Rodney 10x8 oil portrait Private Commission

It seems that I have entered the year of the Dog! Most Chinese Astrologers would disagree and state (probably loudly) that this is incorrect. It does not change the fact that for me there have been alot of dogs moving on and off my easel!

I think this fellow is great. He was a commission by a wife for her husband. It seems Rodney is one of the great loves of his life and I believe I can see why!

I was really lucky this time as I was given a phenomenal photo to work with.

That is not always the case.

I remember once being asked to paint a Guernsey cow who was quite old and frail. The owner had hoped that I could re create her in all her glory and return that youthful glow she had almost 2 decades prior.

I was provided with a stack of photos no less than 2 inches high and upon closer inspection it was soon revealed that every aunt, uncle, sister, daughter and mother of that cow was included. Everyone in that family was represented on colour film in various degrees of quality for me to peruse at my leisure and to extrapolate (my new fav word) my newest muse.

You see, the only photos I had of said bovine beauty were of her in her last stages of life, having just been through a difficult birth and being in , shall we say working clothes. All you ladies out there know that THE worst photo ever taken of you was when you lay back in the maternity bed joyfully holding your newborn child and looking like you were dragged across Canada by your hair behind an 18 wheeler. Vogue here we come....NOT!

This poor beast was covered in filth, so much so that I could not even hazard a guess on my best day as to where on her shrunken up frame her markings could be. Forget deciphering what colour she was. Hence the loads of family photos, none of which I am told even closely resemble her but she is "kinda in between the aunt , sister and daughter".

"You know what I mean right?"

I hate that question.

I know what I think...... it is politically incorrect and would make a sailor blush but how about we discuss it!

I don't know if it old age, experience or bad eye sight but now I have a tendency to run screaming in the other direction when folks present me with crummy photos. Call me a coward but one drink from the artistic fountain of youth was enough for me. I have decided I am NOT that creative. Ask me about the Atomic structure of minerals instead!

Peggy's Cove 20x10 oil

This last summer we traveled on a family trip down to Peggy's Cove so our kids to see what all the fuss was about. As Nova Scotians we have an appalling lack of awareness of our own province. I wanted to make sure my kids knew the attraction to our lovely province included more than fast food joints and malls.

It had been many years since I had been down and the kids and I were both surprised to see the minimising of tree height the closer to the shore that we got. The huge boulders and smooth rock faces the littered the landscapes made for an oddly beautifully if somewhat eerie surrounding.

Once at Peggy's Cove the multitude of buses and campers had us hard pressed to find parking. The throngs of people clamoring to the famous lighthouse had us a little taken aback. To estimate that there were hundreds bounding about the rock faces would be a conservative guess. People of all ages and ethnic backgrounds snapped photos to show family and friends back home and I found myself with a new appreciation for this place I call home.

If you have a chance to visit this Nova Scotia icon please do so , but make sure to include the many other facets of our province. We are more than a windswept rocky coastline!

Jessie 10x8 oil portrait Private Collection

The New Year is now firmly under way and this year I made a resolution to make no resolution. I figure if I want to change some aspect of my life then the day I think of it is a fine day to implement it!

This painting is of my sister in laws dog Jessie. This grand dame is 14 years old and this summer suffered severe liver failure and was not expected to survive. There was not much I could do except offer words of condolence and encourage Sara not to give up. That night I went rummaging through my photos (any beast that comes to my home eventually gets caught on film!) and found a few photos of Jessie that I felt really captured her kind loving soul.

I have to admit, I did not expect her to make it. The prognosis was poor when I started slathering paint around the canvas. I wanted Sara to have something to remember her loyal friend with.

This past weekend was a wonderful few days as my home was filled with family from all over. Lots of old friends gathered to drink fine ( and not so fine!) wine and kids generally had the run of the house. Food was plentiful and the conversation was great.

The best part was the presence of Jessie who perused the confines of the house in search of errant bits of food that racing children tend to lose. She looks thinner and a little less speedy ( although that was never a strong suit ....) but the old girl was present when Sara received her Christmas gift. I guess it was a bit of a two in one! What a great way to start the year!

Happy New Year !

Big Race Work in progress

Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe that it is now a New Year and that 2010 is behind us. I personally say good riddance and look forward to the joy that the next 362 days has to offer.

I have been very busy with a variety of smaller commissions and since I have a strict policy of not posting them until the customer receives them I have been hard pressed to post new work. That is until 1:32 am last night. After working on and finishing several smaller pieces with time deadlines on them I glanced at this large piece (24"x36") and got inspired. This piece has sat sketched out and propped up against the wall for months now. I normally avoid large pieces like the plague but after several weeks of fine detail work getting the big brushes out and swooshing paint around the canvas was an absolute joy!

This is another of that series of paintings I am doing based on the local racetrack here in Truro.

I like the way this painting is coming along. Much like this New Year. Lets hope they are both spectacular!!