Painting Weekend

Celebrated Anne's birthday on Saturday (yay!) which was great. Spent today painting the walls in the new apartment with Anne's help. Must say, its hard work; those rollers are nasty. Some idiot (that would be me) decided to paint simple things, like different colours up against one another ... much harder when on walls. And while whole concept of taping off sections one has decided to paint is understandly necessary (now), it sure takes a whole lot of time.

Ok, I'm exhausted. My hand hurts. Next time I'm bringing smirnoff and snacks ... since we never did get the bedroom walls done, that would be next weekend.

Todays Moment of Despair

I've run out of Oreos.

First layer sketch for new chessboard

Leaking Ceiling

So the apartment two floors above me has burst some sort of pipe in the radiator, and consequently both my bedroom and my bathroom ceilings are leaking all over the apartment. Like a running tap, I might add. It's been a long night, highlighted with the constant sound of dripping water. The buckets are all lined up in little rows in a vain attempt to contain the flow. Fun, fun, fun.

I managed to save the paintings in the bedroom from the actual water. Dampness, however, is rampant in my home today.

Was working on several little things this week, including the backside of my chess blocks. Decided to keep them simple with clean linework, as opposed to the oil detail on the primary side. Now that I have a few days I have more time to work on them and a few other things. Georgie isn't feeling well again so we have been up since 3:10am; don't know what he's gotten into this time. Sigh.

Second Side of Blocks

Week End

Was a really busy week, but I did get the chance to see the Canadian Tenors in an exclusive concert on Wednesday evening. Very exciting! These boys are great. Highly recommended. They even handed out their cds to everyone at the concert and then signed them all later. This is quite classy, and the guys themselves are not only personable but great interacting with their audiences. Just thought I'd pass this along.

Clowning Around Chess Set

Finished my happy little set of chess pieces. They're going to have their own board, which is started on the ease, but for now I figured they'd look best on a quiet board. Would let them shine brighter. While working on these pieces, I couldn't help thinking about the 'Surreal Things' Exhibit I'd just seen, and how the surrealists were influenced by the cirus and theatre. Last year I treated myself to the Cirque du Soliel, and must admit the fantasy is fantastic. I loved it. If I could ever afford it again, I would absolutely go again and again. Of course, problem is I want best seats in the house. Anyway, I can understand the world and the dream. No problem working towards this either.

"Hell Holes" Stone Sentry, Left View, 12x16", Oil on Linen

Spent a wonderful day in the studio with George, just painting. Finished but not finished, you know how it is. I need it to dry for a bit before playing with the sunbeams some more, but the idea is there. Some practical limitations of the media must be knelt too sometimes.

Life or Something Like It

So I'm still not quite finished my little side view of pillar rock, but have an eye to complete tomorrow. Might not get some of the glazing (for lack of a better explanation) to where I want it to be though. Have kept it to a limited palette.

Took a break for a bit and created a new little rook for the latest set. Was doing some reading on the classic game, and the rook was based on the homes for the other player, or safe places of rest. So in keeping with tradition, this little rook is a mock igloo, very classic Canadian. Will play again with some more pieces after the little oil is completed.

Chatted today with a friend who is off to Paris. He was relaying to me that in effect, historic artists carved beautiful works of art in marble for patrons homes. These fabulous works are art were created as the garden gnomes of their generation, and our generation glorifies these in museums. Sometimes I wonder what the future will view my artwork as.

Labour Day Painting

Got 'Def Leppard Greatest Hits' playing in the background and working away on a new oil painting, small one this time. Just wanted to look at the stone sentry from the left side, as we had walked up on it originally. For anyone that claims oil paints are the same as acrylic (as I might have done in past), there really is a difference. Try painting sun beams for arguements sake. Totally different experience.

I guess not better or worse, but definitely different. Hmm. Which is better? Will decide later, when more complete. Am sitting back taking a look for the moment. Was just reminded by a phone call that I'm supposed to spend this afternoon visiting a friend in the hospital. Of course, if I was the one a horse fell on, I'd want visitors in the doom and gloom room too. But I admit that I am loathe to leave my painting just as we're having interesting conversations.

If that makes me a bad person, I guess perhaps there it is. I've separated the colours, compartmentalizing the spaces by ideas, with the sunbeams providing unity to the scene. Tentative plan. Not sure yet if the ideas are moving towards the sunrays or if the light is bringing relief to the ideas already stagnating. Is this place solid, or pliable?

3pm Update: Off to the hospital to see Christine and give her some inspiration. And perhaps meet those male nurses she mentioned. Painting is looking ... looking ... haven't decided yet. I don't think I'm a mood person though. That part is not working in the traditional sense. Then again, the only thing traditional about me is the one the rest of the world let go of a generation ago.

Pillar Rock Sketch/Drawing

Yeah, I know, another sketch/drawing that I think I'm just going to leave the way it is for now. No messin' with it. Another basis for a painting, methinks. Pillar Rock is also in the Hell Holes ravine. Very cool.

Ravine Sketch (20x24"ish)

Have decided to leave this as a simple sketch, and will most likely move on now to a painting. May or may not be this particular scene, but I'm sorta working in a series again all on this "Hell Holes" ravine area outside of Kingston, Ontario. I'll probably play a bit with this one here and there. Hmm.