Sechelt Art Walk Sept 24-Oct 22

I am pleased that a few of my works are on view at Sunstones Gems and Jewelry in a charming heritage building at 5699 Cowrie St. in Sechelt (Sunshine Coast, BC) during the Sechelt ArtWalk. The works are placed among Sandy’s fabulous selection of beads and beautiful things, all set to make gorgeous custom necklaces, bracelets, or other jewelry. You can also pick up an ArtWalk map there so that you can stroll around our charming village watching for the work of other coastal artists as you shop local!

See more info on Sunstones at www.sunstonesbeads.com

Works at Redecor and Design, Sechelt

I’m very pleased to be partnering with Ashley Kitchen, new owner of Sechelt’s ReDecor and Design Store at 5660 A Cowrie St, in Sechelt, BC. Ashley’s background in interior design is really informing both the contents of the consignment shop and its stylish new look. She has also established relationships with a number of local artists and is becoming a go-to source for coastal art to complement the wonderful furniture and decor items you’ll find on her shelves.

You’ll find some of my ‘kids on the beach’ pastels there and also some larger waves and landscapes that might fit the bill for an autumnal refresh of your decor! Stroll on in regularly (it’s next to another funky secondhand store, Pretty Natty Duds) and check out Ashley’s new finds!

Moving toward the Crawl

I’ve been experimenting with a new approach to landscape painting this year. I took a handful of unframed pastel paintings that hadn’t satisfied me enough to frame, and washed each one down with rubbing alcohol to bond the pastel to the sanded paper support. The result was a blurry, washy, matte finish composition which I then responded to with oil paint applied solely with palette knives. The contrast of the matte pastel base and the glossier oil intrigued me, and I incorporated various amounts of this contrast in each new work. Some paintings changed completely in composition, colour, or mood; others ended up being just ‘better’ versions of the original pastels. The finished works are a marriage of naturalism and abstraction, a new look for me. And because they are now oil (vs pastel) paintings, I’ll be framing them without glass for maximum visibility.

I’m happy with the results. Come see twenty of these experiments—all small-medium in size and price—at this year’s Art Crawl October 18-20.

Winter Complements 16 x 20 oil on paper framed $400

Morning Fresh 10 x 28.5 oil on paper framed $350

Tomorrow’s Forecast 15 x 13 oil on paper framed $350

Fall Forward

Because my career was in education, I have always experienced the autumn as the start of the new year, and this year is no exception. I’ve enjoyed a break from the studio over the summer, but now I am itching to get back to the easel. Exploring abstract designs has been fun, and I’ll no doubt do more in future, but for now I have returned to traditional realism.

Here’s one of my recent paintings, based on a snapshot taken in evening at nearby Trout Lake. I’ve retained the actual light and composition, but changed the season to late winter to capture the glow of the snow and melting ice on the lake. In subject, composition, and tone it reminds me of some of my favourite Scandinavian artists such as Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn—which pleases me!

Northern Light, oil on canvas, 36 x 24. Framed, $1200

Abstract Gallery now added

Within the Works menu, you can now find a new gallery of abstract works. Some of these are finished works available for sale; others are samples of what can be commissioned through my ART4S service of art-by-the-square-inch ($1 per square inch!). Check out the page to learn more…

Butter Wouldn’t Melt Acrylic on deep canvas 16 x 16 $256