enjoy exploring the scarier side of my psych on occasion, and usually what happens are paintings such as the one above.  The title is "The Painter" because that is the first thought that came to me when I considered giving it a title.  I am considering refraining from titling my paintings in the future, especially if I continue in this vein.

Hyacinths

The Deer missed these flowers, some Hyacinths I planted last fall.  I so enjoy watching nature unfold, the simplest things seem to sublimely beautiful and profound.

Deer Food

These are what is left of all the tulip bulbs I planted last fall, pretty much all the rest of them were chomped off at ground level by opportunistic deer that wander around the neighborhood looking for free handouts! I will persevere with planting flowers and vegetables, just because. I am learning a bit about the workings of nature living where I am, it just takes a keen eye and a handful of patience.  As my wife often reminds me, deer have to eat as well.

The Layh Homestead

A few weeks back Crystal and I attended the Langenburg Adjudicated Art Show, their 18th, and had the pleasure again of staying at their lovely home near the edge of the Assinaboine valley.  Jan and Don have an amazing yard, I don't know how they find the time to keep it so perfect with their busy lives.  I found a bit of time to paint while I was there so I set myself up in one of the gardens and painted this view towards their house.