I called this piece, Crow and Big Winter Moon. I'm pleased with how it turned out. It conveys how beautiful a large, shining moon and winter can be. I personally am a winter person, not liking heat, I turn away from many summer activities. 

   The mystic crow is in this painting, watching, waiting...
   
   Crow for me, represents a world unseen, or perhaps many of us WANT a world unseen, just beyond the curtain of our commonplace reality. We tend to long for dark and fun mysteries that wait, undiscovered. We want the Bigfoot to exist and the crow to bring us omens, messengers and power.

   Next time you're gazing at a big, bright, magical moon, think of a possible land that maybe waits just on the outer reaches of your imagination. That's what I do.

   Remember before the virus? Of course you do, and so do I. I Like how this piece turned out. It has something mysterious and intriguing, it pulls you in. It says, "Hey, maybe things will get to be alright, maybe things will be really cool."

   We can absolutely have a groovy world, one where we are strong and hopeful. We, as human beings, can accomplish so much. We accomplish so much TOGETHER. I mean, the inventor hermit tends to  eventually get his invention seen by others. The eccentric and reclusive artist, like myself, gets his paintings seen and collected by people. The quiet musician tends to need someone to hear their offerings.

   In this painting called, Morning Commute, it's all about the getting together.  That's we humans tend to need, being together. Maybe soon, we won't need to wear a mask or gloves to do it.

   My crows. I have deep appreciation for them. They carry mystery, craftiness, cleverness, perseverance, fortitude, and whimsy. I don't know how many crow paintings I've sold, I lost track, but they have found their way around the world. They have a power, pull and influence that goes beyond me or my painting ability. They possess their own power. I like this, it humbles me. I owe them a lot.

   This piece, called Moon Worship, is a painting I'm very proud of. It has mystery. It speaks of the ages and the crow as a messenger, a dark, yet beautiful figure. It captures my love for the mighty crow, as well as my love for night and full moon. I'm very much a night person and tend to take my nap in the afternoon. I have an aversion to the sun, particularly a hot summer sun. I detest the heat. 

   If this painting ends up in some distant land, with someone who'll embrace the crow, may this wonderful creature always bring some mystery and intrigue to their world. 

   I have great memories of being in large cities, like when I've had shows in Toronto. I love the tall buildings, the hustle and bustle of the people, the huge amount of shops and other businesses. My better half, Misty and I, enjoy walking around, taking everything in, even enjoying the sounds and smells. Not everyone likes big cities, but if you do, you know exactly the enjoyment I'm referring to. The uniqueness of a city, the pull it can have, the culture, and the excitement of encountering something different everyday. 

   I called this painting, City Morning. I'm happy with how it turned out and it conveys my love for a great morning in a large, vibrant city. 

   When I had my first show in Toronto a few years ago, it was amazing. I had two pieces in the show and one of them sold even before the exhibition opened. The other painting sold shortly after I arrived back home. The piece that sold there is called, Old City (2nd and 3rd image below). It was acquired by a private collector from the USA. These are events I will never forget. 

   Next time you feel that maybe you'll check out a big city, try to keep an open mind. You may be surprised by how much you can enjoy what a large city can offer.

   

   Love. It's the most powerful thing in the world. It can bring such enormous joy and excitement or terrible emotional pain. It can cause wars or babies, born. Whatever the case, we know that love teaches and heals, if we allow it to. 

   Many years ago, as many of you know, I met my love, Misty, in high school. We were so happy with one another, and then my life and brain changed, and I became a real jerk. We parted ways. We tried a second time a few years later, but I was still a jerk. We parted again. Then, many years later, she gave me another shot. I had finally grown up in certain ways, and we remain happy together to this day.

  When you find that real love, don't take it for granted. Embrace it, treasure it, and hold onto it. You may not be as lucky as I was, and you may not get a second chance...or two...

   This one, Rustic Place, is quite heavily abstract. This is a wonderful flow that happens in my work. It's very much how my brain works. I see shapes, colors, line, shadow, things moving about, ideas for paintings constantly coming forth in the forefront of my mind. It's interesting having this type of brain. It took many years to get used to it! ;)

   This piece hung in the Ontario Canada Legislature In Camera Dining Room for a time. Now it will be owned by a private collector.

   This painting flowed from my mind in a very loose way. There is something wonderful and genuine in this. The flow, as I call it, leads me where it must. I trust it. 
   A collector in the USA acquired this painting. It's a fantastic experience when someone understands what you do, what you express, what you put out in the world. Thank you to them and thank you to all who care about what I flow with and offer to our world. X

   It's time to do a gratitude blog. Why? Because I'm a very lucky person. This painting, Weekend of Joy, is being acquired by a great woman in my home country, Canada. She's making installments. Some folks aren't rich, especially with this COVID-19 situation. 
   
   I get to meet so many people with what I do. I meet some amazing people. My collectors understand me very well. They know I don't pull any punches. They know I paint in my own, genuine and flowing way. I NEVER take this for granted.

   Today, I say, thank you for embracing and appreciating what I do. If it were not for you, this art that comes out of me would be adrift on some sort of lonely sea, and never get to be seen and enjoyed. You know who you are. 

   How important are crows? Well, they've inspired me for the past 10 years. There is something whimsical and a little naughty about them. Sometimes they almost feel like ghosts. They squawk, flutter about, stick together, loyal to one another, like some sort of army. They are a squadron to be reckoned with. They never seem to go out of fashion. They have helped me in many ways. 

   Look over yonder, just beyond that telephone pole, on the power line, is that a crow? Is that one of those black spirits that always watches and waits? Or is it just my imagination? Wait, maybe it's some sort of messenger from the spirit world. The crow can be anything you want it to be. ;)

   Ah, the brain of the homo sapien. What a complex creature, capable of great things and brutal acts. The human has such beautiful potential and also can be a destructive entity. Whatever sort of brain you possess, you can be sure life will be a wild ride.

   As most of you know, I have high functioning autism. I have a certain way of creating my art. I like that. I flow in my own way. I like the honesty of that. There's integrity in a raw flow. My collectors know this and they appreciate this. Life is enhanced when there is honest exchange between an artist and collector. It's as unique and individual as one of my paintings. 

   This piece, called, The Knowing, deals with being on the autism spectrum, but it also is about ALL of us, our fears, hopes, complexities, our sadness, our joy, when we feel lonely, when we feel empowered, and everything that makes us human. We DO have to share this little blue ball. We can learn so much from one another when we stop, look and listen. 

   The figure in this painting represents you, but it also represents me. Everything is connected. We can continue to evolve in imagination. We CAN achieve so much. X

   This summer, the missus and I are not exactly loving the summer. It's been insanely hot. We've seen days where it's consistently 40 degrees celcius. Combine that with renting a really shitty old apartment in a poorly-maintained, stuffy building, and you have a crappy situation. We even have a negligent landlord that won't have our recently backed-up kitchen and bathroom sinks fixed. Ummm...grrr...

   Well, this lovely girl, a northern girl, is enjoying a beautiful and crisp winter day. She values the experience of taking one's time to take things in, feel nature, and generally being a lover of nature, innocence, and valuing an honest heart. Her heart and soul is embedded in integrity. That was taught to her by her wise elders. They taught her to respect nature, remember the animals, value clean water, treat people with respect, and truly live every moment.

   Next time, you find yourself in a sweltering hot day, think of the northern girl and her land of ice and snow. You may just find that this vision makes everything okay.  X