Waiting In The Wings (2012)

Oil on canvas, 16" x 20"

This painting is from a photo taken of me when I was performing in a play, backstage and waiting for my cue to enter.  I liked the intense contrast between light and dark, a modern take on chiaroscuro which a lot of people associate with Edward Hopper.  This piece received the 3rd Award of Excellence in Oils at the Nepean Fine Arts League Annual Members' Exhibition.

Haida Claus (2009)

Acrylic and Sharpie on Art board, 8" x 10"

This was my Christmas card for 2009. I was inspired by a Haida exhibition I had seen at the National Gallery. I was especially proud of this one because of the many, many iterations I went through to come up with something that looked Haida to me, but also like Santa.

My mother thought it looked like Jason from the Friday the 13th movies, so it may not be 100% successful.

Still Life with Guitar (2010)

Oil on canvas, 16" x 20"

One friend commented, on seeing this piece, "You need to stop painting stuff that's just lying around in your house." Too true, but this one at least came out pretty well, except maybe the green wall.

Cat With Bookshelves (2011)

Oil on canvas, 16" x 20"

The title pretty much says it all. I think this is my best work so far, at least I'm the most satisfied with it. I spent some time beforehand on the composition, laying everything out to highlight and balance the large dark mass of the cat on one side with the more subtle darkness of the bookshelf on the other.

Also I like painting my cat.

The Ladies of the Camellias (2008)

Charcoal on paper (12.5" x 19.5")

I have not been committing much art lately since all of my
time was spent on stage, playing Ivan in a local production
of The Ladies of the Camellias. This picture is a charcoal
sketch I did of the two leading ladies in costume on the set,
with some artistic rearrangement for reasons of composition.

The original was presented to the director as a present from
all of us in the cast and numbered prints, like that pictured
here, were given to all the members of the crew for their
efforts. This is the most ambitious charcoal sketch I have
ever attempted, in the course of which I used willow charcoal,
charcoal pencil, kneaded eraser, cotton cloth, paintbrush,
blending stump and fingers to get the results I wanted.

I had a fantastic time acting in this play and made many new
friends and reconnected with some old ones from theatre times
gone by. Now I need to make some art this summer while I
look for my next role...

Birch Medley (2008) - Updated

Oil on canvas (16" x 20")

I was looking out the window at the birch trees in the front yard
and realized that I could see neither top not trunk of the trees,
just this interlaced network of branches. I was inspired to produce
this semi-abstract piece which, despite the apparent randomness of
the branches, does actually have a proper up-down orientation and
a strong sense of light coming from one side.

Update: Aug 2, 2008
Since I posted this originally, Birch Medley has won an Honourable
Mention in the Nepean Fine Arts League Members' Exhibition!

Window To The World (2008, in progress)

Oil on canvas (18" x 24")

Inspired by a photograph taken at Social in downtown Ottawa,
this is probably my most ambitious composition to date. There
are four planes of focus in the painting: the chair back in
front, the brick pillars behind that framing the shot, the table and
chairs and then the figure at the window. Every line in the
painting is placed so as to emphasize the woman at the window.
The palette as well is very limited to unite the work and
draw attention to the lights of the window and her skin tones.

Tulips With Plate (2008)

Oil on canvas, framed (16" x 20")

Executed from life and then finished from memory, this painting
attempts to capture the lights on the various surfaces: flowers,
plate, wooden butler's table, glass vase.

Profile in Charcoal (2008)

Charcoal on manila paper (18" x 24")

One of a series of the kids, I liked this one particularly for
the way the heavy lines and blank spaces together give the
impression of a strong light.

Vienna Street Scene (2008)

Oil on canvas (12" x 16")

A small painting, almost a sketch, of a street scene from
Vienna photographed by my wife while she was over there.
I did not use a ruler or straightedge but I think managed
to convey the diminishing perspective and angularity of
the buildings nonetheless.

The Great Forest (2008)

Oil on canvas (22" x 28")

Another try at the theme of small children in the big woods,
this time on a larger scale than Into The Woods. The colours
are not as rich and deep but I like the grand sweep of the
trees and the way they dwarf the figures of the children while
at the same time drawing our eye to them.

Reading In Bed (2007)

Charcoal on newsprint (14" x 18")

Out of hundreds of quick sketches maybe one or two will have
a life and coherence that makes them worth preserving - this
is one of those, in my opinion.

Waiting (2007)

Oil on canvas (16" x 20")

My wife posed for this painting, depicting a woman looking
out of her dark room into the light of morning, or perhaps
a bright streetlight, waiting for something. Or maybe
just looking out the window as she ponders something else
entirely.

Friesia Jungle

Oil on canvas (16" x 20")

A loose painting of a bouquet of friesia, taken from part of
a photograph. I like the way the friesia fill the painting
right to the edge, and the strong diagonal lines made by
the blossoms and the negative spaces between them.

The Golden Apple

Oil on canvas (12" x 24")

A somewhat abstract representation of the story of Paris
and the golden apple from Greek mythology, this painting
was completed in just two manic sessions. I started with
no sketch or plan, just an idea of how I wanted to
represent this meeting of gods and men. I am pleased
with the result but haven't been inspired to do one
like this since.