The Opening

There is no doubt about it that art is a strange profession. Although I
try to give you a step by step feeling from time to time in
this blog, art is not a linear process. But the art life is not only not
linear, but full of surprises and delights. Despite my sense of humour,
and love of people, I am shy in some circumstances. Let's face it,
I paint at home. I have tried plein air with my friend Flora, and
I loved the experience, but couldn't produce a painting that way. I
need a figure for the figure part, and either the room or photo
reference for the rest. I usually take my own reference shots and
did for the paintings hanging in the opening tonight. So I paint alone
except for the model in my studio, following an idea hatched in my
mind, and then pack the results up in plastic bags, drive them across
town, and submit them to a show with no idea whether they worked

or not.

Poem by the Don
24" x 48"
&
The Illusive Don
12" x 48"
Diptych
For Sale

To my great relief when I arrived at the DVAC opening tonight, I
felt happy about where my paintings were hung, and that they
looked all right. So I was completely surprised when I won an
Honourable Mention for the East York category -- yep my idealized,
Don River paintings won an award. That was such
a surprise. I had missed the main prize giving and was rushed
up with my coat still on to accept the certificate. How sweet. Thanks
judges and the Don Valley Art Club and the Don River, my inspiration,
and to my fantastic model.

About the images One is 2' wide x 4' high. The other is 1' wide x
4' high. They were painted clamped together as one unit, and
then separated at the end to make sure they worked alone too.

Have a rewarding night.

Have a great show Norene

My friend Norene in Pugwash and her friends are having a show in Halifax
this weekend, if you're in town check it out.

Opening Reception: Sunday, May 4, 2008, 2–4 pm
Exhibition: April 29 - May 25, 2008

Craig Gallery at Alderney Landing
2 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth, NS
(next to the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Building)
902-461-4698
www.alderneylanding.com

Gallery Hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday-Friday: 12 noon - 5:30 pm
Saturday: 9 am-5 pm
Sunday: 11 am-4 pm

Featuring: Shannon Bell, Norene Smiley, and Diane Wile-Brumm

Norene is a fabulous artist I met last summer when I visited
her cafe´looking for the former owner, a friend of my boss at
Seneca, John Struthers. I haven't met John's friends yet, but I
immediately took to Norene and Greg, the current owners.
Last fall Norene, who is also a writer and editor (it makes sense that
we connected) visited Toronto, and for a change we made dinner for her.
In the summer we ate at her café as often as was humanly and fiscally
possible. The image tonight is a snippet of one of the paintings from
her blog.

One of the great things about the internet is the way it fosters
connections. I hope Norene doesn't mind me advertising for her
show and featuring her image. I have been seriously trying to
figure out how to get there for Sunday, but I have an opening
myself tomorrow night at Todmorden Mills for the Don Valley
Art Club Spring Show, and I think I'd be too tired if I flew to
Halifax Saturday and flew home Sunday night after Norene's
opening. But you should definitely check it out.

If you're closer to Toronto than Halifax you're welcome to
come to the DVAC opening at 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Todmorden Mills
is just off the Bayview expressway, on Pottery Road, just before
it climbs the hill. But I say ...

Have a flying to Halifax day!