Crow Fire

The Story Behind The Painting – Crow Fire“Crow Fire” is a painting celebrating the famous crow and his distant cousin the Raven. I have written a poem about Ravens in a very cold winter in the Yukon. The Raven stole about three dog dishes from my Husky, Nanika.

These birds are mischievous and I like them!
“……… my praise of the raven grew then t’wards a haven reserved solely alone for a few
had I known t’was the raven who had a full craven for stealing three doggy dishes from two
I’d uv called my dog in, forgetting my sin,so he’d eat without dishes that flee
and maybe then strike, a raven I did not like,to stop all the worry in me…….. Read More...

Aboriginal Beginnings

The Story Behind The Painting –“Aboriginal Beginnings” is named because of the influence of aboriginal imagery in my work. When I was in grade 5 or 6 my teacher took my class to see an exhibit of First Nations work at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, BC.At that time the First Nations artifacts and items were displayed in the lower floor of the Parliament Buildings. I remember a lone rattle snake in a glass aquarium where visitors threw coins. I felt sorry for the snake. I remember after viewing the exhibition getting back to school, riding my bike home chanting to myself as I peddled, “I wish I was an Indian, I wish I was an Indian…….!”This painting freed me up to allow myself to use such imagery in my paintings.As a youth I was also impressed by Craft Cards that used to come in Shredded Wheat promoting “Straight Arrow” – an indian comic book hero of mine. His comics and cards taught kids how to build things in the native way. Read More...

Sand Tag # 1

The Story Behind The Painting – Sand Tag # 1 - It has been a life-long dream of mine to paint. Sand Tag 1 and 2 come from a chapter of my past., where I used to play a lot on the beaches of Victoria’s Gonzales Bay as well as Courtenay’s Bates Beach.

I have only recently realized how my past had impacted my present related to my drawing practices. I used to create large mazes on the sandy beaches using a long stick as a drawing tool in the sand.
I would draw a maze so that as kids we could play a game of team tag where we ran in the drawn maze or puzzle and had to avoid the dead ends and confusion. I still love it and will continue to play sand tag with my children and their family. Sand Tag Patterns available on request! Often my canvas becomes a safe place to play “Sand Tag”!

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Sand Tag # 2

The Story Behind The Painting – Sand Tag 2 - It has been a life-long dream of mine to paint.Sand Tag 1 and 2 come from a chapter of my past., where I used to play a lot on the beaches of Victoria’s Gonzales Bay as well as Courtenay’s Bates Beach.I have only recently realized how my past had impacted my present related to my drawing practices. I used to create large mazes on the sandy beaches using a long stick as a drawing tool in the sand. I would draw a maze so that as kids we could play a game of team tag where we ran in the drawn maze or puzzle and had to avoid the dead ends and confusion. I still love it and will continue to play sand tag. Sand Tag Patterns available on request! Often my canvas becomes a safe place to play “Sand Tag”! Read More...

Bread Clips # 1

The Story Behind The Painting – Bread Clips # 1 - I first became aware of Bread Clips when one of my students, Dale Johns, showed me some of his work in creating photograms about 1967 using bread clips. I was teaching at Como Lake Junior High in Coquitlam. Dale was attending Centennial School. He showed me a photogram where he had used a sheet of “Bread Tags” which were all connected. This image stuck with me through a lot of years. The Bread Clip was first used in 1950s –That makes it about 57 years old! That impresses me-such a simple invention that has lasted so long and is still used! Check this item out on Wickapedia. New York squashed cans take the stage in this painting-remnants of a past year of art school in New York. Read More...

Bread Clips # 2

The Story Behind The Painting– Bread Clips # 2 - I first became aware of Bread Clips when one of my students, Dale Johns, showed me some of his work in creating photograms about 1967 using bread clips. I was teaching at Como Lake Junior High in Coquitlam. Dale was attending Centennial School. He showed me a photogram where he had used a sheet of “Bread Tags” which were all connected. This image stuck with me through a lot of years. The Bread Clip was first used in 1950s –That makes it about 57 years old! That impresses me-such a simple invention that has lasted so long and is still used! Read More...

Bread Clips # 3

The Story Behind The Painting – Bread Clips # 2 - I first became aware of Bread Clips when one of my students, Dale Johns, showed me some of his work in creating photograms about 1967 using bread clips. I was teaching at Como Lake Junior High in Coquitlam. Dale was attending Centennial School. He showed me a photogram where he had used a sheet of “Bread Tags” which were all connected. This image stuck with me through a lot of years. The Bread Clip was first used in 1950s –That makes it about 57 years old! That impresses me-such a simple invention that has lasted so long and is still used! Read More...

Reflections - Sand Tag # 1

The Story Behind The Print – Reflections – Sand Tag # 1 - The Painting that this Reflections Print mirrors has been here extended . Using some Software designed by the artist and programmed by one of my brilliant former students "Reflections" are created. By repositioning the key elements of the painting I can create about 16 new views.As an artist this is like taking kids to a candy store and saying “eat all you want” and then taking them to another candy store and again saying “eat all the candy you want”! Like the Paintings, the Prints allow me to play- “Sand Tag”! Read More...

Reflections - Sand Tag # 2

The Story Behind The Print – Reflections – Sand Tag # 1 - The Painting that this Reflections Print mirrors has been here extended . Using some Software designed by the artist and programmed by one of my brilliant former students "Reflections" are created. By repositioning the key elements of the painting I can create about 16 new views.As an artist this is like taking kids to a candy store and saying “eat all you want” and then taking them to another candy store and again saying “eat all the candy you want”! Like the Paintings, the Prints allow me to play- “Sand Tag”! Read More...

Reflections - Bread Clips # 3

The Story Behind The Print – Reflections – Bread Clips # 3 - The Painting that this Reflections Print mirrors has been here extended . Using some Software designed by the artist and programmed by one of my brilliant former students "Reflections" are created. By repositioning the key elements of the painting I can create about 16 new views.As an artist this is like taking kids to a candy store and saying “eat all you want” and then taking them to another candy store and again saying “eat all the candy you want”! Like the Paintings, the Prints allow me to "play with my Bread Clip Collection ”! And that's another story! Read More...

Reflections - Bread Clips # 2

The Story Behind The Print – Reflections – Bread Clips # 2 - The Painting that this Reflections Print mirrors has been here extended . Using some Software designed by the artist and programmed by one of my brilliant former students "Reflections" are created. By repositioning the key elements of the painting I can create about 16 new views.As an artist this is like taking kids to a candy store and saying “eat all you want” and then taking them to another candy store and again saying “eat all the candy you want”! Like the Paintings, the Prints allow me to "play with my Bread Clips Collection”! And that's another story! Read More...

Reflexions - Bread Clips # 1

The Story Behind The Print – Reflections – Bread Clips # 1 - The Painting that this Reflections Print mirrors has been here extended . Using some Software designed by the artist and programmed by one of my brilliant former students "Reflections" are created. By repositioning the key elements of the painting I can create about 16 new views.As an artist this is like taking kids to a candy store and saying “eat all you want” and then taking them to another candy store and again saying “eat all the candy you want”! Like the Paintings, the Prints allow me to "play with my Bread Clips Collection all I want”! And again, that's another story! Read More...