New works

New media is so confusing!  Even after taking a class in social media for artists, I am never certain what I should be posting on Facebook, my website or my blog. One thing I do know for sure is that my blog is the easiest and fastest way to get a visual message out. So today, I am showing you the proud products of my last month in the studio.

I am delighted to have been selected for a Modern Painting show at the Agnes Bugera Gallery in Edmonton. Although I have not been to Edmonton for many years, it sounds like an incredible art city and I am hoping to go soon and check out the gorgeous Art Gallery of Alberta.

Thanks to the magic of technology, Agnes was able to go to my website and choose a painting that she liked which I then sent to her, and I painted some more in the same Transparency series.  She has already had some interest in that work, so I have my fingers crossed for the rest of the show.

Here are the new paintings for the show:

"arc"

This painting is one of my favourites, there is a flow in the composition and the full spectrum of colours is aesthetically appealing to me right now.  My photographer, Ted Clarke, told me it was the most difficult to photograph due to the varying brushstrokes on the golden stripes. As if I didn't already give him enough headaches with resin, glitter and neon colour!

 "continental drift"

Two paintings in this series resisted having a top and bottom, and I kept twirling them to find the right balance.  Square paintings can be hung in different directions and still look amazing. Why not try hanging a painting upside down, I'm sure you'll notice something new and different?  I like it when people change up my paintings, that's why I sign them all on the side.

"touch"

The shapes on this painting reminded me of the hand of man reaching for the hand of God in Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam".  You may be wondering if modesty runs in my family as I compare myself to one of the greatest artists of all time. I think the actual comparison is more like an inkblot (my painting) versus the actual object, I may see the similarity but it's nothing like the real thing.

"rotation"

Some paintings come together with ease. I am completely content with the composition here, and the floating targets.  Much of it was dictated by the collage scrap from another painting and its unusual shape. Still I notice that sweat and effort don't necessarily make a better painting in the end.

"stalagamites & stalactites"

I think it's wrong for abstract works to be untitled, you need to give a hint of where your mind was at as you painted. Still having said that, I have named a fair number of paintings just before they are shipped or hung.  Sometimes you just squint and figure out what you're seeing, as I did in this case. I don't think the title does it justice though, and I'm willing to take other suggestions.

"sunburst"

This painting is full of energy and movement. It was the last painting in the series that I completed, which can be a weak sister, but in this case was not at all. To prevent having to show paintings that I am not happy with, I tend to do two or three extra paintings, which are sometimes not finished for months.

"thrush song"

 When I am looking for text or inspiration, I often turn to my favourite poem, "The Wasteland" by T.S.Eliot. The poem is full of beautiful phrases which echo in my head.  In this case, I wanted a watery text for this painting which spoke to me of floating, tiny marine animals and watery depths.  I found the watery phrase, "drip, drip, drip" which was the song of the Quebec Thrush according to my footnotes.  Water + Canada + Eliot = the perfect text for my painting.




What do you think of the new works?