ABOUT THE ARTIST
INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST
Q: For how many years have you been painting?
A: More than 20.
Q: What aspect first attracted your interest? What aspect sustains it?
A: From very early on, I was interested in drawing, particularly in drawing faces. I was obsessed with doing labour-intensive, photo-realist renderings in pencil, and in pen and ink. This gave me a solid foundation in drawing. As I matured as an artist, and as I moved into colour, I became less concerned with mindless, highly detailed rendering and more concerned with strong design and the elimination of detail—a focus that persists to this day.
Q: Why do city painting, and painting ‘people not posing’ appeal to you?
A: On an abstract level, the shapes that come from people in a city environment appeals to what I consider beautiful. Traditional beauty—lakes, barns, etc.—has been so overdone, it’s become cliché.
Q: Why do you believe that ‘light is everything’?
A: To say that dark is everything would be equally valid. Light does not discriminate as it rakes over objects, creating interesting shapes that, in turn, lead to good abstract patterns and an overall, consolidated design.
Q: You began with watercolours but now work mainly in oils—why the shift in medium?
A: I actually began with oils, but I got serious with watercolour. As I mature as an artist, oils are the only option. As much as I love watercolour, I will always consider it a sketch medium.
Q: Which master painters and which contemporary artists have influenced your work?
A: Rembrandt, Degas, Sargent and Homer. Charles Reid, Frank Webb, David Leffel, Richard Schmid and Ken Auster.
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Miniatures, October 2005
Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington
Love of the Land, May 2005
Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington
Oil Painters of America National Exhibition 2004
Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington
Salon International 2004
Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
Plein Air Magazine Publisher's Award
Salon International 2003
Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
American Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition
Salmagundi Club, New York City. 1996 and 2003
Oil Painters of America
Brazier Fine Art, Richmond, Virginia, 2002
Award of Excellence
American Artists Professional League
Salmagundi Club, New York City, 2002
American Artists Fund Award
Salon International 2002
Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio Texas
Allied Artists
New York City, 1996
American Artists Professional League
New York City, 1996
Canadian Watercolour Society
Honourable Mention
1996
Louisiana Watercolour Society
New Orleans, 1997
California Watercolour Society
1997
New England Watercolour Society
Boston, 1997
Pennsylvania Watercolour Society
Philadelphia, 1996
Waterhouse Gallery
Santa Barbara, California, Nov. 2005
Brazier Fine Art Gallery
Richmond, Virginia, May 2005
Galerie Art & Culture
Montreal, Quebec, 2003
McCord Museum
Montreal, Quebec, 2003
(Hosted by Marchant Gallery)
Marchant Gallery
Lancaster, Ontario, 2002, 1997
Dollard-des-Ormeaux Civic Centre, Galérie de la Ville
DDO, Quebec, 1998
International Artist magazine, cover article, The Soul of the City, August/September 2005 issue.
the Artist's magazine, feature article, A Moment in Time, February 2005 issue.
PleinAir Magazine, feature article, Painting Directly and Spontaneously, September 2004 issue.
"Swamp Reflections" #2 is featured in the art instruction book, How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Landscapes (International Artist).
"Chat Room" from the McGill Series is featured in the Dec/Jan '04 issue of International Artist Magazine as a top ten finalist in the "People painting" competition as well as the art instruction book, How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint People and Figures (International Artist).
Splash 8: Watercolour Discoveries (2004)
North Light Books – F&W Publications
Splash 5: The Glory of Colour (1999)
North Light Books – F&W Publications
Splash 4: The Splendor of Light (1997)
North Light Books – F&W Publications
The Artist’s Magazine Art Competition
1999: Finalist, Landscape & Experimental categories
1996 and 1995: Finalist, Landscape category
Parkhurst Exchange Magazine
Article and cover, 2000
The Artist’s Magazine
1999 Calendar – October image
Magazin art
Article featuring nine reproductions, 1998
· Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, Concordia University, 1988
· Visual Arts Center: Oil and Watercolour, 1985
· Fine Arts, John Abbott College, 1982
· Several workshops on painting and life-drawing
Cinar Animation
Background-Design Supervisor, 1996 to 2002
Background Designer, 1991 to 1996
Ciné-Groupe Animation
Layout Designer, 1989 to 1990
Crayon Animation
Prop Designer, Layout Designer and Background Designer, 1988 to 1989
Pedie-Pedia
Animator, Layout Designer and Background Designer, 1987-88
Workshop instructor
1998 to present