Show and Sale

This spring I was able to launch two gallery shows in the area. The first was with Hri Neil at Carbon in Picton, with 'Step and Repeat' on display (see the post below for the full story).

I'm proud to have had my first sold out show, the painting moved quickly and was sold shortly after the opening. I know the buyers personally and they are thrilled to have it in their home, as a focal point in the dining room.

At this point in my career, I'm able to pick and choose assignments and who I work with. I'm making a point of having free time for purely creative pursuits and getting work ready for framing, gallery shows and selling. It's a joy to work with paint, wood, paper and brushes again, after years of creating art digitally.

Alice Mennacher at Blizzmax Gallery invited me to gather work together from my career as a working artist, so I chose one piece from each of the past 33 years. I decided to frame all of the pieces in the show and made most of the frames in the workshop/studio.

 

Rooster, 2003

Gocco print on vintage paper (found frame) 6" x 9"                                           Sold

Music track: Run Chicken Run - Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

Wired Robot, 2010

Screen print on collage, 15" x 20"                                                                             Sold

Musical track: D U B dub, Tino

If you are interested in seeing available work (unframed), see my online gallery

Step and Repeat

This past year tested our patience, determination and resolve. It was up and down and monotonous, sprinkled with nasty surprises. Looking back, one thing stands out, a painting project I started in July. As an illustrator and educator, I spend too much time in front of a screen. Self-isolation and Covid restrictions raised questions and shifted priorities.

I set up a working studio space at home, including a full woodworking shop. This is now my refuge, a place where I can experiment, build and make art on my own terms. The ablity to get lost in a project is so satisfying, almost zen like, a chance to recharge and refocus.

This painting tested my technical ability, and solving the logistics was challenging. You can follow the process in the pictures below.

I started with a series of isometric studies of vintage Japanese robots. and incorporated 25 of the drawings into the layout. This allowed me to arrange and balance everything in the composition. I printed out a large version, 60 inches by 96 inches, and transfered the lines to two panels.

Blocking in blacks and highlights:

Colours blocked in and panels separated on different easels:

Laying in the details:

Once the panels were finished, I reassembled them and built a floating frame from cherry wood:

 

I started this painting in July and hung the painting in November. So many steps along the way! Nothing like testing your abilities as an artist and seeing hard work pay off. Looking forward to new projects.

The final step was to have the work documented, I went to Christopher Gentile, who did a fantastic job and gave this piece the start treatment! If you are interested in pricing, let me know, I'd be happy to show the work. I have an upcoming show, details to come.