Ottawa School of Art Holiday Sale - You're All Invited

The annual Ottawa School of Art Holiday Sale starts tonight. Doors open at 5pm to 8pm. I submitted six paintings for the shows this year, and if they sell I'll have new pieces up to replace them. New this year is the Holiday Sale at the Shenkman Art Centre in Orleans. The show there also opens tonight with the vernissage to be held this coming Sunday afternoon, 2-5pm. My one and only craft sale is this weekend so the only vernissage I can attend is tonight's...and with that I am off to mingle! This is really colourful event and you should all come and see it.

Here are my contributions to the Holiday Sales.

The first three are at OSA George Street, Ottawa.

Baaa Humbug 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas



Greg Brady was always cool 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas

Basement Apartment 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

These are my pieces for the Shenkman Arts Centre, Orleans.

Red Rabbit 14 x 11 acrylic on canvas


Night Owl 14 x 11 acrylic on canvas

location location location 9 x 13 acrylic on canvas

Ottawa School of Art Holiday Sale: two locations

35 George Street, Ottawa & Shenkman Arts Centre, Orleans

Nov 26 - Dec 15 2009.

Shoes Make The Man

I didn't think I was starting to work on more astronauts yet but what I think and what I do sometimes aren't in sync and it's often better that way. At least when it comes to artwork that is.


I found myself unexpectedly inspired by this cover: the federal finance minister getting new shoes for the budget this past spring.

Here was my first go at my version of this but I got stuck at this point. It sat there for months until I found myself back in astronaut territory and it just came together.

The Right Shoe 36" x 24" acrylic on canvas

Called The Right Shoe I am quite happy with it now, not just with how it turned out but that I am starting to work on astronauts again. This makes me extraordinarily happy.

New Paintings for the Ottawa School of Art Boutique

These are my latest paintings since I've completed my program at the Ottawa School of Art... graduation posts to follow, but not yet.

The three paintings are available in the school boutique here in Ottawa. That cat must have resonated with the zeitgeist of the times as he was snapped up in two days. I hope it's gone to a loving home... kitty needs some love methinks!

Cat Wants Out 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 2009 sold

O Happy Day 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 2009

You Look Good 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 2009

Illustration Friday: Fleeting

rise above 8"x16" acrylic, wire, glass & friendly plastic on canvas

He had a hard time concentrating on work when fleeting thoughts of escaping his humdrum routine took him away to dream of other things...

Day-Olds. July 15th, 2007

The Love Triangle 2003 8" x 6" acrylic in canvas

It's Sunday night and after another busy market weekend I am exhausted.

I'm not going to attempt to make anything.

This is a lesson learned over the years. At times I have had to force myself to keep working, keep working, keep working.. etc... This is usually in preparation for a Big Show Somewhere and it's the week before we leave, or a day or two before the show starts. I have often tried to make things when I am worn out and I know what happens. Things take 3x the time, then I drop my tools, or lose the eyes I've laid out for my characters, or misplace the list of stuff I am working on, and then when the plastic is hot, I'll wreck it by forcing something, or being too impatient for it to cool, or trying to make too many at once. It never works.

I've learned it's more productive to take a rest. I'll get more done in the long run by stepping back and taking the time to relax. It's not worth it to push push push.

Tonight, it's just like that.

See you tomorrow.

Here and Gone

Never Shy Away From Battle
8" x 24" acrylic on canvas

I painted this last week, debuting it at the Ottawa Farmers' Market last Sunday. It sold the same day. I really enjoyed painting it. The dragon was just so charming to me. Every stroke of paint made me feel that creature. I enjoy pairing up unlikely subjects with clashing colours. It's interesting to see how all that works out.

I'm working on several paintings now, getting ready for Art in Minto Park on Elgin Street July 21/22. I'm hoping to have several new works and a couple of extra large pieces as well. This year has been very strong for me creatively. I seem to have a lot of energy for making things. I credit going to school with that. It makes me happy to learn things and that happiness fuels my art. It's not always easy, and creativity does not always flow, so I appreciate times like these when it does.