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.