"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.