Have you ever met someone that just radiates warmth?  Not that they're an angel or super duper good all the time, or anything like that.  They don't have to be a perfect person; there's no such thing.  It's more a feeling, maybe.  I'm talking about the kind of person that is so full of loving warmth and kindness that it kind of spills from the inside to the outside like a soft glow - like the sun.   And like the sun, you can't help but be drawn to them.  That's why I call this piece Heart Like The Sun.

These type of folks are rare treasures.  If you're lucky enough to meet one, hang onto them because being in their presence is like a perpetual hug.

Oh, they come in dog form too.... Just look at that face, 100 pounds of pure loving warmth. 
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I guess I've settled into my new home because I'm painting again.

  I carved myself out a little corner in the living room, as you can see.  It works well because I can put some tunes on the TV and I can chat with Misty as she works on the couch, writing her little heart out.  Oh, and yes, Rudy is always close by.

I completed this piece yesterday.  I call it As the Crow Watches the City Lights and as I sit here this morning, sipping my coffee and watching the flurries fall, I got to thinking.  The lone crow, perched on high, and I have a lot in common.

The crow is watching the city lights, off in the distance.  They're beautiful, but it's obvious they're some distance away.  The mood is calm, peaceful.  For them, the city's a great place to visit, to swoop in, grab something to eat and to get out. Sounds a lot like me.  I just left the city for country life and I couldn't be happier.

I like the convenience of the city.  But for me, the city lights are most beautiful from a distance.  You know they're there if you need them, but they're not close enough to blind you.

I do have to say I'm very pleased with this piece.  I especially love the detail and rich texture on the bird and its perch.

Oh, and did I mention my new book?  It's called Crow Spirit and it celebrates a decade of my crow paintings. It's the first of 2 volumes and is available on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNM7W88K

It makes a great gift for the crow lover you love.  :)

Sometimes, there's nothing more comforting than curling up in a soft, warm blanket and just sitting quietly in the cocoon you've created, letting your thoughts wander.   

This painting represents that comfort and what can be gleaned from the silence.  When the noise stops, wisdom (as represented by the crow) whispers in your ear.  You just have to be smart enough to hear it.

 Keep your eyes peeled in the next week or so because a celebration is coming!  A celebration of crows, more specifically, a celebration of my crow paintings.

Did you know I've been painting my signature crows for a little over 10 years?  Crazy, eh?  Those clever little scavengers have given me so much over the years.  And my crows in paint have given lots of joy to collectors around the world.

This project has been in the works a long time and I've been keeping it under wraps, but now I can formally announce the upcoming publication of my newest book.  It celebrates my love of the crow in two volumes with over 100 full-colour photos of my paintings over the past decade, each with a description of  my thoughts, inspiration, etc. on the piece.

I'm so excited, I hope you are too.

Remember the canvas I showed you a few days ago?  My work in progress?

Well, above, at long last is the final result.  Anyone get it right?

I had a great time with this piece and it's very special to me because it expresses how I'm feeling.  

The past few months have been difficult.  More than that, the past 3 years have been difficult.  I was living in a city I didn't like, surrounded by despair , hopelessness and  crime.  The few bright spots, a couple good friends and a great dog, didn't quite fill my soul enough.

A move had to be made, as tough as it was.  And in moving, I found my home.  I'm surrounded by nature, fresh air, kindness and a can-do spirit.  My soul is full.

That's what this painting is about, coming out of the darkness - taking those first few steps when all hope is lost and you don't have the energy to do anything different.  You're defeated, deflated and doomed to languish in the same horror day after day, yet, somehow, someway, you get the strength to take one tiny step.  Maybe it's something deep inside yourself.  Maybe it's more of a push from something outside yourself.  It doesn't matter.

What matters is you took the step toward something different, something positive.  The world begins to open up, to look less bleak.  Your faith in humanity and more importantly, yourself, is restored.  Strength and purpose return.

All that's depicted by the figure, entering the building.  She's taken the step, small in size maybe, but huge in impact.  See how vibrant the colours surrounding her are?  That's life.  That's possibilities and hope.  That's spirit renewed.

Whether it's a new home, a new hobby or actually physically walking into a church, temple or holy place for the first time or first time in a long time, filling and fueling the spirit is essential to finding your way back from the darkness.

I've come out the other side and am so happy!

Looking back can be a fun and emotional journey and sometimes it starts in the most unlikely of places.  In this case, my trip down memory lane began in my wife's purse.

She was cleaning it out, getting rid of receipts, broken bits of puppy treats, old pieces of paper she no longer needed and found a few little treasures - 3 of my old business cards in a side pocket..  She'd forgotten they were there.

As it turns out, each time I got a new business card, she put one of the old ones aside as a keepsake.  She's sentimental that way and boy am I glad she is!

I put the old cards with my new one (bottom left) and realized just how far I've come both as an artist and a person.  Each card represents a different phase in my life and my work.  

Four business cards, four paintings, four provinces, each with so many stories behind them. It kinda makes me wonder what the next business card will look like...

It's been a couple months since I picked up a paintbrush.  There's been a lot going on, taking care of Rudy, a big move, and just life stuff.  But now, with a show less than a month away, it's time to get back to work.  and what better time than the present?  Especially since my new paint arrived yesterday.

I started working on a piece.  I know what it's going to look like when it's done, but I bet you don't.  

Here's a little peek into my progress.  Anyone brave enough to venture a guess?  I dare you...

​Stay tuned for the finished product. 

I've been painting my crows for quite a long time, about 13 years, ever since I looked out that top floor window of the old building I used to live in. There they were, perched out on a wire, right outside my window. I happened to be standing at my easel.. It was a lightbulb moment and those crows have been with me and helped me ever since. If you ever wondered if nature can help you, I can testify it can. It can surely inspire us, bring us excitement and joy, and remind us of important things around us.

This painting is called, Crows Celebrate Life. I like the wonder and whimsy of these crows. We should all remember to celebrate life. Some days are hard, but we should try. Remember what crows go through all the time. Remember what gives you joy. Have you seen any crows today? They will surely enhance your day.

Have you ever noticed that animals love windows?  Both cats and dogs love to peer out windows.  My Rudy does it all the time.  He's one nosey pup!  He has to see what's going on, who's coming and going and of course, he has to bark at all of it.

One of my favourite things is to see kitties, sitting proudly in their windows as I walk by.  I don't know why, maybe because they look so cute, just sitting, watching.  I wonder what goes through their minds.  Sometimes I wave and say hi.  

This painting, Cat at Dusk,  depicts the beauty of a kitty sitting in the window, curiously examining the outside world from her perch.  Even thinking about it makes me smile.