To Touch or Not to Touch

This morning I tuned up last week's Uxbridge plein air.  This is often not a good idea.

 Our paintings talk to us, "BACK OFF, DUMMY!" Or, "Get your lazy butt over here.  I feel like crap." (My paintings are a rude bunch.)

Robert Genn (May 15, 1936 - May 27, 2014)

Robert Genn (May 15, 1936 - May 27, 2014)
Thousands of artists lost a dear friend and teacher this week with the passing of the great Robert Genn.  Most of them never met Mr. Genn face to face but were inspired by his numerous weekly posts about what it means to be an artist.
I had the great good fortune to have a long chat with him before an opening of one of his exhibitions at the Hollander York Gallery.  He almost immediately realized I was a painter and chatted with me as if he had know me all my life. Sweet guy.

French Mistress P.S.

Wine is optional, but not a bad idea.

Homemade "French Mistress" for Soltek easel

"Fool's Paradise"

I spent the day sketching "Fool's Paradise," the incredible home of the late, great Doris McCarthy. 

This Year's First Plein Air Outing

I enjoyed the first plein air expedition of the year today with three very talented friends, John Stuart Pryce, Karen Fox and Shelly Burke. Perfect weather and light up in the hills north of Uxbridge.

Urban Sketchers

I took my 40 year old Humber College Art School Paint box and turned it into an URBAN SKETCHER'S kit. 

T.C.A.F.

Another great T.C.A.F. this year.  The highlight for me was meeting Rachel Richey and Hope Nicholson and picking up a beautiful hardcover copy of their "Nelvana of the Northern Lights."  I watched the book's gestation with great interest and am so pleased it exceeded all of my expectations.  An amazing feat of scholarship, computer skills and good taste.

Missing Kalie

My friend Shelly Burke sent my these plein air photos from a 2009 excursion in Uxbridge. A special day as it was the first time I felt I had a handle on outdoor painting after numerous years of struggling with it. It was also the day her puppy Kallie and I fell in love. Kallie was my shadow every time we went out thereafter.

Sorry, Mum

When she was alive my sweet mum was always asking me to paint her some flowers. To my eternal regret, I was a "hip and edgy" artist and never did so. Since her passing I have painted dozens of florals and every one is for her.
If you're an artist and your mother is alive, go paint her some damn flowers! (

E.A.G. Juried Show.

Yesterday I visited the Etobicoke Art Group's 50th Juried art show.  It's a diverse and interesting selection of work well worth visiting.

The Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 the West Mall until Friday, May 23.