Surfacing

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 12 x 12"Created March 7 - 14, 2008, #144.

The image was taken from a corner in my tiny studio, where I also have two large bookcases. This image just kind of happen by itself. I often drink water in this glass mug and decided to continue my art book series on this piece. POP ART by Tilman Osterwold was published by Taschen as part of a 17 book series for the company's 25th anniversary. The cover image is M-Maybe (A Girl's Picture), 1965 by Roy Lichtenstein. While playing with camera angles, I was able to capture a view of her left eye surfacing on top of the water. Another point of interest was how the books and photo albums behind were all lined up in a reverse order underneath the surface of the water. I usually try to read a little while having breakfast. My wife Suzanne on the other hand is an avid reader. On this self are books from Danielle Steel to Jane Austen, from John Grisham to Arthur Miller, from Ernest Hemingway to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I had a lot of fun with this piece

-SOLD

Keeping up with the Joneses

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 12 x 12"

Created February 25 - March 5, 2008, #143

The title is based on a popular catchphrase that refers to the desire to be seen as being as good as one's neighbours or contemporaries using the comparative of social standards or accumulation of material stuff. The origin of the phrase is rooted in the once popular comic strip of the same name created by cartoonist Arthur R. "Pop" Momand. The strip debuted in 1913, ran in American newspapers for 28 years, and eventually was adapted into books, films and musical comedies.

In this still life reincarnation, I'm taking elements used in previous paintings and created a new composition. On the right of three of the bottles is a reflection of our fence that has lattice on top. I could have named it, Good fences make good neighbours from the Robert Frost poem, Mending Wall. I'll probably use that title in a future painting.

I first came across Jones Soda Pop in a Starbucks coffee shop during the late 1990's. The beverage came to market in 1994 and originates from western Canada. The images on the labels are submitted by the public, and if your lucky enough, you might end up on a bottle of Orange Cream Soda, Strawberry Lime, Blue Bubble Gum or Green Apple Soda. I'm a sucker for this type of products. It's like Pop Art meets pop culture.

-private collection

"Art and Critique"

The art critic, Elijah Shifrin is currently doing a series of critical essays of my artwork on his website, Art and Critique. The first of three installments was posted today. This LINK will direct you to his website, where is has also reviewed the artwork of several other artists for us to discover. You can also check out his past critiques on his initial blog before adopting a website format on this LINK.

Thanks to Todd Ford for nominating me, and to all those who took the time to vote for me on the public poll giving me this privilege.

Are we there yet?

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 14 x 20"

Created January 15 - February 24, 2008, #142.

This is my first figure painting in four years. I have to admit that it was somewhat of a struggle. I usually paint hard surfaces and inanimate objects. Here, I'm dealing with fabrics and flesh tones. The faces became tedious to the extreme. I'd thought that I might never get them right. It turned out to be a grand exercise of patience. At 5 weeks, it's time to call it a wrap.

Featured in this slice of life with my son Jean-Luc are his two other cousins on my wife side of the family. Isabelle lives in the province of Québec while Céline lives in northern New Brunswick. Gabrielle, the model in "La Balançoire" is Isabelle's sister. The photo study for this painting was taken 3 summers ago, when they were 12, 10 & 7. They have grown so much since then. They always get to spend a week together during the summer vacations.

The graphic novel that Jean-Luc is holding is from the serial The Adventures of Tintin. Tintin is a globe-trotting, crime solving Belgium journalist/reporter. He was created by Georges Rémi under the pen name Hergé. It first appear as a comic strip in a Belgium newspaper in 1929. The series of graphic novels have been translated in 50 languages and 200 millions copies have been sold. The series is very popular especially in Europe and French speaking Canada. I am not certain about its popularity in the rest of the North American continent. This volume is entitled "Tintin au Tibet".

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-This painting was selected in the juried FCA show at the Kamloops Historical Courthouse Centre for the Arts, 7 Seymour St. Kamloops, BC, April 18-27, 2008

- Included in my solo show at Handworks Gallery - Oct 16-30, 2009

-SOLD

International Artist Magazine

One of my painting is currently featured in the February/March issue of International Artist Magazine (#59) on page 59. I've just picked up a copy, and it's an exciting moment in this stage of my artistic career. I was contacted back in 2005 for the possibility of being included in their "Master Painter" section. A painting entitled "Dayliles and Japanese Lantern" done in 2004, had caught their attention. It is definitely a spirit booster, and I am honored by the accolade. View this LINK for details.

Daylilies and Japanese Lantern

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 11 x 8.5",#67

Private collection- Moncton, NB

La Balançoire

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 11 x 15"
Created- August 8-15, 2004, #75.

Private collection- Toronto, Ontario.

I've always found it difficult to paint during the month of January, and this year is no exception. I'm a bit slow getting out of the starters block. Each New Year is like a renewal for life itself; I'm wiping the slate clean and getting another shot at it. I'm not the all-consuming painter and wouldn't pretend to be. Life itself is a window of opportunity, and as much as I like to paint, I also want to expand my horizons in the grander scheme of things. I took a month off from my brushes to spend more time my family, to see a lot of the critically acclaim films that always comes out pre-Oscar time, to do some skiing, to renew my passport, to start planning our family trip to California this spring and to tie loose ends. It's not the easiest thing to juggle a full-time job and a painting career on the side.... your always chasing deadlines.

I've just started my first painting of the new year, and it will be a while before I post it. It's my first figure study since 2004, and a complex one at that. When it takes a few days just to do the drawing, it usually translate in many more days than usual to paint.

I won't be having a solo show in 2008, but I do have several projects planned. I'll be submitting works in juried exhibitions, I have several commissions lined up and will do my best to provide new paintings to the galleries that represents me.

In the meanwhile, I'm posting an older piece of my last figure painting. The model is our niece Gabrielle. I took the photo study on her backyard swing in Québec, and transported her to this farming field on Prince Edward Island. The image was used on the cover of a CD released last year by the Montréal musical duo Christel. We have two other nieces on my wife side of the family who will be featured with our son Jean-Luc in my upcoming painting.

Sitting on a CLUE

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 12 x 12"

Created- December 9-15, 2007, #141.

Just in time for Christmas, I bring you what I would have liked to see appear under our tree as a 10 year old. I spotted this Gumby & Pokey bendables in a gift shop in Cape-Breton, NS a few years back. I regretted not buying them at the time. With a credit card, you are only a click away to your heart's content, so I was able to order this dynamic duo on-line in their 50th anniversary packaging. Gumby was created by Art Clokey in 1955. He made his television debut on The Howdy Doody Show in 1956 and that same year had his own NBC Saturday morning TV series. The bendable toys were introduced in 1964. I remember watching many episodes in reruns during my childhood years. This painting is all about visual impact, color and surfaces. Never have there been so much lettering in one painting. My favorite part is the area surrounding the marble, which I decided to add after I had already started the painting.

Interesting TRIVIA-

-The Checkered Game of Life was invented in 1860 by Milton Bradley and the modern version was introduced for it's centennial year in 1960.

-Clue was invented in Great Britain in 1948. Outside of North America, it is known as Cluedo.
-It takes 1440 still-frame pictures to make 1 minute of clay animation. re: Gumby

-Click on this link to go down memory lane for a 1960's commercial of 'The game of Life" .

-private collection

"Comfort & Joy" group show at the Fog Forest Gallery

The last four postings on this Blog, Study for Summer of '69 (sold), June Blooms in a Red Glass (sold), Cat's Eyes on Cat's Eye (sold) and Cherries in Colander (sold) are on display in a group show entitled, Comfort & Joy at the Fog Forest Gallery, in Sackville New Brunswick until the end of December. The Fog Forest Gallery is located at 14 Bridge Street in beautiful Sackville,NB.

Cherries in Colander

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 6 x 6"

Painted- Oct. - Dec. 8, 2007, #140.

These type of Bing cherries, with a shiny skin, deep saturated color have a very meaty & juicy interior. Along with cultivated blueberries, are my favorite small fruits. During the month of June, we vacationed in beautiful British Columbia. During this period they were in season in the Okanagan Valley. We often stopped at road-side vendors or country store to buy some. When we got back home, Costco were selling them, I think in 5 lbs clear containers. Anyway, during this period I ended up eating many, many pounds.

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Visually, they also seem to be "objet de désir" for other Blog artists as well. Michael Naples, Jelaine Faunce, Mick McGinty, M. Collier, Otto Lange, Justin Claytor, John Beder, Terry Wagner, Paul Wolber and the incomparable Neil Hollingsworth & Linda Lucas Hardy are but a few who have examined these type of cherries and other varieties in which there are about one hundred. In my version, they are in our backyard in a small colander, sitting there in a large white serving bowl, waiting for me to eat them....YUM!

-private collection

Cat's Eyes on Cat's Eye

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 12 x 12"

Painted - Nov. 19 - Dec. 5, 2007, #139.

This painting is part of an on-going series that celebrates authors in a visual way. In the past, I've explored imagery with books by noted Canadian authors as Carol Shields and Yann Martel. I read Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood in 1989, and it remains one of my favorite books. This work of fiction tells the story of painter Elaine Risley who is returning to Toronto for a retrospective of her work, the city where she was born and fled after her first divorce. She becomes obsessed with events from her childhood, adolescence, past relationships with men, friends and family she left behind. It is a brilliant introspective novel filled with humor, compassion and wisdom.

The cover art was done to reflect one of the paintings (Unified Field Theory) that is part of her show as described in the book . This illustration is by Jamie Bennet. The figure on the book cover is the Virgin of Lost Things. She holds an over sized cat's eye marble at her heart level. The title for this painting actually came to me before I actually did the photo study for the painting, here again it's a play with words.

Margaret Atwood is regarded both by the public and critics as one of Canada's literary treasures. She has been awarded the Man Booker prize for her novel The Blind Assassin, the Giller prize for Alias Grace and the Governor General Award for Handmaid's Tale. Cat's Eye was a finalist for both the Governor General and the Man Booker prize. Mrs. Atwood lives in Toronto.

-private collection

June Blooms in a Red Glass

Acrylic polymer emulsion on canvas, 16 x 16"

Painted Oct. 20 - Nov. 18, 2007, #138.

I'm back. I took more time off than I originally anticipated. There were lots of loose ends to tie up. I felt I also needed time to recharge. To evaluate where I was to go from here, set new goals, and to feel the hunger again. I always find it difficult to return to the brushes after a few weeks without painting. It is always intimidating to start on a white flat canvas with pencil lines and knowing that I have to create of 3-D image.

This was an ambitious painting after my hiatus. It is the type of imagery where it becomes difficult to know when to stop. When I did the photo study, I decided to crinkle the foil paper a bit to create more of a mosaic pattern. The red glass is from IKEA, and the flowers from our garden.

Private collection

Study for Summer of '69

Acrylic polymer emuslion on gessoed MDF, 3,5 x 5,5"

Painted October 9-15, 2006, #111.

This painting dates back to a year ago. It was done both as a study for the larger work of the same name and for an International Juried Exhibition of miniature paintings that was held at the World Fine Art Gallery in the Chelsea, New York City during the month of December 2006. To show my work in the Big Apple was in my Bucket List.

-SOLD

Cherries in a Pyrex dessert dish

Acrylic polymer emuslion on gessoed hardboard, 10 x 8"

Painted Nov. 24 - Dec. 31, 2002, #51.

On November 15, the Canadian Paraplegic Association (N.B.) Inc. will be holding it's 17th annual Art & Antique Auction at the Fredericton Inn. The event will begin with a reception, silent auction and dinner, followed by a live auction. The proceed from this event will go towards funding the Association's rehabilitation programs for persons with spinal cord injuries and other mobility impairements.

This painting will be included as a lot during the live auction. In 2002, the cherry tree in our backyard produced a record crop. Usually by mid-August the cherry season is over. On this year we ate cherries until the very last week of September. Click on this link for more information - AUCTION INFO .

-SOLD

Opening reception, A SMASHING SUCCESS !

Top photo- Gallery owner, Cliff Turner and me

Bottom photo- son Jean-Luc and my wife Suzanne.

This solo exhibition comprised of 25 paintings, 22 of them were achieved since early January of 2007. After all the time spent in my studio focusing on all of my energy on this single show, I could never have imagined in my wildest dream that it would turn out the way it did. A buzz had started during the week leading to the opening, as pieces started to sell. Yesterday, as I was unwrapping the paintings inside the gallery in preparation to set up the show, a lovely lady getting a first glance of the paintings and another lady on the phone from Tennessee each acquired a piece. Tonight was no exception. A steady flow of well wishers came to view the collection, and I had a chance to engage in some very lively conversations with so many of them during the full three hours. I had so much fun meeting all of you and was touched by the comments. When the evening was over, we did a tally of the red dots, and 19 out of the 25 had sold. I am still in shock, and it hasn't sinked in yet.

First I want to thank my wife Suzanne and son Jean-Luc. Sue you are my rock, the north on my compass when I lose my direction, the voice of reason, my muse, my soul mate, the reason I became a painter when you surprised me on the year of our wedding with a set of watercolors. I love you more today than ever. Jean-Luc, you have the kindness heart and most positive outlook on life. When I became your father, I thought that I would have to teach you so much stuff. As it turned out, it was you who thought me even more. Je t'adore. Thank you so much for being by my side this evening.

To Cliff Turner and Shannon Merrifield, the proud owner of Handworks Gallery, I cannot thank you enough for putting your thrust in me by hosting this first solo show with your gallery. Cliff is a hyperrealist/trompe oeil artist himself. I first became aware of is work in 1999 during a solo show held in Saint John. This was a few years before they took over Handworks Gallery. His art had an immediate impact on my own work. I seems a bit surreal still that I am showing my work in their galleries today. I am so lucky and grateful for this opportunity. To gallery employees, Joanna, Jeneca, Ray, and another young lady I met tonight which I cannot recall her name (I'm sorry), thank you for all your help.

To Dr. Jeff Sheppard, and the Chiropractic Centre of Saint John and Rothesay, who sponsored the exhibition. A chiropractor is a runner's best friend. Thank you so much for your support, and tonight he was also an painter's best friend.

To everybody who came tonight to help me celebrate. To all the patrons who purchased the art, you have made this evening a great success. I hope that my paintings will add a little ray of light in your homes. To Ron for your phone call during the reception to cheer me on. To everybody who e-mailed me to wish me well. To all those who will come see the show in the next two weeks, your encouragement and supports means everything.To all my fellow blog painters who have encourage me since I started to post my art. And to all those I may have forgotten, this would not have been possible without you.

This show is dedicated to my parents who would have been thrilled. My father often carried a small photo album of my paintings with him. He had great artistic abilities himself. My mother was the most endearing person I have even met. I was lucky to have them as parents. I am certain that tonight you were enjoying yourself on cloud no. 10. I miss you both.

Raymond (1924-2003) & Emma (1932-2006).

Marbles in mason jar lid, a tribute to Louis K. Meisel

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 6x6"
Painted on September 30 - October 4, 2007, #136

The glass lid is from the same mason jar featured in Shooter Marble in the Light. And these marbles are the same that are depicted in previous postings for this show. Because of their transparent quality, they have acquired a make-over through the image on the book that is entitled Photorealism by Louis K. Meisel. Mr. Meisel is a New York City art dealer and the owner of two commercial art galleries depicting this form of art. He coined the term Photorealism, and has played a major role in the development of this art movement.

He has published three mega volumes on a select group of pioneer and emerging photorealist artists. I've been fortunate enough to visit the Louis K. Meisel Gallery twice, in 1994 and 2002. In November of 1994, he hosted a show of the late Charles Bell who painted dazzling marbles on large format canvases. In 2002, the show coincided with the release of the book Photorealism at the Millennium, co-written by Linda Chase.

The only photorealistic paintings depicted by the artists in these books that I recall seeing outside his gallery and the OK Harris Gallery also in New York City, were Kent by Chuck Close at the Art Gallery of Ontario and an Untitled piece depicting Volkswagen Beetles by Don Eddy at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield Mass. Both left a profound lasting WOW effect on me. Marble in a mason jar lid is my way to thank Mr. Meisel for publishing these books and in the process giving me the opportunity to explore this form of art which I tend to gravitate towards.

This is my final posting for my solo show that starts tomorrow. Today's two postings were completed 90 minutes before I had to drive to Saint John, NB to bring the paintings to the gallery.

- SOLD