Moving On

I haven't updated this blog in a long time because I have not created any new work. I moved to Calgary, AB over a year ago, and it seemed out of context to paint more images of Vancouver buses while living here. The Art in Transit project is not going to carry forward, but I am exploring ideas for a new painting project that explores some of Calgary's unique transportation and architectural history. I will be creating a new blog once that project gets off the ground, and I will try to remember to post a link here.

Transit Roots exhibition in progress

A photo of myself (left) with Crystal, who photographed the show for me.

Transit Roots Art Exhibition opens Saturday, Feb 11, 2012!

The show opens on Saturday February 11, from 2 – 4 pm, at Deer Lake Gallery in Burnaby. 6584 Deer Lake Ave. Refreshments will be served, and the public is welcome.

Map to Deer Lake Gallery

Painting #13 – 8 Fraser

Starting into the second half of my project, I decided to challenge myself to paint a highly detailed street scene of a Flyer trolley bus in the centre of an intersection. Thanks to David Lam for providing the source photograph; it was a great shot. The challenge with painting from a highly detailed photograph is to find the balance between detail and noise. The details make a painting, but they can also overwhelm it. Especially things like overhead wires and leaves on trees.

I really enjoyed the process of painting this image, and it will definitely be hanging in my exhibition this February. More details on that to come in another post.

Acrylic on wood. 48 x 24 inches.

Painting #12 – Front Doors

This painting brings me to the halfway point in my project. I know I said I was going to take a three month break from the buses after this painting, but honestly, I had so much fun doing it, that I am going to keep plugging away on the theme and start another painting right away. I have always loved this image with the paint peeling off the doors. Several years ago I did another painting of this image using ink on paper.

Painting #11 – Destination Sign (Final)

Here is the final painting of a destination sign from an old Brill trolley.

Acrylic on wood. 48 x 36 inches.

Painting #11 – Destinations (process)

After the slow pace at which I found myself working on my last painting, I decided to repaint an image I have painted a couple of times in the past, simply because it is pure type, my favourite. It has been enlightening to see how much faster the process goes when I am painting something that I truly enjoy. I realize now that the reason my last painting took me so long was that it was so detailed, with so many colours, that I couldn't mix large batches of paint, and work with a bigger brush. The constant colour mixing and nit-picky work were not fun, and I found myself procrastinating.

I am seriously considering taking a break from the buses after the next two paintings are completed (with those done I will be ready for my February show), to start a smaller scale side project. I am thinking of creating drapery banners with favourite words and verses on them, photographing them, and painting them, much like this destination sign. I could play with colour, typeface, texture, lighting, and meaning. Perhaps I could collect favourite words, quotations and scripture verses from friends and family. There are lots of possibilities. In any case, after I finish painting number 12 of the bus series, I will be halfway through my project, and I think I will take a break for at least 3 months to work on other ideas.

Here is a process photo of my eleventh painting.