Volume three of “Artists of British Columbia“, published by Leighon Studio Gallery,  is out and can be purchased at a variety of stores in BC for $20.

I am featured on page 54 of the book with my painting “Coastal Breeze“. In fact, the publisher loved the painting so much, they featured it on the cover. Ah, another feather in the cap, as they say.

I painted Coastal Breeze on mahogany panel using Gamblin oil paints. I have been using Gamblin since I started with oil painting and find them very smooth with a high concentration of pigment.

If you can, pick up a copy of the book and support the local artists whenever you can.

An old painting I did awhile back has recently been accepted into the ‘Abstract" show with the FCA.

It took me less than an hour to block in the main aspects of the painting, but it took three days to complete it. Getting the yellow streak in the spot that just felt right took a lot of effort.

The painting represents how one voice, indicated by the yellow, in a sea of existing thinking is needed to start change.

The painting will be on display and sale at the FCA Gallery between May 5 – 17, 2009.

This latest candy apple I just finished was recently accepted into the ‘Still Life" show with the FCA. 

The painting, Pomme, will be on display and sale at the FCA Gallery between April 21 – May 3, 2009. Stop in and enjoy all the beautiful work that I am sure will be there.

I recently got word that two of my works will be in the "Mixed Media" exhibit at the FCA Gallery from February 3 to 15th, 2009.

The two paintings are "Hierarchy" seen above and "Style" seen below.

It has been done before, but just not by me. I was applying gesso to some canvas and had the idea to add some ground pumice stone so I could have a tooth to apply pastel.

I made up a 9×9 frame with canvas and started the process. When all was dry I started on the painting by first laying in a sketch then under painting with watercolour. After that dried I started with the pastels, slowly working my way through the apple first, then laying in the background to make sure all my values were right. I then made the apple nice and shiny, then finished off the background with some deep blue over the black.

The canvas was very different to work on while using pastels. It was very soft even when pressure was applied. Much differenet than working on paper or card. This is something I will definitely do again.

I titled this one "Stylish" due to the loose style. I enjoyed this one and it came together pretty quickly although I have to go back and finish off some details.

It is 12×12" pastel on hardboard.

I am working on a larger version and am starting to get to a point of comfort. This one is almost done. Just a couple more tweaks here and there. I’ll be entering this into the mixed media show with the FCA.

The December issue of The Artists Magazine, The Best Art of 2008, has come out today. What makes this notable for me is that I was named a finalist in the still life catagory for my painting Luscious.

In total there were 11,000 entries to the competition. From that there were 30 winners and 200 finalists. I like those odds and happy to get my name in the magazine. Next year I’ll have to aim to place as a winner.

This is a quick study I did for a larger painting. It has a watercolour underpainting to help pop the colour out. The new painting will be 12 x 18" on wallis pro (great for underpainting) and this smaller study will be washed off so I can use the paper again.

With the fall comes candy apples. It seems most kids have memories of these from sometime in their childhood.

The reflections and trying to get that sense of depth to the candy coating really intrigued me to paint this. I wanted to the viewer to be able to remember what it was like to crunch through that hard candy shell and sink their teeth into the softer apple below. The sweet sugar balancing out the crisp, tangy bite of the apple.

Pomme D’amour :: Pastel on Paper :: 19×25″ :: SOLD :: Prints Available