My Sistine Chapel...or is it?

When I receive requests for cards or prints, I am frequently asked for "Looking Towards Bowen" (as seen above). This work represents a turning point for me as an artist. I had been painting landscapes happily and came across these Arbutus trees (aka Madronas for all you Americans) with a backdrop of Bowen Island, BC. As I have mentioned previously, I am drawn to trees- in particular those who shed bark like skin (I love the Birch tree!) and reveal an undertone of different colors. So began the creation of "Bowen". It is my favorite work and I am happy to say the original not only sold but has remained in my family. I can see it anytime I want (by travelling 3000 miles of course) and I love that. When I get requests for commissions, I am often asked to replicate the scene from "Bowen" in some way. There really is only one "Bowen" but I do enjoy depicting that landscape in other scenes. I do love this piece so- it represents where I've come from and definitely has catapulted me to new levels.

Two newer works

My website is out of date. I know it. I'm a technological idiot. Hence, I began this blog so I could ramble on and entertain you with my crazy art life. Someone asked me the other day to post two newer works on this blog so here they are...

The first work is "The Monolith"...my largest piece to date and a tribute to my homeland...I saw this tree in a forest in North Vancouver, BC, whilst on a hike and I had to translate it. It was charred and forgotten and broken...I tried to give it new life with this painting.

The second work is "Limbs Skyward". This is a piece that I feel expressed color so beautifully. I love the way the tree stretches to the sky. Currently, it is hanging in my living room with an electric blue boa around it (courtesy of my friend Ready- who said "It's the only way to frame this piece" and I went for it). I feel so happy when I look at it. I love madrona/arbutus trees! There's something beautiful about the way they shed their bark...a sense of renewal and rebirth or something.

Also in the works...

My friend Sherry and I created a rendition of Munch's "The Scream" as a contribution to a friend's art project for Burning Man. While neither Sherry or I are heading to the playa this year, we were delighted to create an element of our friend's project, titled "American Scream". The theme for Burning Man this year is "American Dream" so we took the original "Scream" and morphed it using only red, white and blue and of course, adding the flag. It was a lot of fun to put together. I did the sky and most of the back drop while Sherry did the Man, the lamp posts and perspective. I am really going to miss Black Rock City this year. In the past two weeks, I have really felt the loss.

I'm a little behind on posts but here's the latest...

I've been working for most of the summer on a piece of artwork to give as a present to a friend for her wedding. Two years ago she gave me these great old Craftsmen windows from a remodel in North Seattle. I never thought I would paint on glass but lo and behold, I did! The work was challenging to say the least- I had to literally paint the scene backwards. Layers and layers of paint. Lots of time. But they're beautiful and proved to be an excellent opportunity for me to stretch my artistic muscles. I hope to do more work on glass- this piece looks especially amazing when back lit. I had a little help from my friend on the lettering of the barn (where the couple if getting married) and the bumblebee. It was hard to let them go. I had a little moment but overall, it was an incredible experience.