Empty spaces (Marie Curtis Park looking southwest) – Aug 2020
I’ve posted my video documenting my painting session of the work titled, Empty Spaces (Marie Curtis Park looking southwest). You can watch the video on my blog.
This work is part of the The View From Here series.
This painting was created sometime last year in 2020, during the first pandemic lock-down due to the COVID-19 virus. So the piece and what I was feeling during its creation was affected by the experience at that time. The scene is based on my memory of previous visits to the park over the years, sketches and photographs. As I look back on this painting, I wonder how I will view this and my other works created during this time 10, or maybe 20 years later.
Like many others, I feel, that everything created during the pandemic, will be more reflective, perhaps taking on an intimate, emotional, or societal view as we continue to experience the pandemic’s affects.
In my work, I try to find inspiration in my immediate surroundings – in Nature, or family, or friends. I’m interested in communicating a sense of place, a time of day, or a feeling such as the warmth of a sunset. Establishing a connection with the viewer. And this painting is no different in that aspect.
This painting is part of a larger series, depicting various scenes of Marie Curtis Park, which is located in Toronto (Canada). Marie Curtis Park is nestled in the city’s west-end, on Lake Ontario. The park has an abundance of small wildlife and native plants. It has a beach, it’s also connected to bike and walking trails and I find it’s a nice spot for viewing migratory birds.
To see the other paintings in this series take a look at The View From here.
Happy New Year! 2021 and 2022 has been quite a ride as due to the pandemic, COVID variants and recurring lockdowns. Many are feeling the strain, there is general unrest and the cracks in our society are more apparent than ever. One can only hope, that we’ll come out on the other side stronger, wiser and united on a positive front.
I’ve started a new series of paintings titled: The View From Here. This body of work depicts various scenes from inside Marie Curtis Park (Toronto, Canada). The works for me are considered mindful meditations, a series of personal moments where I felt connected to Nature.
You can view the paintings here.
Also take a look at my preliminary studies on paper in the: From the sketchbook series.
New paintings will be added to this series throughout the year. Also, I have few ideas in the works for my art practice, so be sure to check back for updates.
Until then, be well, please take care of yourself and your loved ones. Just know the world is a brighter place with you in it.
There’s a place in Toronto that I love to visit. It’s home to various local wildlife and is a waypoint for migratory birds. The trees are densely packed and the light that bounces off their leaves casts a kaleidoscope of shadows on the forest floor. As I look north, south, east and west, it is here that I feel grounded, deep in thought and entranced by the sunlight.
The View From Here (June 2020 – ) is a growing series of paintings which depicts the surrounding scenes viewed from some of my favourite spots inside Marie Curtis Park.
The Light at the Edge of the Forest – Sep 2020
I’ve posted my video documenting my painting session of the work titled, The Light at the Edge of the Forest. Watch the video on my blog.
This work is part of the Wild Imperfections series.
The Light at the Edge of the Forest was painted on a primed birch panel that is 18” x 24” (46 cm x 61 cm). I’ve painted a similar forest scene a few years ago and I wanted to revisit the subject, to see how far I can push the lights and shadows – to create a sense of mood or drama. I didn’t want to repaint the scene exactly so I’ve made a few changes to the composition along the way.
The trees, cast shadows and light were what inspired me to create The Light at the Edge of the Forest.
There’s a ravine that I love to frequent close by my home that’s just teeming with life. The trees are densely packed together and is home to life, several species of birds, deer, foxes, coyotes and other small animals. Not to mention the varying species of trees and naturally growing herbs. In this place I feel grounded. Here I’m deep in thought and I’m entranced by the light that bounces off the leaves casting a kaleidoscope of shadows on the forest floor. And then as I get close to the edge of the forest, I emerge refreshed and inspired to continue creating works that will move and inspire others.
This work is part of the Wild Imperfections series.
Our Neighbour, the American Robin – June 2020
I’ve posted my second video documenting my painting session of the work titled, Our Neighbour, the American Robin. Watch the video on my blog.
This work is part of the Wild Imperfections series.
Our Neighbour, the American Robin is the second of a two-panel painting (also known as a diptych). Created using oil paints on a 18″x24″ canvas, this piece took me about 1 week complete. And since this is the second panel, I started off by drawing a rough sketch of the Robin’s nest just so that I have an idea of its placement in relation to the subject in the first panel.
After observing robins for a few years, I’ve come to appreciate how resourceful they are. For example, the nest depicted in this painting was built on the downspout of my neighbour’s house and stood intact for four years – until the home owner finally decided to take it down after it was abandoned. I’ve seen this nest withstand wind gusts of up to 90 km/h and weathered many storms – while the female robin was sitting on it! Each year a robin returned, she would add new twigs, and grass to it, in preparation to lay her eggs. After the babies have hatched and left the nest, sparrows would take bits and pieces from it to build their own. I’ve seen three generations of robins hatch in this nest and was I amazed with each experience.
This work is part of the Wild Imperfections series.
If you want to see how I painted the first panel, check out my previous video.
American Robin – May 2020
I’ve posted my first video documenting my painting session of the work titled, American Robin. During this time I learned about the editing process: camera, music, voice over, titles, the whole deal. There’s so much more to learn.
This work is part of the Wild Imperfections series.
American Robin took me about 30 hrs to complete and has gone through quite the evolution. The bird in this oil painting was inspired by an actual Robin that nests in my backyard.
My vision for this painting was to have the Robin perched atop a tree. I want the painting to have a feeling of movement and colour. Imagine being out on a walk in the morning, the sun has already risen, the air is warm, but slightly breezy. The world is awake. Sounds of Cardinals, Finches, Starlings, Chickadees and Sparrows fill the air, but it’s the American Robins greeting that gets my attention today and is my inspiration for this art piece. Having observed Robins for a few years, I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate these industrious birds from their nest building skills to how they nurture their young.
This is my first video, so I’m still trying figure out the ideal set-up for film and editing, so there will be some instances where I’m blocking the shot – but I sincerely tried my best and I’m still learning.
This work is part of the Wild Imperfections series.
Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises exhibition, Feb 2020
We live in a culture where consumption and waste are common habits. Plastic seems to be everywhere, and while it is useful we need to recognize the effects it has on our environment and daily life. In Conversation (Red) and In Conversation (Green) are two soft sculptures, crocheted using recycled and repurposed shopping bags. Featured earlier in February in the exhibition entitled Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises at The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, the pieces stand 102” high and approximately 51.5” to 74.8” diameter, each sculpture is self-illuminated and fitted with an electronic brain which scans the surrounding environment. When a viewer is in close proximity, the electronic brain, through its motion sensor, causes the sculpture to come to life. The lights “dance”, alternating colours (depicting an emotion) for as long as the viewer is nearby. Effectively, the viewer becomes part of the “dialogue” between the sculptures.
Below is a series of photographs documenting the process of their creation – from prototype to final form.
It took around 4 months to construct In Conversation (Red) and In Conversation (Green). During this time I’ve experienced a range of emotions – from excitement to anxiety and then finally a sense of calm. And so these emotions have also been embodied within these sculptures.
Once the sculptures were completed, the transformation of the throw-away bags gave them a new life, taking them out of the context of mundane everyday objects we all take for granted. The process forever changed my approach and relationship to this material.
Nesting, November 2019
Cocoon, January 2019
With a heavy heart, October 2019
Illumination, February 2020
Babel, February 2020
In Conversation- at rest (Green), February 2020
In Conversation (Green), February 2020
Thanks to everyone who showed their support for Women’s Art Project (WAP), art exhibition Wild Imperfections at S. Walter Stewart Public Library. Works from the exhibition are now posted to the Paintings gallery. Here are some photos of the show just after set-up.
