A big city can be a glorious thing. I've been to a few and I thoroughly enjoyed them. When it's raining, it can be even better! You see, I like the rain, I'm from a place close to the ocean where it rains quite a bit. We can get use to something, a climate, a mood of the landscape, and grow to love it. I've been in a big city in the rain. There's something about the light, the shadows, the smell, and the feel.

   In this painting, Into the Light, the woman loves her city. There's no place she'd rather be. The rain has just ended and the city awaits her curiosity...

   Ah, the morning. It's magical, especially with a little sprinkle of rain. I recall many mornings like this when I used to hike around. It's definitely one of my fondest memories.

   I called this piece, Morning Sprinkle and I'm so pleased with it. It captures that great feeling of a glorious morning. Sometimes, we are by ourselves, outside, there's a deep peacefulness. At these times, special thoughts can come. We may think of someone we miss and want to call, a new idea for a project, a new idea for an adventure, that trip we meant to take, or just the magic of being beneath a morning sprinkle. 

   Sometimes when we're younger, we think that love is a secondary thing. School, social life, etc., may take precedent. However, I beg to differ. Living in love is best. 

   This painting is called, Living and Loving. That's what I call, happiness... X

   Love. Without it, where would we be? Where would I be? I'd be isolated and feel much like a boat lost adrift on a lonely sea. I was lucky that my high school love gave me another chance seven years ago and came back.

   Whether it's the love of a supportive family or better half, love is absolutely paramount to a fulfilling life. If you doubt this, try going to bed for awhile with no one to hold. It gets very lonely. We, as human beings, need other human beings. This is a good thing.

   In this piece, Spreading the Love Around, I am portraying love among us complex and wonderful beings. We have so much potential. We have so much opportunity to meet great people, to experience each other, and see what great things happen in our futures.

When I was younger, in my twenties and thirties, I had a chip on my shoulder from past hurts. I carried this negativity for a long time and it did me no good. We can learn from these feelings, but they must be let go. They eat away at us and can hold us back from experiencing the great things in life. I am so glad I got rid of that negative influence. If you're holding onto anything toxic, I hope you let it go. X

   I painted this on quite a large canvas, 48x36" . I'm pleased with how it turned out. It really shows the workings of my brain. Uh-oh! Ha! Ha! Don't be afraid. ;)

   I called it Program because it symbolizes the programming we all go through from the time we were children. Some of this programming may not be so positive, hence the various elements shown in this painting. I, for one, had a lot of negative programming. I often felt like some invisible force had a boot on my neck, was holding me back, and wanted to control me. Of course, I've always been a defiant, a rebel with a brush, a cheeky dude with a bit of a tude. Heh-heh-heh...

   In my paintings, there's some mystery. Sometimes there's whimsy. My work contains various elements that I'm so glad are there; emotion, complexity, a lot of energy and movement, and symbols of life-truths. Over time, I allowed my style to naturally come forth. I wanted my art to be individual to me. I wanted it to have that honesty and integrity. I wanted it to translate what people go through and what they can achieve. 

   In this painting, called, It's For You, it's about the mystery and complexities of life. This woman at the old styled phone booth hears it ringing. Well, she wasn't expecting the call. I like asking, "Who could it be?" or "What could they want?"  or "Why would someone be calling way out here in the middle of nowhere?"  In my life, I need these questions, I need some mystery, and I need to not always know what's around the corner. This makes me feel young and I like to stay curious. It seems to me that when life is too predictable, it loses its luster.

If you're ever out in the middle of nowhere and a phone rings, maybe you should answer it. ;)

   Welcome to a whole different world. This is a world where crows rule and there are voices from The Great Beyond, whispers from the other side, and healing sun showers.
 
I called this painting, Sun Shower Crow. I'm so proud of it. It conveys my love of crows, strange worlds, and umbrellas. 😎

   Next time you happen to be in a new city, close your eyes and picture this crow, envision you can slip away to someplace else, and just... be...if you're lucky, a sun shower will come along... 
🤞
Watch me work on this painting:
​www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGxZSnt7iBI&t=249s
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   Ah, the stubborn ones, the defiant. They push, they keep on, and they carry much tenacity. 
  I'm so pleased by how this piece turned out. It speaks of my roots by the ocean of my homeland of eastern Canada. This painting tells me to keep going, stay strong, and sometimes that can hurt. What can we do but keep going on our own journey. 
   Maybe we all can be inspired by this lone figure in this boat, looking ahead to some sort of future with bravery. 

   I am pleased how this painting turned out. I called it, Resting in Paradise, and paradise it feels like. The warm breeze, moving sky, old and rustic boats, and splashes of color. I'd love to be there right now. Maybe I will enter into this painting, as it's winter. Yes, maybe I will...  ;)

   It's winter, and for me, that sucks! So, I created this painting, Awaiting the Next Journey. It makes me think of back home in eastern Canada, the boats, the waves, and the salty air. 

   If you're like me, you hate cold and snowy winters. I hope this painting takes you away to a great place, a place where dreams are fulfilled and peace is found. X