field trip

Now that the weather has changed and the snow as started to fall our favorite rodents (squirrels) will take to their nests. In case you may miss them I've decided to keep up the squirrel cutouts and glue them in places for your viewing pleasure. These are just a few that I had glued early on in the season, and by surprise they are still there.

do you like junk mail

Why do we throw out our mail like its compost. Shouldn't we think of reusing our envelopes, or is a nice crisp new envelope the only way to go. OK I admit I usually place my mail in the recycling bin or I find better ways to use my old mail in my work. Or in this case I ask people to save their old envelopes so that I can use them. Its a great way to obtain free paper. I will keep posting photos and stories with these new pieces, I have a few neat ideas.

take care
e.

studio tour

Thoughts from my basement studio.

chicken

this was a fun piece to work on. the style seems to be evolving and my progression is coming along nicely.

I'm back

It seems as if I had left the planet for some reason, but I didn't. Life sort of becomes busy and as much as like to share my work, I do not show the same enthusiasm to play on my computer. Here for your viewing pleasures is a piece that I had finished this summer for a two month show in Guelph. I've had lots of interesting feedback, so if you have any please let me know your thoughts. Thats it for now, and I will do better in keeping my blog updated.

alma gallery

There is a new gallery in town called the Alma Gallery, and I have the great opportunity to hang a piece in their group show and grand opening. The gallery is located in downtown Guelph and the opening is tonight Saturday, July 19th from 6pm - 9pm. There are a lot of artists involved in this group show which is great, I am very excited to have the chance to show my work with close friends for the first time. It is not very often that you get the chance to do this. Above is the piece that is in the group show. What do you think???

solo show

Friday August 8th will be the date of my first solo show. The show opening with start at 7pm and is located at the e-bar, 41 Quebec St, downtown Guelph. This should be a good show, I have a couple big pieces that are really interesting. My work will be hanging at the e-bar till the end of September, so really try to go take a look. Comments are much appreciated.

See you soon!

new work for a solo show

Well I have my first solo show in August in my home town, Guelph. I am very excited for my new work, lots happening very quickly, maybe too quickly. Anyhow, here are a few sample pieces.

enjoy....

newest work

My good friend Vince just gave me a bunch of paint, including some spray paint. I really don't like using spray paint, for may reasons, but I used them anyways. I've worked off and on with this piece and it took an interesting turn the other day. I just wanted to have some fun with my work and try not to put to much thought into what I was doing. Which is often very hard for me to do. 

Anyhow, this piece is turning out to be one of my favorites, and I have noticeable been using more figures in my work and this is something I rarely do. Things are really progressing for me and it is great to finally feel some accomplishment with all the hard work.

donated piece

Here are a few close ups of the piece that I had made for the new Greenpeace warehouse. When I had first heard about the new warehouse I felt that I had to make a piece for the space. This piece is my favourite that I have ever completed so far, and I have had many great comments about it. It is great to know that the volunteers, activists and staff of Greenpeace can enjoy my work in the new warehouse.

Greenpeace display

The World Washi Summit started at Lonsdale Gallery this past Saturday, and I have had this great opportunity to help Greenpeace with a display at the gallery. There are a few of my recent pieces at the gallery along with Gary Taxali's illustration/prints that he has donated to Greenpeace. I have also donated a piece to Greenpeace, which up until last Saturday was located at the new Greenpeace warehouse. 

I am greatly honored and must thank the folks at the gallery for having Greenpeace at the show and also I would like to thank Greenpeace for allowing me to be part of the display.

Thanks so much!

tissue box

Here are a few photos of my giant tissue box. If you are curious why I have made such a thing you should visit www.kleercut.net. OR just stop purchasing Kleenex brand tissue products and start using your consumer power and purchase toilet/facial tissue that uses 100% recycled paper fiber. If you are not sure which brands to purchase you should visit the website that I have in this post. You could find a tissue buyers guide that explains which brands are good and which are bad. I will also post a short video soon of the tissue box.

World Washi Summit

Just a shot of my studio and the state that it is in right now. Why is it so hard to keep a tidy studio? I have also been working on a few things, one is a large tissue box for an art show that I am part of starting this Saturday June 7th. It is part of a Greenpeace display which will be at Lonsdale Gallery in Toronto. The show is actually in company with other galleries that are part of the World Washi Summit and hosted by the Japanese Paper Place. This should be a great art event, here is the link for more details,

www.worldwashisummit.com

garden banner

30km.ca garden banner in Toronto. 

30km.ca

I just finished this banner for 30km.ca, check out the website and you can find out if you are in the nuclear zone. Must say that it is really cool to see my logo used in such a way that could make a difference with the environmental issues we face.

30km.ca

This is a logo that I had designed for Greenpeace recently. Please check out the link to the actual website for this campaign strategy and find out if you are in the zone.

wood cutouts

Found here is a little wood cutout that I put up a little while ago. Its location would be found in Guelph, ON. I dare you to go find it, remember there are more of them so keep your eyes peeled.

hydro pole

This image is from a block print that I had done. I scanned one of my prints and re-drew the print using Illustrator. Not sure what I am going to do with this, but I am sure it will be put to some good use. Any ideas...

some new some old

These pieces were shown at the Gladstone Hotel last year.

I once found $1000...

My eyes are always on the look out for interesting objects and papers that I can use in my work. One day as I was walking to work I had found $1000, I quickly picked it up and stuffed it into my pocket to use later. You can see that I used it wisely with this piece that I finished just a little while ago.  

envelopes...

This piece is approximately 4ftx8ft and I've only just started. So far I have used a found stretcher frame, hundreds of used envelopes that a very nice lady had collected for me to use, and I had to purchase the canvas. I can't wait to see how it progresses, and hopefully you will keep checking out my blog so that you can follow my progress with this one. 

Man at Cafe Reads

I've started a few new pieces, one is called "Man at Cafe Reads". Some of the best places to sketch people are at coffee shops (cafes), most of the time the people that I have sketched have no idea that I am drawing them. Only a couple of times have I been spotted, as I quickly turn the other way trying to not look up, and I am sure I've looked like a complete psycho.

The other project that I have continued are my wood cutouts of squirrels. I use found wood panels for the cutouts, then I painted them up and head out on the town. I've put up a few of the cutouts and to my surprise no one has taken them down. They are only small mind you, but seeing how some street art can be called vandalism I had thought the little cutouts would be taken down within the week.  

our everyday world (for some)

our everyday world, what is it??? rushing from place to place or looking at your surroundings while you walk or ride your bike to work. Give yourself a chance to know the trees, streets, gardens in your neighbour hood. Notice the change, how much more traffic there is now, damn I have to change my route to work. A route with less traffic. The poles line my street, my neighbours street, my friends street and my favourite cafe's street. They used to be living as strong as can be in a forest, but now we need their strength, amazement, wonder and sadness. Traveling as far as where this forest first started is something so vital to our everyday lives. Power to see, power to dance, power to charge our computers and power to just live a simple life. When will it be everyday life when we can see a wind mill on our street or a solar panel collecting the shinny rays from the sun. When will the trees that come from our beautiful forests carry a different type of energy or when can they spare their lives to stand in a natural environment instead of an urban sprawl. How many more times do I have to put myself on the front line, and who will start to join me. 

Just give yourself some time to think each day on how fortunate we are and how much we have taken from this earth. It is now time to give back. Start with a purchase  towards local art... and enjoy your sunny days.

Using Found Papers

When out for a walk or riding my bike around town I notice a lot of waste, litter and  things that I can use and most often use in my art work. Using found papers, wood panel, and other interesting pieces that I pick up, is what I base my work on. I am not trying to convey any type of message using pieces of stuff that I find around town, I just find it more interesting, fun and that I am creating art to just to create art. These two pieces of work is an example of my mixed media work and completely done using found paper, plastic, thread, photo negatives and masonite.