Otter Lake

Otter Lake, Mb.  Oil on Canvas 30 x 30 in

An Oil painting of a place dear to my heart.  I have driven past this location for as long as I can remember since I was a child and I have also trekked here at different times of the year.  It is precambrian shield country between The Pas and Flin Flon Mb.  Lots of cool lakes with rock outcroppings in the most unlikely places, a real gem.

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.

Its Raining, its Pouring

Its terribly wet out and has been for a few days now. I have lots of work to do but its all outside so I'm in my studio trying to be productive and maybe learning something to boot.  This is an oil painting about water, one of my favourite subjects, and a leaf beginning its journey to who knows where.  After I was almost finished it for the day I realized it bore some resemblance to the American painter Larry Poons, whom I admire.  Funny what comes up through the sub-conscious at times.

Looking for the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

There is so much beauty right at our doorstep, we just have to take the time to look, hence the title Looking for the Extraordinary in the Ordinary  I painted this oil over another painting that I wasn't quite happy with, although it portrays the same lake that I spent many wonderful times at with family and friends.  I have spoken before of how it is one of the two "True Blue Lakes" left in the world today.  Rumour has it that Bill Gates dropped down in his Lear jet at the airport beside Clearwater Lake and hired a guide to spend the afternoon out on the water, reading a book will some of the biggest lake trout around swam around beneath the boat! A number of years ago I watched a CBC documentary by Pamela Wallin where she interviewed Bill Gates about his Foundation and interest in providing a computer in every public library in North America.  I convinced the local librarian to contact the Foundation and lo and behold they were given a brand new computer!  Thanks Bill.  He truly is quite a philanthropist.  A number of years ago I painted a much smaller version of this 30 x 36 in. piece.  After watching the National Geographic show "The Big Melt" I am concerned that scenes such as this may soon be a thing of the past, at least for a few thousand years!

Spring Raining Down

Spring Raining Down  Oil on Canvas  $600.00

I call this abstract painting "Spring Raining Down".  To me it symbolizes alot of spring type attributes, I'll leave it to you to figure that out.  Maybe its a mistake to talk about what the painting means to me, I should just let it go out there and let the people make their own determinations about it.

Three Stones

This painting started out many years ago as some lichen covered stones on a forest floor in Northern Manitoba.  It has now been painted as three water washed stones on a late winter afternoon somewhere in Western Saskatchewan.  Such is the privilege of the artist, we can take God's creation and do some recreation.  I am kind of building up a gallery of these images, any takers?  It is a 12 x 14 inch oil painting on board with a small amount of gold leaf to boot.

All the Diamonds ver. 4

No, I'm not on drugs, although maybe the smell of linseed oil and oil paint is starting to get to me.  The funny thing about this painting (in my humble opinion)  is that even though there is all this crazy brushwork going on it is starting to read as a cold, hoar frosty kind of morning. At least that's what I see when I take my glasses off.  That reminds me, time to phone the optometrist's office as I think I need new glasses.  Seriously!!

All about Pears

I spent the Remembrance Day weekend with some dear friends down in Langenburg, SK. It was a time filled with painting, eating fantastic meals, listening to live music by the great musical couple Silk and Steel and generally having a great time. For some reason there was a focus on Pears, which a number of the guest artists had a wonderful time painting. The oil painting above is my response to some pears bathed in the early morning light pouring through my guest studio windows.

Remembering

Rememberance Day will soon be upon us in Canada. My Dad tried to serve but he was too young so they sent him packing back home. Good thing because all his brothers were already in the army and someone had to look after Mother and the farm. After listening to Stewart Macleans Vinyl Cafe this past Saturday I was reminded of an amazing experience Crystal, Michael and I had in Winnipeg a number of years ago. You see, Stewarts story was about a Canadian bag piper who went to the Memorial at Vimy Ridge to play his pipes in honour of his parents. We were in Winnipeg's old hockey arena to take part in a Tattoo to honour a group of Cadets who were to be presented with various awards of distinction, including my son Michael. Part of the ceremony was the playing of Amazing Grace on the bag pipes, starting with one lone piper way up in the stands with all the lights in the building off. The piece culminated with I would estimate a couple of hundred bag pipers. Tears come to my eyes as I write this because I have never been so moved in my life. I think I can understand the effect those pipes have on soldiers in the battlefield after hearing all those soldiers playing that evening. God bless our men and women who served and are currently serving our country.

Paintings from Shellmouth Retreat

I mentioned in a previous post titled "Observation" my interest in Goldfinches that were visiting the weedpatch next to my home. I was enamored by the contrast of their feathers against the purple flowers of the thistles that they enjoy eating so I decided to do an oil painting based on that vision. I found a canvas that I had started a number of years ago that fit the theme and finished it off with the painting knife. The painting sold instantly! I did another in watercolor and it also sold. I will have to do another for myself.

Amisk Lake

This is a painting that I have done for a client from
Flin Flon, Mb. It portrays a wonderful lake in East Central Saskatchewan called Amisk Lake, or Beaver Lake as some of the locals prefer. I had great fun painting it and believe that it captures the essence of the place. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Late Summer Storm

The other day we had a fast weather system go through, a very dramatic storm with lightning and thunder right overhead. I reminded me of a similar storm back in early August, which I was so impressed with that I decided to paint a landscape to remember it. I called the painting, "Wisdom, be Attentive", because I felt it was important to pay attention to events happening around us, every waking moment of our lives. The storm portrayed here was over Manitou Lake, SK. I keep telling my friends that this is the view from our guest bedroom when they come to visit us.