Dusk

Another tree from down the road. A cherry, I think.
6"x6" / oil on panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Stress Relief

Don't you find the outdoors calms you? Something about being surrounded by trees and water...
6"x6" / oil on panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Autumn Stream

Something to think about when you're stuck in a traffic jam ; )
6"x6" / oil on panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

The Wild One

He's old, but he's still got it : ) This is my entry for the Daily Paintworks Painting Challenge, which I happen to be hosting this week. The challenge is: Paint a Spooky Tree. Anyone can join, feel free to check it out!

6"x6" / oil on panel / collection of the artist

Sweet blush - SOLD

This is a cutting from our rose bush that is blooming away - at the end of October! Love that. It is a wild shrub rose. Beauty, thorns and all.
6"x6" / oil on panel / $100 (includes free shipping worldwide)

Work in progress

Hi everyone. This is my next piece in the works. Still a little garish at this point but it will take many turns. Tomorrow I have to start painting some small daily works again. I have the Christmas Handmade Market coming up in a month and I need work! Yikes! I also got a lovely commission to be completed in the next couple of weeks so...in the next month, you'll know where to find me!

By the way, Tuesday I took one more trip up to the Art Gallery of Toronto to see the Ai Weiwei and David Bowie exhibits (Yes. Two very different exhibits). And this time I pulled my kids from school so they could experience it too. They were all moved - well, the Weiwei exhibit does that to you. There is a documentary on him right now on Netflix - Never Sorry. If you get the chance, watch it!

Life's a beach

Really enjoyed this one. "Life's a Beach" available through me directly or Saatchi online.
12"x16" / acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas / $360

Work in progress

A bit more to go...a few things to resolve...but almost there.
acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas / 36"x36"

Child's play

I am very happy to announce that I won second place in the Daily Paintworks contest for September (judged by Taryn Day) for my abstract painting "The Breath Thief". Thank you so much! This is The Breath Thief:

The new painting I've posted is my latest painting called "Child's Play". It is acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 16"x20"x1.75". Both paintings are available through me directly or at Saatchi online.

I'll also take this opportunity to wish my fellow Canadians a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. 

 ~William Shakespeare

Ai Weiwei at the AGO! And Bowie too.

I know it's been a week since I posted. Here's the deal. After loving Monday's painting I enthusiastically jumped into Tuesdays only to work on it a FULL WEEK and gesso over the whole thing this afternoon. Ugh. Why is it that so often you do something you love only to be followed by a massive block? So instead I will post about my gallery trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario Friday. I saw the Ai Weiwei (pronounced "I wayway") exhibit "According to What?" followed by the David Bowie exhibit "David Bowie is". Both were fabulous. I like Bowie's music but after seeing this exhibit I appreciate him on a whole new level. If you are a Bowie fan you will be in heaven. It's very cool!

So onto Ai Weiwei. Weiwei is a Chinese artist/dissident and was the creative consultant for the Bird's Nest Stadium at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (Sorry. Could not find a photo credit for the above photo). I think that's a good jumping off point that most people will remember. Anyway, I heard Weiwei being interviewed twice by radio culture god Jian Ghomeshi and I was intrigued. His exhibit did not disappoint. If you are going to see it I suggest watching the documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (which I have yet to see) or for a quick interview/overview check out his compelling interview with Ghomeshi (which I have seen, twice).
Here are some of the highlights from the AGO. I snapped the pictures with my phone so forgive the quality.

These are 3,200 porcelain crabs.
From the AGO exhibit description: He Xie 
In November 2010 Chinese authorities demolished Ai's new studio in Shanghai. In response, Ai invited guests via Twitter to a feast of 10,000 river crabs to protest the government's control of information. Placed under house arrest for his actions, he was unable to attend his own feast. He xie, the Chinese word for "river crab" also sounds like the word for "harmonious", which is part of the Chinese Communist Party slogan: "The realization of a harmonious society." The term has come to refer to online censorship and the restriction of individual freedom of expression in Chinese society.

This is a close-up taken through the opening of one of the wooden chests (you see the subsequent chests/openings through the first opening).
From the AGO exhibit description:
Moon Chest / 2008 / 7 chests in huali wood
Ai built these chests from huali, a precious and highly desirable wood from the Chinese quince tree. He has cut four circular openings into each chest, transforming them from functional pieces of furniture into pure artworks. The openings align so that they show every phase of the moon to visitors who walk through the installation.

Straight / stell rebar (38 tons)

Salvaged, straightened rebar from the collapsed schools of the 2008 earthquake that hit Sichaun, China. 

Weiwei honours the dead school children by listing their names on sheets that fill an entire wall. Weiwei collected and published 5000+ names against the will of the government. And paid a price.

Wooden Stools sculpture by Ai Weiwei.

If you have a chance, try to see this exhibit. It is so powerful and moving. My photos aren't great but you can do an online search to see stunning pictures and learn more about his works.