SHOWTIME

I'd like to invite you to the opening of my 2010 Red Rooster Show this Sunday. Forty of my paintings will be hung and there will be food, wine and live music performed by Joanna. Two other artists, Irene Gray and Grace Shaw, are showing as well so there is great variety in the artwork.
Its always a big effort to prepare for an exhibition and that's why I've been a bit negligent with my blog postings. I hope to see you there and please forward this link to any of your friends who may be interested.
Red Rooster Winery is at 891 Naramata Road a bit north of Penticton. Opening time is Sunday, Nov 7, 1 to 4.

Intuitive or Calculated Art

The Wedding
Surfacing

Here's a couple of paintings that have been executed with two very different processes. To begin a piece I need to find a "point of departure". In order to start the journey I have to get off the dock and onto the boat somehow. There are many ways to begin. Here's two.
In the painting of the old car with the bridesmaids reflected in the bodywork I had a definite story I wanted to tell. I began with several sketches and had the whole composition sorted before picking up a brush. I photographed my nephews bridal party and a neighbor's Model A Ford. I was in the middle of a series of car paintings and this one fit right in.
The other painting "Surfacing" began with an general image in my mind that had a very strong, personal meaning. I just started without knowing where I was going and the thing painted itself. Because of how this idea came about I think it can be interpreted subjectively and may mean different things to various viewers. If it speaks to you let me know; I'd be very interested.

Wooden Boats and Artistic Research

Hudsons Hope to Sea adventurer

For the sake of my art and for a healthy balance to my world view occasionally I need to strap a kayak on the car and head out of man's constructs into God's organisms. Always more enjoyable in the company of friends and especially with at least one kayak virgin. Four of us spent a few days on the north end of Kootenay Lake this week where we experienced pounding rain, lovely warm sunshine, adventurous river crossings (one of us discovered the excitement of recrossing a river after a rainstorm raised its levels 8"in thirty minutes), and the comradery born in shared adventure.
We climbed the Fry Creek Trail beside spectacular cascading waterfalls and strolled across acres of soft moss covered forest. With no time to paint in the midst of living the adventure I consciously absorbed as much as possible and I trust my future work will be enhanced by this time in nature.
There is something about wooden boats (or any hand made device) that seems to attract people and break through their resistance to connecting with strangers. Whenever I have my kayaks in populated spaces I meet interesting people with great stories. This trip was not an exception.
A fellow approached us in Nelson when we stopped for lunch on Baker Street. He had just returned from a wilderness kayak trip on his own for 54 days paddling from Hudson Hope to the ocean. Check your map to get a sense of the scale of that journey. There are plenty of adventures for us twenty first century humans if we step out of our tethers with eyes wide open.
Okay, I better get back to work now and hopefully my next entry will display fruit from my effort.










file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Hibberd/Desktop/Shortcut%20to%202010,%2009,%2027%20Kayak%20Kaslo%20064.lnk

Works in Progress

After spending a good part of a day chasing the sun around Willow River I had to be content with some photos I was able to shoot while the clouds co-operated. The leaves are starting to show fall colouring now and the area around Prince George is pretty stunning this time of year. I'll include a few below that may provide a foundation for some work.
The Creators design in nature is mind blowing. The green chloroplast plant cell takes energy from sunlight and turns carbon dioxide into oxygen in photosynthesis; the energy transfer makes sugars and carbohydrates that provide food for our bodies and, over time, fossil fuel for our Hondas. Then when the chloroplast cells die, the leaves turn from green into the blazing colours of autumn. A bit humbling when all I can do is occasionally arrange a few bits of paint to resemble a scene.
This week I'm working on finishing off a few local landscapes. My photography is pathetic (sorry) but the images will give you a bit of an idea. Check a few blog posts back and you'll notice how one of these paintings is evolving. My buddy Mike shoots the final images when the paintings are done and his skill makes them shine. You'll be able to see any of these at next months show at the Red Rooster Winery.

Willow River Work in Progress
Willow River
Willow River
Peachland Overview
Penticton
Balsam Flowers

New Work at Tumbleweed Gallery

I will be up north next week so thought I'd post a bit early before leaving. New work is framed and being displayed at the Tumbleweed Gallery in Penticton. I do show works in progress on this blog but the paintings really need to be seen to be appreciated. There are nine pieces of mine as well as a great variety of work by other artists. Drop in Tues. to Sat. and Prema and her staff will be happy to show you whats new.

Tumbleweed Gallery is located in the 200 block of Main St. Penticton, across from Starbucks. You can barely make out my painting, "Beach Boys" in the center of the window.
Here are five of my recent oils alongside Kate Kimberly's watercolours.

I hope to do at least one days painting up north so I'll be sure to post whatever comes out of that next time.

I have a big show coming up in November. I will give you more info as the time draws near.

Talking about the self portrait.

I had the privilege to lead a session at the FCA-SOS chapter this weekend. The topic was "The Self Portrait". I demonstrated one process to begin such a painting and we had a fairly lively dialogue concerning motivation and things to consider before embarking on the project.
We looked at some examples from history (I'll share a few below) which is very helpful to any artist as she considers the many decisions that need to be made in the creation of a self-portrait. We are not trying to paint a representation of surface anatomy but rather, digging deeper, taking advantage of line, value, colour, edges, symbolism and distortion to portray something important and unique in the artist.
The self portrait, like any work of art we make, should speak visually to the viewer nullifying written or spoken text. We should understand the artist a little bit more when we take in such a personal work.

Norman Rockwell


Henri Matisse


Lucien Freud


Carl Larsson


Frida Kahlo


Chuck Close


Chuck Close (now)

Painting a Memory

Our dear friends Doug and Nora are following their dream and moving away from us after fifteen years. A group commissioned me to create a memento for them. Since they had invested so much of themselves into their cherry and apple farm and would have many fond memories of raising their seven children there I thought that the house and the surrounding orchard would be a great subject.
The first trick was to paint the scene from life without being discovered. I was granted permission by the neighbours to squirrel away in their orchard. My cover was nearly blown at one point but although my white umbrella caught their attention, Doug and Nora couldn't make out who or what I was.
Startng early in the morning I tried to catch the warm rising sun which cast a rich yellow hue over the scene and was beautifully intensified by the wild fire smoke. The up-reaching cherry branches at left indicate a fulfilled harvest and the apple trees on right are starting to show a promising crop ahead. Good neighbour Stan was able to photograph Doug in his beekeepers regalia and e-mail the image to me so I could include another personal element into the painting. I also included the airforce flag which is an important symbol from Doug's previous career.
Everyone seemed pleased with the resulting painting. (whew!)


Last week found me on a ridge high above Okanagan Lake. Spectacular setting. Bone rattling drive to get there though. Suzuki engineers have managed to design the perfect wheelbase/spring rate ratio that achieves maximum spasticity on washboard roads. Stay tuned for a suspension upgrade. Just click on the image a couple on times to get a bigger view.

A Sister's Song

Well, as promised, here is the result of my three day burn to create this piece for a submission to an upcoming show. My two little friends, Sara and Amy were chatting and eating raspberries. I tried to catch a moment as Sara sang a little song while Amy looked on with an older sister's affectionate amusement.
This is a fairly large painting, 36X30", and is a good example how a piece can lead you along taking you somewhere unexpected. I approached this several ways and seemed to founder, scraping down and starting again. At one point the direction of the painting started to lean towards blue with the sky reflecting off the shaded skin tones. Through it all I wanted to stay high key to represent the joy and hope of the moment. Did I succeed? You tell me.

Winery Art Auction

On saturday, Aug. 28th the Red Rooster Winery will present the 8th annual Bohemian Festival of the Arts. A number of artworks will be auctioned off with proceeds going to several fitness/arts programs serving financially challenged youth. My painting, "Early Porsche" is being offered. Its an oil on canvas, about 48X52" and is a compilation of a few different cars. I always loved the organic lines of the 356 models. The background was intuitive; I wanted a counterpoint to the metallic smooth lines of the old car. You'd have to see this in person to enjoy the scale of it. So if you think it might enhance your home or garage go bid on it. info at www.redroosterwinery.com under special events.

This is a large painting of my friends Harley Davidson. Here's my old 32 Ford street rod I called this "Two Little Birds", My nephews lovely little daughter and a neighbour's'56 T-BirdI have other automotive art I'll post some other time. Till next week.

Allendale Road

Here's my trusty Samarai on location south of Penticton at a popular painting site. It's an irresistable scene overlooking the vineyards and Vaseaux Lake.

My little truck gets me into any location I want; I don't often plant myself on pavement like here but this is an exceptional view. I think the finished piece turned out okay. You can enlarge the work station picture to see the painting at it's half way stage.

Any paintings I show here are available for purchase.

I'm presently consumed with a large studio piece that I need to complete in a three day stretch-getting it ready to enter into a juried show thursday. I'll post a picture of it next week

Letters of Vincent

I'm reading "The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh", written to the painter's brother Theo which spanned his entire adult life. Generally considered to be a mad genius his personal letters reveal an empathetic, thoughtful and articulate man, who was gracious right up until his tragic suicide.

Vincent's early years spent serving the poor miners in the Borinage as an evangelist (this word has been corrupted by all contemporary 'non-believers and men-stealers talking in the name of religion' - Dylan.) describe a humble man who truly lived a life of christian charity. He gave his money and clothes to his poor neighbors and shared their life as an equal.

Living in continual poverty Vincent never wavered from his search for truth and beauty through his art. His letters express his dream to bring joy to common people with his work and will inspire any reader. A recommended read.

Vincent made his first sale with "The Red Vineyard" for 400 francs in the year of his death, 1890.

His "Portrait of Dr Gachet" recently sold for $139,000,000.

I've included a third painting by an unknown and possibly mad painter.