Compliments

Picking up on the 10 Minute Challenge, I decided to do a single pear. I really liked the top right hand pear, and tried to replicate it, but I don't think I quite hit it. I do like it though.

6x6" Oil on gesso board
$75  plus shipping

Pears :10 Minute Challenge

This is my entry for the 10 Minute Challenge posed by Carol Marine from Daily Paint Works, an online art group of painters that I belong to. In this challenge, we were to pick one subject, set the watch for 10 minutes, and paint 4 each of that subject.  I tried to change it a bit in each. The board I painted on is 6x6" so each of these is 3x3". I tried not to panic, and actually think about what I was painting, shadows, highlights, background, etc.


6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard
NFS

In the Clouds

The CNE or "Ex" is one of my favourite subjects. I loved the clouds in the reference photo for this, and I did it as a Daily Paintworks Challenge.

8x8"
Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$110 plus shipping

Gulls on Ice

These gulls are standing on a thin layer of ice on Lake Ontario, except for the one in the background where the water is not frozen.

6x12" Oil on cradled panel.
$125 plus shipping

Three Graces

There are hundreds of Mute Swans on the shores of Lake Ontario at Toronto. They are irresistibly graceful, but you wouldn't want to make one mad - they are quite aggressive and can easily injure humans or your dog! 

Watching, and hearing them take off from the lake is an awesome sight. Their wingspan is enormous, and they make extremely loud wing beats. Also they are an introduced species, and are quickly displacing native species. Pretty, though.

Oil on canvas
6x6"
$75 plus shipping

Skyride

There is something about rides where your legs are dangling that really appeals to me - it's a kind of freedom!
This is from the "Ex" in Toronto.

10x10"
Oil on canvas
$135 plus shipping

Lila

This is a portrait of a lovely dog called Lila who I see many days at the dog park by Lake Ontario in Toronto where I walk dogs. She is very sweet natured and energetic, and her owner asked me to do a portrait of her. He picked it up the other day and loved it! 

11x14"
Oil on canvas

Summer Whites

This couple was at a "Sailpast", a yachting tradition. The Sailpast celebrates the opening of the sailing season and is a parade of boats past the Commodore’s boat. It is quite a spectacle. Naturally it is a social event, with all the accompanying food and wine, and it is tradition for everyone to wear white.

8x8" Oil on Raymar
cotton panel
$110 plus shipping

Sunflower

From this years crop of sunflowers. I live near a community garden which is surrounded by self seeded sunflowers in late summer. They look like they are all waving!

6x6 Oil on masonite
$75 plus shipping

Pink and Blue

I love painting seasonal subjects. Not sure if I can do this lady in pink on the beach in the winter! Unless I have been down south.
She's looking pretty carefree eh?

6x6 Oil on gesso board 
$75 plus shipping

Swinging

Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition is on once more meaning that the end of summer is almost here!  The midway, to me, is eye candy.

This  is a ride called the Swing Tower.

6x6" Oil on gessoboard
$85 plus shipping

On Ramp

Night urban skies can present lots of painting opportunities. In this I tried to not be too married to the details, and pay more attention to the graphic quality of the image.
This is Toronto's Gardiner Expressway.




8x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$110

Carlos

 As a commercial dog walker, I see a lot of dogs naturally, and as an artist, I am compelled to paint them. This little guy, a pomeranian is irresistible! It is amazing how little dogs can be so bold. It's all attitude! At the moment I took the photo from which this I did this painting, he was jumping on my leg - I barely noticed him! Good thing I did, I just love this image.

6x6"
Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$85 + shipping

Piggy - Porcine Bas Relief

Second in a series of paintings of some of the architectural details at the Horse Palace and livestock buildings at the Exhibition Place.

6x6" Oil on gesso board
$95 plus shipping

Bovine Bas Relief

Toronto is the home of Exhibition Place where annual events, such as the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair , and the Canadian National Exhibition take place. I was waiting in line with my niece to buy tickets at the last "Royal", and I notice a few carved relief livestock medallions, and naturally I photographed them. Built in 1931, the Horse Palace was designed by architect J.J. Woolnough in the Art Deco style, and is endlessly fascinating. I am now working on a series of paintings of these architectural details on the agricultural buildings on the Ex grounds. 


6x6" Oil on gesso board
$95 plus shipping

Abstract

This was from the Abstract Expressionist Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto last year. A wonderful thing about living in a large urban area is that there is easy access to so much great art. I am a member of the AGO, and I go to as many exhibits as I can. I didn't know much about Abstract Expressionism previous to visiting this exhibit, but I think it is important to be exposed to as much art as possible.

This group of silhouetted figures is viewing a painting by Helen Frankenthaler called Jacobs Ladder, painted in 1957.


8x10 Oil on Gessoboard
$145

Marshall at the Lake

This is Marshall, a very boisterous and energetic Visla, who I have walked since he was a tiny puppy, and who is now 4 years old. He lives with Shadow, another wonderful Visla.

8x10" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
Sold

Way Up

This is the focal point of the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower, as seen from the base.  It was once the world's tallest free standing structure, but I think there is a building in Dubai that has it beat. Still pretty impressive!


6x8" Oil on Raymar cotton panel
$95

Shadow at the Lake

It is hard to believe there is such a thing as summer when it is -20 C here in Toronto this morning!
This is Shadow, a wonderful and special Visla I walk every day.  He loves meandering at the shore of Lake Ontario on balmy summer days.

Oil on Raymar cotton panel
6x8"
Sold

Gull

I go to the lake almost every day to walk dogs, and the light is always beautiful. There is wildlife that I notice every day including swans, gulls and I occasionally see mink swimming in the water.
This rock, protruding from the lake, frequently has a gull perched on it.

6x6" Oil on gesso board
SOLD

Dear Old Dad

I did this painting as a gift for my brother this Christmas. It was supposed to be a birthday gift in August, but after being dissatisfied with 2 attempts at it, I ran out of time for my brother Andrew's birthday. So Christmas it was. It was still a painting that induced anxiety and lots of emotion!

But Andrew loves it, he was very close with my dad, who was the sweetest man on earth, and is dearly missed.
God Bless you, Daddy.

6x6"
Oil on Gessoboard
NFS