with CalMy love of Art has informed my entire life.
​There never seemed to be any question regarding what direction my life would take. As a kid, I imagined myself becoming an "Artist". I was encouraged by my parents to pursue my creativity. I wonder at times if I have achieved that childhood goal. There have been real ups and downs on this journey. As I pause and reflect on my life thus far: I teach Art full-time in Calgary during the school year and spend my summers in the South of France, painting in both locations whenever I can. I have created and found homes for hundreds of paintings for over 30 years; exhibited; and became a juried member of the Alberta Society of Artists. In retrospect, I have indeed lead the life of a creative person or "artist".

I took up oil painting in grade 4, at the encouragement of my teachers. I was immediately hooked, and have never not had painting be a part of my life. I was equally passionate about creating and studying Art History. I would make Art History books with copied magic-marker masterpieces. After nearly fifty years of working in oil, I believe I have created an identifiable style that reflects my personality, experiences and influences.

I am mostly known for my expressionistic plein aire landscapes of the area where I happen to be living, be it Calgary, the South of France or Tucson, Arizona. The context of my work is a reflection of where I am.

My process begins with a deep red canvas upon which I "draw" directly in paint with a very dark purple mixture. There is no pre-sketching in chalk or pencil, it is direct and "in the moment". I believe my final painting is only as strong as its initial drawing. Once I have completed this "drawing", I apply colour. Because of my venetian red background, any colour I add makes my canvasses bright and vivid. They "eat" light. The scale of my work varies from very large to very small, I love doing both and each enhance the other. My brushwork is confidant and expressionistic, I want my canvasses to have an immediacy. I do not attempt to recreate the scene before me precisely, my work is more a reflection of the energy of my surroundings in that moment. While I paint, I allow my influences such as Max Beckmann, The Group of Seven, The Fauvists and Paul Cézanne to permeate my work. Theirs and countless others inspiration resides in my work, but within a new language I have developed.

I am very proud to tell people I meet that, "I am a high school Art Teacher". There are those who dismissively say, "those who can't, teach". I have never shared that view, and I believe I am living proof which negates it. I believe it is important to have a passion for creating, but also for sharing that passion. I love teaching future artists. I have taught Art for over twenty years at Calgary Separate Division #1. I currently teach at Bishop O'Byrne High School, where I teach the highly rigorous International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Program. Nothing brings me a greater sense of satisfaction as a teacher than to see my students pursue the life of the creative.

I also love to collaborate. My collaborative work with Craig B. Friesen in Quality Painters has had a tremendous impact on my creativity. Our work Odysseus, has toured throughout the province with the Alberta TREKS program, and was be featured in Calgary City Hall. Together Craig and I created hundreds of small and large panels that we would sell at local markets. We jokingly referred to our art as "high process / low art". 


 

 

 

Images showing my process with a recent painting.