SKY LAKE
Friday afternoon of the first week of grade 1, the teacher treated the class to an art activity…wow…nothing has changed after all these years. The instructions were to draw a place we visited over the summer so I drew my uncle's farm.
Crayon on paper. Image size: 8 in. x 10 in.
HARMONY
An object or something suddenly appears in the distance causing ripples in the water. Hope rises then drops once the actual cause is identified. Quietly and reverently, everyone is talking about it using words like sad and tragedy.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 7 in. x 9 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
THE DENT
Perhaps it was a person banging their head in an act of frustration. That being the case, what made that person so angry?
Oil on board. Image size: 10 in. x 20 in.
HLOOQ
The title says it all. It's a big bad … ass.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
CHALK DUST MURALS
Moisture was a blessing. The first version was a showcase of precise blended shapes and intricate detail. Then came the rain. Despite the repeated reworking, time finally ran out resulting in the final set being rudimentary in comparison. The film was about the relationship between two deaf characters communicating in silence. The rough sketch style proved to be best suited for the story hence the blessing.
Side walk chalk on brick/pavement. These murals were prop illustrations for the short film
"Chalk Dust" by
PICOSPHERE PRODUCTIONS INC.
Watch Chalk Dust on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/117632176?ref=em-share
THE FIRST SEED
They came from faraway, took ownership, and in virtue of themselves, scraped away the land to build. They named their neighbourhoods in tribute to where they came. They celebrate who they are in competition to others. Their belief in entitlement covers their insecurity as they name parks after their ancient heroes. None of them ever acknowledge what lies underneath.
Mixed media on board. Image size: 40 in. x 40 in.
D.R.MURAL
I had no idea for a concept. The image was already expressed on the wall and everyone else could see it except me. A little girl in a yellow T-shirt would come by. "Painta! Painta!" she exclaimed while dipping a small brush into a can of red eager to apply it to the image. Beyond the wall lived hardship, poverty, and exploitation and here we were engrossed in a magical world of imagination. The little girl understood the meaning and its purpose, I didn't, at the time. Hope.
THE REVELATION
Encompassed within a mystic haze, the Blameless One stood upon the altar, arms out proclaiming its greatness. Masses of the insecure reverently gathered in hopes of receiving forgiveness. In silent unison, they bowed in disgrace readily accepting the accusations as privileged wisdom. At that moment, a clatter of voices broke the silence of the mist as a flock of crows polluted the sky with black expansive wings. "You cry the tears of a clever performance. Enough!" they screamed
Graphite/coloured pencils on art board. Image size: 22 in. x 28 in.
ICE AGE
Some say the earth is not warming while some say the earth is. So, let us all look towards the disciplines of politics, religion, science, and finance for the answer.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.
ENGINE
The insecurity of a university undergrad buying into the populist opinion that talent is about painting as realistic as a photograph is apparent. Resource picture is courtesy of a 70's HOT ROD magazine issue. The same insecurity lead to its destruction so prosecution for copyright infringement is unnecessary.
Oil on canvas. Image size: 20 in. x 20 in.
Private collection: City of Winnipeg landfill site.
MACHINEHEAD
Machinehead was an embryo that grew, all the time remaining within the limitations of the shell until death. Its eyes spoke not of wisdom but of regret.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 8 in. x 8 in.
Private collection: Winnipeg, Canada
ONCE UPON A TIME
An audience awaits to hear your story but you convince yourself that you are just too busy at the moment. The habit repeats becoming an excuse so the audience goes elsewhere. It's your loss but you're too busy to care anyway.
Oil on board. Image size: 20 in. x 30 in.
Private collection: Montreal, Canada
GOAL LINE
At a prestigious art-in-the-park event sponsored by the City, an individual commented loudly "I wouldn't pay $50 bucks for that flee market shit." If a Picasso was displayed at a Walmart, that … person… would mostly likely say the same thing. So, congratulations asshole, you just bought the painting with your taxes.
Oil on board. Image size: 20 in. x 40 in.
Permanent collection: City of Vaughan, Canada
MISSING
The sun dropped below the horizon. Hours later, again as always, the sun rose above the horizon. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, she disappeared into the Red but the River refused to be an accomplice.
Graphite on art board. Image size: 22 in. x 28 in.
DOUBLE
To prepare the still-life, a surgical knife was used to cut out the breasts from the dolls. “Holy shit!”. This actually happened to her. The dolls were no longer toys, they have become … her. Imagine what she felt. The process was a daily reminder that she could have died.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
This piece was featured in the documentary film "Double" by
PICOSPHERE PRODUCTIONS INC.
PILLOWCHILD
The child is born as a blank page devoid opinions. There are no expressions of hurt, interpretations of hypocrisy or confused misunderstandings. Perhaps this is the perfect definition of innocence, not naive, but one with an untarnished attitude. The answers to the questions what is good, what is truth, what is happiness will soon be forced upon the child by those who claim to know what's best based own their narcissistic biases, opinions, and prejudices. Pillowchild screams.
Graphite on art board. Image size: 18 in. x 18 in.
KENORA
This a post graduate self portrait, early 20's, with photorealism influences still evident in the technique.
Oil on board. Image Size: 36 in. x 48 in.
ASCENSION
She was popular and knew it. She was pretty and knew it. After a while nobody paid attention. But that didn't matter because she didn't know it.
Graphite on paper. Image Size: 12 in. x 12 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
WINNIPEG MAN
This is another quintessential self portrait of the artist, mid 30's, with a more personalized super-realism technique being developed.
Oil on board. Image size: 18 in x 24 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
FOSSEL FUELS
Buried under a million years of tectonic pressure, the refuge from our current planned obsolescence may become a valuable resource.
Graphite on art board. Image size: 12 in. x 36 in.
VMY
Time has passed. No more entrenchments, it happens in the open, above the pavement. There's no more one gun against another gun, it's one gun against many without. If fact, a gun is not necessary, we have prejudice.
Oil on board. Image size: 22 in. x 48 in.
MARBLEHEADS
I distinctly recall during the Centennial year, we were taught to acknowledge Sir J.A.M. as the great Canadian father. Yet, this same person supported the execution of the founder of my province. The facts from yesterday will always receive a bias interpretation. Our colonization history is full of political and religious influences. It seems, hopefully, that the time of telling it truthfully has finally come … if that's politically and religiously possible. Oh and one more point…let's continue to adopt more new faces to our currency.
Graphite on art board. Image size: 10 in. x 14 in.
BLANKET
It feels safe now being protected by the impenetrable barrier. In that small space you can smell your own breath, your own body as the contained air heats up. You close your eyes in hopes of hiding further from the fear. What is it? The blanket morphs as if attempting to slowly mold itself into something else.
Graphite on art board. Image size 30 in. x 30 in.
DAY DREANING
From across the street, two individuals were observed, one sitting and the other crouched down. Both seemed engrossed in thought. The scene did not go unnoticed as it was witnessed by an audience of one. Another day dream was inspired
Oil on board. Image size: 24 in. x 48 in.
GONE
An object or something suddenly appears in the distance causing ripples in the water. Hope rises then drops once the actual cause is identified. Quietly and reverently, everyone is talking about it using words like sad and tragedy.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 4 in. x 6 in.
WAITING ROOM
Some wait for something while others wait for someone. Some times the wait is long…very long.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 12 in. x 30 in.
Private collection: Winnipeg, Canada
BRASS
Walking towards a reflection reminds you from where you came. If what lies ahead is the same as what was left behind …then … perhaps you should stop and reflect.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 36 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
PINK SUBLIMITY
You see but do not visually comprehend therefore no memory is possible. No recollection means there is no story to be told. Now, once you notice the pink, a thought is born.
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board. Image size: 18 in. x 36 in
ME NOT WE
Time has passed. No more entrenchments, it happens in the open, above the pavement. There's no more one gun against another gun, it's one gun against many without. If fact, a gun is not necessary, we have prejudice.
Oil on board. Image size: 22 in. x 48 in.
WIND
The wind can push the potential of the greatest explorers beyond the limitations of their imaginations then unceremoniously crush the same against the hardest of rocks. It can carry the memory of a moment wrapped in magic or hold the voice of a narcissistic deceit. The trick is to forgive yourself, let go, and fly in search of the genuine.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 36 in.
Proceeds from the sale of this piece go to
"gofundme.ca saras-service-dog".
AN EPHANY
A toad reached out with absolute trust to grab onto a hand only to be dropped back, again and again.The toad was always able to get out on his own accord so in time, he did. From a distance he witnessed the hand return, again and again. The question to this dilemma is not why the toad chose to grab on but why the hand repeated returned.
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board. Image size: 20 in. x 20 in.
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Behind the closed curtain, the blue light radiated magic. Within this place of witches, stood an angel. “Take hold of my hand.” The dance lasted a second but felt endless.
As the curtain opened, the moment deflated. The truth of the illusion was soon to be revealed in Act 2.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.