A new year and once again I am in the studio working hard.  So many ideas.  Last year was an amazing year for me.  My work is getting a lot of attention.  Which after so many years of hard work feels pretty good!

Never have I been so busy in the studio. My show is up in Vancouver at the Jennifer Kostuik Gallery and I am finishing the last of three commissions. The last one is for Nordstrom Toronto. I am also working so hard to build a body of work for California. It is an exciting time.

Working very hard. I have been painting on two 42x42 paintings. It weighs heavily on me. The price of painting. I saw a quote by Degas the other day that made me smile.  "Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do."

This week after a lot preparation I started to paint.  With this body of work more than any before I have to prepare panels for weeks. It is a continuous cycle. In order to achieve that which is in my mind I have to get many things in place. It becomes part of a routine. I have always painted with routine surrounding me. Right down to my morning coffee or afternoon run.  I think because my work is not routine I like to set up as many things in a routine so I can have a structure as a jumping off point. If I had to lot of chaos in my life it would be a lot harder for me to step outside of a comfort zone in my work. This system allows me to go into that area of exploration and removes predictably and repetition.

The one thing I am enjoying right now is hitting my stride. I can compare my work to running. I do both run and paint. There is a point in running where it is uncomfortable and every step makes you wish you had not run today. And then something happens and your speed picks up and you find yourself in a rhythm. Before you know it you have hit a stride like never before and everything is working for you not against you. Your breathing becomes a cadence. You trust each step. Each reaction to the path ahead.  Knowing where you are and seeing a road in front of you. Building upon every run you have ever taken on. That is painting. That is me.

Opportunity knocked! And I answered the door!!

Travelling tomorrow to Los Angeles for a few days. I always take time to pack what art I am going to work on. It is as important as what clothes I am going to wear. I have spent a few days preparing papers and making sure I have enough drawing material. I must work. The need to make art is too great.. I am always interested in what a new location will bring to my work and how my work will affect the new location.