Happy New Year!

'Not Open 'til Dinner'.......oil on canvas panel......8x10 inches

Greetings ! Hope 2012 is off to a delicious start for you!

Made a ton of New Year’s Resolutions, sort of taking the shotgun approach this year. If I make enough resolutions I’m sure to hit some of them. Actually got a lot of the last year’s resolutions under my belt: visited Rome, taught five workshops, completed a new book, but still haven’t learned fluent Italian. Well, there it is. Hope everyone had a perfectly Dickensian Christmas season. I know I did, but I think the three ghosts of Christmas that visited me were just indigestion from too much pie, turkey, and ham. Yikes! 

GOOD NEWS!

The New Year is off to a great start - I received Honorable Mention for my painting ‘Vagabonds at Rest’ from the Oil Painters of America ' Fall 2011 OPA Online Showcase Competition' juried by the very talented Dan Beck.  This painting portrays two beggar women on the Spanish Steps in Rome taking a break to gossip about tourists. A personal favorite of mine! To see complete list of winners click here.

CURRENT WINTER EXHIBITION:

Gallery 1261 'Small Works Show'

My new painting ‘Chestnut Peddler’ is currently on display at Gallery 1261’s 'Small Works Show.'  This prestigious and exciting group show runs through January 21st, so if you happen to be in the Colorado area, make sure to stop by and take a peek. This show includes a wonderful array of stunning artwork from a very talented group of artists I am extremely honored to be exhibiting with! 

To view online exhibition click here.

'Chestnut Peddler'.......oil on panel........12x16 inches (SOLD)

2012 PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOPS:

If you’ve resolved to learn plein air painting in 2012, please keep my workshops in mind.
This year’s lineup of beauteous locations includes Sedona, Big Sur, France and Italy!
Please reserve your space soon! Availability is limited and subject to change.
For more info and registration details click here.

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That's it for now. Stay tuned for additional info on upcoming shows and events. 2012 should be a very productive and exciting year!

May your New Year be filled with adventure, creativity and joy!

Buon Anno!

New Book and Current Winter Exhibitions

Greetings!

November's here and it's that time to bundle up and get the sweaters out if you're here in Los Angeles (or sweep those leaves up and get the snow shovel ready if you're further up North).  I miss those Autumn colors I used to see in Montreal, like the entire forest was ablaze with color but in a good way, not a run for your life way.  I have posted this recent painting to pay homage to the memory of those crisp and colorful autumn days.

'Remembrance'.....oil on panel......8x10 inches (SOLD)

NEW BOOK!

I'm proud to announce the release of my new book "UNCOMMON GROUND"! This is a compilation of my favorite pieces from the last five years, and includes some never before seen  color studies that I created for my larger studio pieces. Makes an awesome holiday gift for yourself or the art lover in your family! Copies are available in hard and soft covers and may be purchased online by clicking here.

WINTER SHOWS AND EVENTS:
Here is a brief overview of exhibitions I am currently participating in this month. 

'Vagabonds at Rest'......oil on panel......9x12 inches

Two of my new small paintings are currently on display at InSight Gallery's 'Small Works Show'. This exciting group exhibition runs until December 31, 2011. There's still time to hustle on over to Fredericksburg, TX and stop in for a look.  For more info and to view online exhibition click here.

 

'Pick Up or Delivery'......oil on panel.....18x22 inches

I am also exhibiting my new painting 'Pick Up or Delivery' at Waterhouse Gallery's annual 'Great American Figurative Artists' show. I am delighted to be part of this wonderful group show filled with top-notch figurative painters. For more info and to view online exhibition click here.

RECENT AWARD FROM SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE!

'Lahaina Leisure'......oil on panel......14x18 inches

I am extremely honored and delighted that my painting 'Lahaina Leisure' was awarded Honorable Mention from Southwest Art Magazine's '1st Annual Artistic Excellence Competition'.

Click here to view complete online editorial from Southwest Art Magazine's December 2011 issue!

That's all for now folks. Stay tuned for more adventures as 'Winter' takes the stage and 2011 gives way to the new and exciting, very highly publicized 2012. There hasn't been so much apocalyptic anticipation for a New Year since we had the Y2K bug destroy all the PC clocks and shut down civilization as we knew it!  Boy, that was a disappointment, here I still am using the internet ;-)

Wishing you and yours a very memorable, magical and peaceful Holiday Season!

Sizzling Summer Scene

Here is a new painting I recently completed for an upcoming fall group show at Insight Gallery.  Exhibition opens on September 2nd, 2011. This painting also placed as finalist for both the 'Raymar'  and 'BoldBrush' June 2011 online competition!      
 

'Pieton'.........oil on canvas panel.........16x20 inches (SOLD)

Greetings!

  Welcome again to my latest blogello, chock full of interesting news and pictures about my life and art.  Summer has finally arrived in all it's glory, having shaken off the overcast gray of the June gloom and kicked in to gear with some scorching hot days.  What better time to check out the 'Landscape' group show at Abend Gallery where my painting 'Prelude To Summer' is currently  on display.

 ~ A w e s o m e   N e w s   a n d   E v e n t s! ~

'Where R U?'........oil on panel.......11x14 inches (SOLD)

I am so delighted and honored to have received the 'Member's Choice Award/Associate and Signature Division'  for my painting  'Where R U?' from the Oil Painters of America's '20th Annual National Juried Exhibition' which was hosted by Devin Galleries. 

Click here for complete list of winners.  

WORKSHOPS UPDATE!

I've got one last workshop scheduled for 2011 so there's still an opportunity to join me in Big Sur for some plein air fun! Ahhhh, Big Sur, where Heaven really has come down and touched Earth.  After a long day of painting 'en plain air' you can unwind by soaking in natural sulphuric hot springs, the stone tubs lining the cliffside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Skilled massage therapists are on hand to work out all the muscular knots that five hours of standing, painting, and concentrating can create.  The food is all organically grown on site, and the kitchen provides three nutritious square meals a day in a beautiful oak finished dining hall.  

For more info on Esalen and to register for my August 2011workshop click here.

Stay tuned for more exciting news and have a dazzling, adventurous and resplendent summer!

Full Speed Ahead!

Greetings All!

Spring has finally sprung and I have an exciting roster of events, group shows, and workshop updates to share with you. For starters, I'd like to share a plein air painting I did while in Maui for the '2011 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational'. Enjoy!

'Sugar Cane Train'..............oil on canvas panel.............8x10 inches (SOLD)

'Salon International 2011'
April 2 - 22, 2011

(SOLD)

My painting 'Le Marais Twilight' (which also received 'Best of Show' from the January Raymar Fine Art Competition) is included in Greenhouse Gallery's 'Salon International 2011'. Show runs through April 22, 2011.
To view online exhibition click here.

'Around the World: The Painted Journey'
April 8 - 30, 2011

(SOLD)

I will also be participating in Abend Gallery's 'From Around the World: The Painted Journey' exhibition which will feature remarkable pieces which have been selected from the participating artists' world travels. 'Rue Saint-Antoine' will be one of my three paintings included in this impressive exhibition.
Show opens April 8, 2011.
For online preview click here.



'1st Annual Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art'
April 21 - May 19, 2011


Another piece created from my Paris trip is 'Strolling Parisian' which has been selected for the '1st Annual Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art hosted by Legacy Gallery.
Exhibition opens April 22, 2011.
For online preview click here.



'20th Annual National Juried Exhibition'
June 10 - July 9, 2011


Finally, a fourth Paris inspired piece, 'Where R U?', will be on display for the Oil Painters of America '20th Annual National Juried Exhibition' at Devin Galleries in Idaho.
Exhibition opens June 10, 2011.
For more info about this exhibition click here.

~ 2 0 1 1 W o r k s h o p s ~


Here is a recap of my remaining plein air painting workshops for 2011:
Both the Sedona (May) and Big Sur (June) workshops are currently full with waiting list. The Big Sur workshop in August still has some spaces available. Spaces are filling up fast so be sure to register soon in order to secure your place and experience the seaside organic gardens and cliff side hot spring tubs!
Click here to view my current workshop schedule for 2011.


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Be sure to have an awesome and productive rest of the spring season and prepare yourself for more fun and adventure in 2011's summer!

Looking Back, Forging Ahead

I present to you my very first 2011 blog post with a recent painting I did titled 'The Artist's Refuge'. Enjoy!

'The Artist's Refuge'..........oil on canvas panel............8x10 inches

It's good to be back in the blogosphere! I hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start and that all your resolutions are sturdy and full of promise, like an acorn, that could be an oak tree eventually. An acorn, they're a hard nut to crack, ask any squirrel, they'll tell you.

~ Highlights of 2010 ~

'Jardins des Tuileries'.............gouache on panel............8x10 inches

There have been so many wonderful and exciting moments in the past year. Exciting group shows, prestigious plein air invitationals, mind bending roller coasters, indeed too many to list! If I had to pick my favorite adventure then my trip to Paris, France tops the list.
Oh Paris, can my blog ever do you justice? The things you showed me in your wonderful architecture and wondering populace were without equal. I'd like to tell the tales of the terrifying toilets, trying tourist traps, and terrorist threats. The musical washing machine, the striking thespians, the sub-par restaurant service, the robust espressos, the disgruntled proletariat, the strange dress codes, the street musicians. Too much to say in too small a space. The museums alone, the cemeteries, the churches and spontaneous choirs on a Tuesday morning. The gardens of Versailles and the fascinating fake farm of Marie Antoinette. My head was spinning, my feet were blistering. Too much! Not to forget the house, gardens, and lily pond of Monet in Giverny! That is all I can put into words. Below are a few pics of my trips highlights:



after a full day at Versailles Palace and gardens

Marie Antoinette's estate









standing next to Rodin's 'Gates of Hell' at the Rodin Museum











Ben standing where Monet once stood!








had an exhilarating time at the Louvre Museum







Pere Lachaise Cemetery (I enjoyed it so much we visited twice!)










Sacre Coeur was a treat!












could not start my day without this








the magical Seine River













Notre Dame is spectacular!
(and of course, so is Ben)








and of course a visit to the Eifell Tower was a must

To view additional pics of my Paris trip visit me on facebook!

~
Here's to a year filled with boundless joy, perpetual creative inspiration and prosperity!

Paint Outs and Parties!

Here is one of the plein air paintings I did during the '12th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational'.

'Long Lost Memories'.............oil on canvas panel...............8x10 inches (SOLD)

Greetings Gentle Bloggers,

Once again I must sit down and write about what a mysterious thing life is. Life is like a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, put in a bottle, and then lost in an airport baggage claim. At least my life feels like it is ;-) It has been a busy past few months, with a whirlwind trip to Paris, several awesome group shows I participated in and a week long paint out at the '12th Annual Laguna Plein Air Painting Invitational'. I don't know where to begin, so I'll blog from the end and work my way back to the beginning. Indeed, the Paris trip itself was so condensed with layers of visceral voyage visuals that it will in fact need it's own separate blog, written possibly in the year 2011 after enough time has passed for me to make some kind of linear explanation for my experience. That being said, let me tell you about the Laguna Invitational, which passed as quickly, smoothly, and pleasurably as prune juice through a goose. It was great to catch up with all my awesome artists friends, painting amongst the beautiful landscapes of Laguna. I found some new magical sites like Victoria Beach, with its single castle spire rising dramatically to the mansion above it, the strange circular footprint of an abandoned wading pool carved into the rock beneath it. Another mysteriously delightful discovery was the legendary Crystal Cove, a hidden beach I'd heard so much about and finally visited! Crystal Cove is peppered with adorable cottage rentals including a strange pthalo green beach house museum of fifties game boards like Sorry and Monopoly. Takes me back to my childhood in Canada's cottage country, all those hands of gin rummy! The other events were also cool, sold some paintings, had some drinks, ate some cake, and laughed at my own jokes. Thanks so much to all the folks at LPAPA (Laguna Plein Air Painters Association) who made it possible! There's some hard working people behind the scenes making it all run smooth and stay fun! Here's to doing it all again in 2011!

Here is a view looking the opposite way of 'Long Lost Memories'

'Melancholy Morning'............oil on canvas panel............8x10 inches
(SOLD)

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.... a few pics of the events and such. Enjoy!

Me painting an overcast scene at Crystal Cove, whilst being lulled and soothed by the rhythmic sounds of the ocean.











Kicking off the Invitational at Treasure Island Park for an early morning orientation and paint out. All artists were required to paint an 8x10 for a silent auction. Clear skies, mild temps, fresh ocean breeze and a plein air easel. Ahhhhh, what more could you ask for.








Finishing up my 'Quick Draw' painting at Heisler Park on a rainy and cold Saturday morning.











Sunday morning at the Laguna Museum.









One of my favorite painters, super talented Bryan Mark Taylor. Bryan was the recipient of the 'Collectors Choice Award' at the Saturday evening gala reception.






Carolyn Hesse -Low standing by her paintings. Carolyn is an absolute delight to paint with. A very gifted and generous soul indeed.








Victoria Beach and all it's splendor!










Crescent moon over Laguna Beach.













Ben enjoying an afternoon stroll on the beach.












The lovely Carol and Bill Hanke were generous enough to provide us a place to stay during the Invitational. This was the view from our guest bedroom window. Sweet!!!





Looks like somebody has a case of 'Farmer's Tan'!

Signing off with a group photo of the participating artists.
What a fantastic bunch!!!

For more pics of event and complete list of winners click here.

Autumn Adventures

Here is a new piece currently on display at the Abend Gallery's 'Four Person Show'. To see online exhibit click here. Show closes this weekend!

'Observatory Overhaul'............oil on canvas panel.............9x12 inches (SOLD)

Hello Bloggopheliacs!

A few months or so have passed and it's time to sit down and blog. For those who have consistently tuned in to read the latest bloggits and bloggellos of my bloggentuous blogsploits in the blig, blag blorld of the blarts, you have my sincerest bloggitude. To those just tuning in, welcome, you're in for a treat of the bloggest order. But enough of this bullbloggit, let's get on with the blog:

The high point of the past couple months surely was the Debra Huse Gallery's annual 'Just Plein Fun' event, which I was delighted and honored to participate in. Selected artists painted en plein air for five days on Balboa Island, the event culminating with the 'Brush Off' competition on the last day. I did not win the 'Brush Off' competition, but was surprised and pleased to receive 'First Place' for my painting 'Grand Canal Colors'! All in all, an excellent event and a great excuse for some stellar artists to come together and paint the lovely island colors. I have included a few pics from the event. Enjoy!

'Grand Canal Colors'.............oil on canvas panel.............8x10 inches (SOLD)
(received 'First Place' award)


a few pics from event.......

Diligently working on my 'Grand Canal Colors' painting

Saturday afternoon 'Brush Off' event. The guy in the background wearing the straw hat is the talented Terry Masters








Artists' opening reception and awards ceremony









Posing with the honorable Jean Stern

Yes, yes, you say, the past sounds cool, but what of the present and future? Fret not, I say!
More cool news coming right up.....

'Bill's Pick Up'.........oil on canvas panel..........7x9 inches

My painting 'Bill's Pick Up' was juried into the OPA's (Oil Painters of America) 'Western Regional Exhibition' . Opening reception and awards ceremony will be held at the Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson Hole, WY this coming fall. Show opens October 9th and runs through November 10th, 2010.
For more details click here.




I have recently been invited to participate in the '12th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational'. I am delighted to be participating in this week long celebration of plein air painting in beautiful Laguna Beach and surrounding areas. For more info click here.

S a v e T h e D a t e !

Finally, October will yield a full harvest of traditionalist paintings with Silvana Gallery's first ever annual 'Great Impressions - Masters of Fine Art' exhibition opening on October 23rd from 5 to 10 pm and running until December 11th. Not to be missed! I have some inside information that a few celebrity guest artists will be showing, I can hardly wait! More info (and art) coming soon!

And that's it for now. I'll fill you in on more cool things as the gears of time slowly and unflinchingly turn, bringing us persistently closer to a fabulous and fruitful Autumn!