Friday afternoon of the first week of grade 1, the teacher treated the class to an art activity…wow…nothing has changed after all these years. The instructions were to draw a place we visited over the summer so I drew my uncle's farm.
Crayon on paper. Image size: 8 in. x 10 in.
The truce remained as long as either side was content.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 7 in. x 9 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
Perhaps it was caused by a punch from a person believing they are a demigod. The danger is not the puncher but those who are impressed. Violence craves an audience.
Oil on board. Image size: 10 in. x 20 in.
May be it's the colour or more so the curves. The invitation to get up close and personal is there. Enjoy.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
Moisture was a blessing. The first version was a showcase of precise blended shapes and intricate detail. Then came the rain. Despite the repeated reworking, time ran out resulting in the final set being rudimentary in comparison. The film was about the relationship between two deaf characters communicating in silence. The rough sketch style proved to be best suited for the story hence the blessing.
Side walk chalk on brick/pavement. These murals were prop illustrations for the short film
"Chalk Dust" by
PICOSPHERE PRODUCTIONS INC.
Watch Chalk Dust on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/117632176?ref=em-share
They came from faraway, took ownership, and in virtue of themselves, scraped away the land to build. They name neighbourhoods in tribute of where they came. Entitlement blinds them from acknowledging the history that lies underneath. Canada. Ontario. Toronto. These three words have Indigenous roots.
And to that community, this piece was done in the spirit of supporting their right for reconciliation.
Mixed media on board. Image size: 40 in. x 40 in.
I had no idea for a concept. The image was already expressed on the wall and everyone else could see it except me. A little girl in a yellow T-shirt would come by. "Painta! Painta!" she exclaimed while dipping a small brush into a can of red eager to apply it to the image. Beyond the wall lived hardship, poverty, and exploitation and here we were engrossed in a magical world of imagination. The little girl understood the meaning and its purpose, I didn't, at the time. Hope.
Acrylic house paint on concrete. Image size: 8 ft. x 50 ft. Congregación Hijas de Maria Parroquia Santa Cruz/La Higuera, El Siebo Dominican Republic
Encompassed within a mystic haze, the Blameless One stood upon the altar, arms out proclaiming its greatness. Masses of the insecure reverently gathered in hopes of receiving forgiveness. In silent unison, they bowed in disgrace readily accepting the accusations as privileged wisdom. At that moment, a clatter of voices broke the silence of the mist as a flock of crows polluted the sky with black expansive wings. "You cry the tears of a clever performance. Enough!" they screamed.
Graphite/coloured pencils on art board. Image size: 22 in. x 28 in.
Some say the earth is not warming while some say the earth is. So, let us all look towards the disciplines of politics, religion, science, and finance for the answer.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.
The insecurity of a university undergrad buying into the populist opinion that talent is about painting as realistic as a photograph is apparent. Resource picture is courtesy of a 70's HOT ROD magazine issue. The same insecurity led to its destruction so prosecution for copyright infringement is unnecessary.
Oil on canvas. Image size: 20 in. x 20 in.
Private collection: City of Winnipeg landfill site. (decaying)
Colonial Machinehead was an embryo that grew, all the time remaining within the limitations of the shell until death. Its eyes spoke not of wisdom but of regret.
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board. Image size: 10 in. x 14 in.
A group of friends wait to hear your story but you convince yourself that you are just too busy at the moment. The excuse becomes a habit so they eventually go elsewhere. It's your loss but you're too busy to care anyway.
Oil on board. Image size: 20 in. x 30 in.
Private collection: Montreal, Canada
At a prestigious art-in-the-park event sponsored by the City, an individual commented loudly "I wouldn't pay $50 bucks for that flee market shit." If a Picasso was displayed at a Walmart, that … person… would mostly likely say the same thing. So, congratulations asshole, you just bought the painting with your taxes.
Oil on board. Image size: 20 in. x 40 in.
Permanent collection: City of Vaughan, Canada
The sun dropped below the horizon. Hours later, again as always, the sun rose above the horizon. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, she disappeared into the Red but the River refused to be an accomplice. In memory of the missing or murdered women mostly of whom are indigenous. Inspired by the documentary film, HIGHWAY OF TEARS.
Graphite on art board. Image size: 22 in. x 28 in.
To prepare the still-life, a surgical knife was used to cut out the breasts from the dolls. “Holy shit!”. This actually happened. The dolls were no longer toys, they have become … her. The process was a daily reminder that she could have died.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
This piece was featured in the documentary film "Double" by
PICOSPHERE PRODUCTIONS INC.
The child was born as a blank page void of opinions. There are no expressions of hurt, interpretations of hypocrisy or confused misunderstandings. Perhaps this is the perfect definition of innocence, not naive, but one with an untarnished attitude. The answers to the questions what is good, what is truth, what is happiness will soon be forced upon the child by those who claim to know what's best based own their narcissistic biases, opinions, and prejudices.
Pillowchild screams.
Graphite on art board. Image size: 18 in. x 18 in.
It took over a year to paint. It took 5 minutes with a jig saw to cut. The space is the image.
Oil on board. Image size: 48 in. x 48 in.
Genocide. Homicide. Suicide. The cause is known. Nobody is immune. Be a cure.
Graphite/coloured pencil/acrylic on art board.
Image size: 28 in. x 38 in.
This a post graduate self portrait, early 20's, with photorealism influences still evident in the technique.
Oil on board. Image Size: 36 in. x 48 in.
She was popular and knew it. She was pretty and knew it. After a while nobody paid attention. But that didn't matter because she didn't know it.
Graphite on paper. Image Size: 12 in. x 12 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
This is another quintessential self portrait of the artist, mid 30's, with a more personalized super-realism technique being developed.
Oil on board. Image size: 18 in x 24 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
Buried under a million years of tectonic pressure, the refuge from our current planned obsolescence may become a valuable resource.
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board. Image size: 12 in. x 36 in.
Time has passed. No more entrenchments, it happens above the pavement. There's no more one gun against another gun, it's one gun against many without.
Oil on board. Image size: 22 in. x 48 in.
"We care about you but business is business". With a handshake and smile they justify their integrity. The next generation proudly continues the tradition. "Our kind made this country, we worked hard".
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board.
Image size: 10 in. x 14 in.
It feels safe now being protected by the impenetrable barrier. In that small space you can smell your own breath, your own body, as the contained air heats up. You close your eyes in hopes of hiding further from the fear. Meanwhile, the blanket morphs itself into something else.
Graphite on art board. Image size 30 in. x 30 in.
Once upon a time, a clever real-estate developer had an idea. They built a wall around a select group of shacks and made a "shit ton" of money. At the same time, a government built a wall believing it would prevent cultural contamination. The disease of stagnation spread as the people spent years wondering about the same things. After being emotionally hurt many times over, a child imagined a wall. Upon their deathbed, now as an elder, the child realized they had created a container full of anger.
Oil on board. Image size: 24 in. x 48 in.
By removing the design from its application, the degree of clarity in communicating or evoking a reaction becomes more apparent. The beauty is in the economy of shape, line, and colour on their own.
An object or something suddenly appears in the distance causing ripples in the water. Hope rises then drops once the actual cause is identified. Quietly and reverently, everyone is talking about it using words like sad and tragedy.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 4 in. x 6 in.
Some wait for something while others wait for someone. Some times the wait is long…very long.
Graphite on paper. Image size: 12 in. x 30 in.
Private collection: Winnipeg, Canada
Walking towards a reflection reminds you from where you came. If what lies ahead is the same as what was left behind …then … perhaps you should stop and reflect.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 36 in.
Private collection: Toronto, Canada
You see but do not visually comprehend or even suspect any subliminal messaging hidden within the juxtaposed textural detail.
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board. Image size: 18 in. x 36 in
Time has passed. No more entrenchments, it happens in the open, above the pavement. There's no more one gun against another gun, it's one gun against many without. If fact, a gun is not necessary, we have prejudice.
Oil on board. Image size: 22 in. x 48 in.
The wind can push the potential of the greatest explorers beyond the limitations of their imaginations then unceremoniously crush the same against the hardest of rocks. It can carry the memory of a moment wrapped in magic or hold the voice of a narcissistic deceit. The trick is to forgive yourself, let go, and fly in search of the genuine.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 36 in.
Proceeds from the sale of this piece go to
"gofundme.ca saras-service-dog".
A toad reached out with absolute trust to grab onto a hand only to be dropped back again and again.The toad was always able to get out on his own accord so in time, it did. From a distance it witnessed the hand still returning. The question to this dilemma is not why the toad initially chose to grab on but why the hand continued to come back.
Graphite/coloured pencil on art board. Image size: 20 in. x 20 in.
Behind the closed curtain, the blue light radiated magic. Within this place of witches, stood an angel. “Take hold of my hand.” The dance lasted a second but felt endless.
Oil on board. Image size: 36 in. x 48 in.