Big and Bold

The Chic Choc mountains are deep in the Gaspe region of Quebec and full of surprises. The amazingly rugged area is surrounded by a coastal landscape of mountains and ocean and a joy to behold. The mountains described as impenetrable rise and fall sharply between peaks and form a northern extension of the Appalachian Mountains. Hikers access the mountain range by road and on foot travelling on what is the Appalachian Trail.

On the ground and miles from anything that resembles the modern world we were greeted first by a group of five or six young Canada Grouse crossing the trail. The young were followed by the female and quickly disappeared into the underbrush. Just when we thought the show was over the larger and more colourful male proceeded to entertain us with a very impressive display of feathers and strut providing a distraction for the families escape.

Combining the love of painting and drawing with a walk in the woods made a special day.

Art Changes

Scale affects perception.

Large becomes small becomes large, nothing is as it seems.... 

So it happened, that in my mind, I found myself back in the hall housing a famous David . This David is carved from a single block of marble by an artist Michelangelo so many years ago. Although the work was highly polished and monumental in scale the more interesting work for me by far were the series of sculptures known as Slaves. Finished or unfinished they seem to resonate differently allowing more room for interaction with the audience.

I couldn't help making comparisons between the Slaves and our contemporary world. 

Things have changed in many ways but I wonder just how much?

"Quote me on this..."

It is a lucky day to say the least when you chance upon an albino fawn and then have two pileated woodpeckers fly across your path. So it was recently when after a whole summer of hoping for the opportunity to view these magnificent creatures it all happened so fast it seems hard to believe. I thought I should make a painting of the event as a reminder.

Time Travel

As a young boy becoming an artist wasn't a question. Art was something that you did everyday. You made art by yourself and with friends. Painting, sculpting clay, twisting wire or drawing in sand were the order of the day. We gave life to worlds unseen by adult eyes. 

Me on the Left Buddies to the Right

The photo of myself and neighbourhood friends seems to be about the time of my seventh birthday. I don't remember the picture being taken and was surprised by it's appearance so many years later. 

Soon after this photo was made our family moved for a summer to the village of Caledon, Ontario.  Many years later the house in Caledon appeared again as I made paintings using techniques described by Maxfield Parrish an American painter and illustrator.  

Becoming an Artist talks more about early on.