Recent work will be included in the Toronto Calls show at Canadian Fine Arts.

Opening reception is Thursday December 6, 6-8 pm.

I hope to see some readers there!

Plein air oils.

 The Princes Gates, 14x11, oil on panel

 Jean Horn sculpture, 11x14, oil on panel

 Windmill, 11x14, oil on panel

After the fair, 11x14, oil on panel

Pochade box sketches

A small pochade box is ideal for travelling, or just sketching around the city when a full easel setup is inconvenient. These are a few recent sketches, all 6x7, done with a hand-held paintbox.

Hurricane Sandy passing overhead, oil on panel, 6x7

Canadian National Exhibition, oil on panel, 6x7

 Red House through drenching rain, oil on panel, 7x6

Between Houses, oil on panel, 7x6

Late summer plein air paintings

 U-Pick        oil on panel, 14x11

North           oil on panel, 14x11

Recent plein air work

A recent demo, 10x12

10x12, oil on panel

 

Below is Cottingham school, made famous by the late Christiane Pflug. A gentleman approached while I was working. Turned out to be Christiane's husband, still living in the same house across from the school.

Cottingham School, 11x14, oil on panel

Pools, 10x12, oil on panel

A few from the fair

I managed to get a few days of painting while the carnies were setting up the Canadian National Exhibition rides.

 

Swans                                       oil on panel, 11x14

 

'Hillbilly Village'                      oil on panel, 10x12

 

Tea Cups                                  oil on panel, 10x12

Skyline

A plein air painting of Toronto's waterfront.

Bird                                         11x14, oil on panel

Planetarium

McLaughlin Planetarium

Service Entrance, 14x11, oil on panel

Frank Gehry's addition to the Art Gallery Of Ontario

...from the back side.
I was quickly overrun by tai chi enthusiasts, many of whom were disappointed that I neglected to include them in the painting.

 12"x10", oil on panel

Massey Hall

Toronto's Massey Hall was built in 1894, and has hosted the likes of Maria Callas, Pavarotti, Winston Churchill, Thelonius Monk, Neil Young, and the Dalai Lama. It is still a vital venue today, now dwarfed by buildings of much younger vintage.
Below is a painting of the Hall's 'business end'.

Massey Hall     12"x10", oil on panel

Spring plein air work

 Trailer, 11"x14", oil on panel

 Jade, 11"x14", oil on panel

Boat, 10"x8", oil on panel

Planetarium

The now disused McLaughlin Planetarium. 10"x12", oil on panel

March sunlight

March Sun, 10"x12", oil on panel

I needed a proper studio easel. My wallet disagreed. We compromised by using scrap wood from around the garage, with wallet pitching in $40 for casters and other hardware.

Hang in there, winter.

Drive In, 11x14, oil on panel

Trackside, 8x10, oil on panel

Lovely winter weather. Finally.

Steel VI oil on panel, 11"x14"

To all the security guards...

As an urban plein air painter I have frequent encounters with the security sector. Two days ago I was turfed from a prime spot by an older gentleman of authority. Unlike my earlier days, I don't argue (much, anyway), and move on if I must. There is no point challenging them, cajoling with them, they're just doing their job, so why make them miserable? They're really in no position to cut you slack. In the fall I was painting in Windsor and had my mind set on a location along the Detroit River, a locale that produced successful work in the past. My 'secret spot' was at the end of a long deserted gravel road. Not another soul in sight, right? Nope. A woman jumps out of a van as I'm unloading the gear and tells me to pack up and move on, this area was no longer accessible to the public. After my initial shock and disappointment faded, I was disturbed by how vulnerable this woman was out here, miles away from anyone and alone. The last thing I was going to do was give her a hard time.
So, just an opportunity to give props to those often-maligned security workers.

Steel V 11"x14"