Tulips (2007)

Charcoal on tinted paper (12" x 16")

Man, do I love this one! It was a quick sketch, half an hour, with a
stick of charcoal, an eraser and a cloth. The tulips were in a vase
on the counter, luckily just at their peak (today the petals are falling
all over the place). Everything just worked. Makes up for some of
the disasters I had when I tried out conté crayon a few weeks ago.

Laughing (2007)

Charcoal on tinted paper (8.5" x 11")

For this sketch from a photo taken last summer I tried something
different, a technique I read about in a book by Douglas Graves.
The paper is covered lightly with charcoal and then the areas of
shadow are gradually darkened and the lighter areas are erased,
either with a cloth or the kneaded eraser. It was quite quick and
fairly easy to do. I used charcoal sticks instead of a compressed
charcoal pencil so the charcoal was drier and easier to take off
the paper (too easy, sometimes, as I kept accidentally rubbing off
what I had just done). I will stick with this technique for a
while and see how it goes.

Dad (2006)

Oil on canvas (16" x 20")

A painting from a photo executed for my mother on the anniversary
of my father's passing. I was surprised at how the artistic process
took over from the emotional reaction while I was painting this -
I was able to see it as a work of art without being overwhelmed by
the personal associations. I compare it with the first portrait I
ever did and am pleased to see that I have learned many things and
am developing my own style.

Woman In Profile (2007)

Charcoal on tinted paper (8.5" x 11")

Drawn from a photo. I was very happy with this one as I knew
exactly when to stop, for once. Usually I try to add more shading
and end up working it to death. Here I achieved the resemblance
and feeling I wanted, then quit.

Reclining Nude (2007)

Charcoal on tinted paper (8.5" x 11")

My first nude from life, and next time I will use bigger paper. I'm
not unhappy with the results but there was more detail I would have
liked to convey, but with charcoal you can only get so fine a line.

Two Carnations (2007)

Charcoal on tinted paper (8.5" x 11")

A couple of carnations, sketched from life like mad as the sun crossed
the sky and the light started changing. I had to quit when both
flowers were in shade. The left one came out a bit flat but the right
was all right. It taught me the value of doing the big things first,
at any rate.

On Vacation (2006)

Red chalk on paper (12" x 16")

A first try at a chalk portrait, from a photo taken on vacation last
summer. The photo is a bit blurry but gets the point across. I was
quite happy with the figure but would do less shading in the
background in the next one.

Walking In Woods (2006)

Oil on canvas (12" x 16")

Two of my kids, from a photo taking during a walk in the woods this past
summer. For this one, I abandoned my usual technique and started with
a rough sketch of the main shapes, then immediately covered the canvas
entirely with large areas of colour, without much regard for the details
of the scene. I then worked in layers, adding detail and colour but
still keeping it very loose. I am extremely happy with the result which
I think portrays the shapes and the light without getting bogged down
in too much fine detail.

Girl In Monaco (2006)

Oil on canvas (12" x 16")

From a photo of a young girl on a hotel balcony overlooking the
Monaco hillside. For this painting I put on several layers of gesso
to try for a smoother canvas; it worked, sort of, but I ended up with
fine grooves in the sIurface from the sponge brush that I used to
spread the gesso. I was able to put more detail into her features
than usual, but there was a definite bias to the surface that I had
to take into account.

Carpenter (2006)

Charcoal on toned paper (8.5" x 11")

A portrait of my wife's cousin, a carpenter who specializes in fine
detail work with exotic hardwoods. He is an interesting man with
beautiful complex features, so I was especially pleased to have
captured him so closely. I worked from a photograph taken outside
in Toronto; the contrast between the right side of his face brightly
lit by the sun and the left side in shadow make for a very
interesting composition.

Lounging By The Pool (2006)

HB Charcoal pencil on doodle pad (newsprint)

Sketched from life while we were lounging by the pool. There is
always something intriguing about a figure whose face is turned
away. It's also much easier to draw.

Shy (2006)

Oil on canvas (9" x 12")

I saw this girl's picture on the front of a dress pattern and thought
she looked very sweet and old-timey, so I decided to do a small
painting of it just for fun. I love the feeling of it, very
soft and subtle, with a turn-of-the-century innocence but still a
hint of impertinence in her smile.

Twins (2006)

Oil on canvas (15" x 20")

This is a portrait of twin daughters of a friend and work colleague.
I started with a very detailed sketch on the canvas obtained by
transferring straight from an enlarged photograph using brown pastel
chalk. The time that I spent on the sketch really paid off, and
this painting was finished in about 16 hours all told (not in a row!).

I especially like the folds of the clothing and the hand at the left
which is not rendered in great detail but just suggested by a few
small forms of light and dark.

Scarlett (2006)

Charcoal on toned paper (8.5" x 11")

I have wanted to try a portrait with charcoal for a while now,
and since I had some free time and some work politics I would
rather not think about, I decided to give it a shot.

Scarlett Johansson is a beautiful woman but not in
the conventional way. There is no mistaking her for the parade
of bleached blonde clones that front most of the mediocre Hollywood
and television fare these days. So, I thought it would be
interesting to try and capture that beauty and that uniqueness in
charcoal. The blue paper just seemed appropriate, I don't know why,
but I am quite happy with the results.

La Petite Ophelie, after Bouguereau (2006)

Oil on canvas (11" x 14")

This is a copy of La Petite Ophelie by Adolphe William Bouguereau, done
as an exercise in our art class. Despite laying out the sketch first with
pastel chalk, I found this one extremely frustrating. The lips alone I
painted and rubbed out at least five times.

Nonetheless, I think it turned out well and I have decided it is done.