Ok, so maybe there are more than a few extra brushstrokes added here. I played on several thin layers of colours and then changed them with additional layers on top of them... I even came back to the earlier tones in some places. There are some paces that feel a lot less sculptural than in … Continue reading Portrait Project – Inspired by David Park #3 – A few extra brushstrokes makes a big difference “SOLD”
Portrait Project – Inspired by David Park #3 – I need to sleep on it…
I gave this one a big burst of work all at once and needed to take a little break. When I woke up in the morning I was struck with a dilemma. I like it as it is, so is it finished? What does finished mean? I didn't really know how to answer, so I … Continue reading Portrait Project – Inspired by David Park #3 – I need to sleep on it…
Self-Portrait Project – Loosely Inspired by Frank Auerbach “SOLD”
The challenge given was to create a self-portrait in the style of a specific artist, in this case Frank Auerbach, or to recreate a portrait done by the artist in my own style. I think I sort of got it half way between the two options. Starting with a heavily textured canvas, recycled for this … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project – Loosely Inspired by Frank Auerbach “SOLD”
Revisiting Some Unpublished Photos of 2020 – Life Cycles
Dandelions and other similar flowers in their family have a special magic to them, at least for me. On the same plant, we can witness the entire life cycle at the same time. From the burgeoning nib on the stalks to the flower bud, onto the blossom and past to the seeding and decay of … Continue reading Revisiting Some Unpublished Photos of 2020 – Life Cycles
Revisiting Some Unpublished Photos of 2020 – Inside Burgundy
I find myself attracted to Lily-like flowers. It's not so much the shape of the petals, but the wald range of deep colours, the luxurious texture of the petals, and the dramatic structure of the inside of these remarkable plants. All this becomes interesting to me only because I get really close to them and … Continue reading Revisiting Some Unpublished Photos of 2020 – Inside Burgundy
Revisiting Some Unpublished Photos of 2020 – Rooted In Beauty
I seem to always get stopped in my tracks by exposed roots. These very old cedar roots are a perfect example. I see the inspiration for many fantasy landscapes and cityscapes, hiding places for monsters and inconspicuous doorways into the Faerie realms. Blur the focus, change the contrast, remove the colour and the whole scene … Continue reading Revisiting Some Unpublished Photos of 2020 – Rooted In Beauty
Painterly Perspectives
I guess I did a good job because I can't really remember what the original colour of these flowers was. They may have been blue, but they might also have been yellow, or orange. I'm not sure. I played with this image about a week ago and it's been an incredibly full week. I just … Continue reading Painterly Perspectives
The Root & Foot of the Issue
I'm starting to wonder if I'm obsessed with tree trunks and why that might be? Sure, I love everything Wabi-Sabi: the colours, subtle tones, textures, naturally occurring patterns... all making the work unique and impossible to reproduce (easily). But, why all these gnarly stumps? There was a time that I thought I was looking for … Continue reading The Root & Foot of the Issue
Mrs. Roopy is the kind of teacher I want to be!
Book Review: My Weird School #3: Mrs. Roopy is Loopy! by Dan Gutman I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Teaching is all about inspiring the love of learning, in my books. 😉 The illustrations complement the writing charmingly, and the writing... well, it's perfect for the kid in all of us! Every child has something special that … Continue reading Mrs. Roopy is the kind of teacher I want to be!
Persistence and Heart
Book Review: The Boy Who Never Gave Up by Stephen Curry What a beautiful story. Stephen exemplifies what we want all our kids to know... they can be whatever they want, if they never give up wanting it and work to get it. There's a second valuable lesson here... Follow your dreams with all your … Continue reading Persistence and Heart
The New Renaissance Mindset 