Featured on Canadian Art Today, Interview with Artists in Canada
Recently, I was interviewed by Paul Constable on Canadian Art Today, EP 1017, where we spoke about my approach to landscape paintings and the inspiration behind my current body of work.
You can read more about the episode here. Watch this inspiring conversation about art, identity, nature, and creative renewal on Canadian Art Today.
About Artists in Canada
Artists In Canada was formed in 2000 to better connect Canadian artists – from urban haunts to rural settings to the most remote places in our north – with the rest of Canada and the world.
Highlights From Memory
Highlights From Memory (August 2023 – ) As a city-dweller seeking solace, having a place to connect, to reflect and feel grounded becomes not just a desire, but a necessity. For me, that place is within Toronto’s wooded trails, forests and parks. Inspired by the myriad of sunsets, dappled light, and forest shadows within these city sanctuaries, the oil paintings in Highlights from memory capture cherished moments in Marie Curtis Park and along Etobicoke Creek. On canvas, these works explore the inherent vitality of nature and its rejuvenating power within our built environment. Through a sensitive portrayal of light and form, I am reminded of the essential connection between humanity and the nature, offering moments of quiet contemplation amidst urban life.
Landscapes Group Exihibtion at Gallery 1313, August 28 – September 8, 2024
Two of my paintings, are included in Landscapes group exhibition at Gallery 1313, which takes place from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
Curated by gallery director Phil Anderson, the exhibit showcases over 60 works from artists in across several art disciplines such as drawing, painting, photography, collage and digital painting. From urban, to rural, to industrial, the exhibit is an exploration on the landscape as seen by the artist.
You can read more about the exhibition on the Gallery 1313 website.
Exhibition Dates: May 28-June 8, 2024
Reception: August 29, 6:30pm.
Gallery 1313
1313 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Phone: 416-536-6778
Hours:
Wednesday –Saturday, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Video Update: Empty Spaces (Marie Curtis Park looking southwest)
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.
Painting Empty Spaces (Marie Curtis Park looking southwest) | video
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! New Works, The World is a Brighter Place With You In It
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.
The View From Here
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 – November 2022) is a growing series of paintings which depicts the surrounding scenes viewed from some of my favourite spots inside Marie Curtis Park.
Watch me paint the Light at the Edge of the Forest
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.
Watch me paint Our Neighbour, the American Robin
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.
Painting Our Neighbour, the American Robin | video
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.
Watch me paint the American Robin
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.