Whew... tough one today. Half way through my new painting and it is a hard one that is for sure. I am working a totally different way now. Cutting small pieces and putting them together. Seeing the image come and go. Back and forth. Trying to fight my way out of the painting. A lot of fun but what a mental workout.

Painting day today. I have been thinking about my paintings so much these past few days. Getting ready to attack. Mentally preparing for the next painting. It is funny how it is some days. It is like getting ready for a marathon. Seeing as much as you can before the race begins. Thinking what will happen and how you will react. Seeing the whole finished thing before you even begin. And then once you start to paint it all goes away. And every idea you had, every feeling you had does not matter. You are painting and the painting will tell you what to do.

I had a chance to take in the Harry and Roy Kiyooka show at the Herringer Kiss Gallery today and was blown away by it. It was a real pleasure to see such an in depth well put together show of these two talented artists work. One of the best shows I have seen in quite some time. Spanning from the 1950's to the 1960's it showed the dedication and discipline that these two brothers had. Some very nice surprises. Four portraits on canvas unframed were absolutely beautiful. It was a very strong show and hung really well as to see the different styles of work without one period overwhelming the other. I would highly recommend taking it in and seeing some of Canada's best. The longer I stayed the more I saw, which is always a good sign. And it made me want to paint. Harry's small painting Anticol Corrado, Italia Anniene River Valley c. 1961 was a personal favorite. Congratulations to Deborah for putting together such an ambitious show.

Having a wonderful birthday. Feeling so loved and cared for by my family.

Drawing in Maui

In less then a week my beautiful wife and I head to Maui for our two week honeymoon. We have everything in order and are eagerly awaiting the day we leave. One thing I have always done is draw when I am away. I actually draw every day but when I am away I don't always have everything at my fingertips so I have to plan. What paper to bring, what pens, pencils, pastels etc to take with me. Where this becomes a bit of an issue for me is in planning of what paper and pens to bring I have to think about what type of drawings I am going to be making. And with that I usually pack as much art materials as I do clothing. Because nothing is worse then being somewhere and thinking omg I wish I had brought my thick led pencil, knowing it is sitting in a bin at home far, far away. I am never and have never been the type of painter who plans his work out from beginning to end. I have tried that and after about ten minutes I change the work with a reaction or something that sounded good in my head does not work out on paper. I usually try for days and days to find my drawing mood before a trip. Buying new paper and pens. I then start drawing with the new media to only find out that it is not what I am wanting to do. So I feel the pressure. Not of travelling or of forgetting that piece of clothing or thinking about things that could go wrong with the accommodations or rental car. Instead I am sitting here worrying about the drawings I will make. I am sure most people never would experience such a thing. But then again I am not most people.


I took a break just now and opened up a new sketch book that I had started last week. Within thirty seconds I found my drawing. I now feel like a weight has been lifted. I can see... not what I will draw but how I will go about it. It always has to feel right. I can not just make. I never will just make. I am not that kind of painter. So now I can go and enjoy a wonderful two weeks with the most beautiful woman in the world and my sketch book by my side.

Detail of new painting