at work in the studio...

So I just thought I would give a little sneak peak into what I have been working on in the studio lately.... The photograph above is an earlier stage of the painting below. The painting is not complete; when I do complete it, I will post up the final version...

This painting is based off a photograph by a photographer friend by the name of Jeremy Williams. Originally I had intended to try to literally recreate the painting. Instead, while following the flow of the painting itself (I find painting is an experience that leaves you feeling the painting itself is the guide and wants to become what it always was and I am simply the vehicle for this to happen), what was originally the water became the sky and vice versa; so it's now like a mirror, both alike and opposite to the original photograph. Everything is reversed.












Acrylic on Canvas

Discoveries on the world wide web....

I am always trying to expand as an artist, trying to perfect my technique in all the mediums I work in. I recently discovered the art of C.J. Connor, a very talented artist in the states, while searching youtube for painting tips & techniques.

I encourage you to check out the work of C.J. Connor, it's quite lovely and very, very skilled. My favorite is the nature art.

This is the dawning of the AGE OF AQUARIOUS: Happy Valentine's Day!!!

"The day was originally a pagan festival that was renamed after two Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished."

"Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome. The name "Valentine", derived from valens (worthy), was popular in late antiquity.^[2] Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried at the Via Flaminia north of Rome on February 14. It is even uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more saints of the same name."
"The feast of St. Valentine was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." As Gelasius implied, nothing was known, even then, about the lives of any of these martyrs."

Excerpts quoted from Wikipedia.




THE AQUARIAN ALIGNMENT, February 14, 2009

From the website of Jude Currivan PhD

"We measure our global sense of both space (latitude and longitude) and time (universal time - UT or GMT) from the prime meridian located at Greenwich, England. We can perceive the collective influence of this momentous astrological event (February 14th) by looking at the alignment from this globally centered perspective. When we do, something extraordinary and exquisite emerges.

At dawn on 14th February the day dedicated to St Valentine, the patron saint of Love, the Moon in Libra enters the seventh house of relationships. And Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house of spiritual transformation.

Forty years ago, the intuitive words of a song called Aquarius, brought the dawning of the New Age into our collective awareness:

"When the Moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars.
Then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars."

At dawn on 14th February the Cosmos actually embodies this perfect alignment to support our collective manifestation of Love and Peace, and the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

The Aquarian chart of 14th February reveals an incredible concentration of Cosmic influences blending with the energies of Aquarius in the twelfth house. Expansive Jupiter and energetic Mars are aligned with the higher purpose of the North Node. The presence of Chiron the wounded healer offers us the opportunity to heal the schisms that have separated us for so long. Neptune emphasizes collective humanitarian movements and the co-creation of social justice. And the presence of the radiant Sun enlightens the entire alignment.

Mercury also in the twelfth house but just beyond the cusp in Capricorn, allies with transformational Pluto to communicate and anchor the Shift throughout our global structures and institutions.

The Moon in Libra in the seventh house emphasizes harmonious real -ationships.

Venus in Aries in the first house energizes and empowers dynamic co-creativity.

And whilst Saturn the great task master in opposition to Uranus the unexpected awakener is suggesting an ongoing confrontation as the dregs of the unsustainable old paradigm reluctantly give way to the untested hope of the new, their placements in Virgo and Pisces brings practical altruism and visionary inspiration to the transition."

Just playing...

I have been playing with photoshop... I added the feather with extra swirls; which is extracted from the canvas painting that this face painting was made to match with...

It's now February ...

By the old Irish or Scottish calendar, yesterday and today is Imbolc... "Imbolc is the day the Cailleach — the hag of Gaelic tradition — gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.^[11] On the Isle of Man, where She is known as Caillagh ny Groamagh, the Cailleach is said to have been seen on Imbolc in the form of a gigantic bird, carrying sticks in her beak." -Quoted from Wikipedia... There is of course more to Imbolc depending on which country you come from as it changes from country to country...

So on Sunday, Feb 1st, I went with my partner and his parents to a place about an hour outside of Montreal along the Richelieu River, called Auberge Handfield.

At Christmas I had gone to the Montreal Board of Trade's monthly cocktail, which I attend regularly. I entered my business card into the door draw and won! I was so shocked when I heard my name! The prize I received was a gift certificate for two for brunch.

I must say it was quite a lovely experience. All natural wood inside, plants everywhere and large windows in every room letting in the winter light. We were served complimentary orange juice with champagne in it. A lavish brunch buffet was available, spread through three rooms filled with decidant foods. There was even a live piano player. Thinking about it makes me feel tempted to go back.

It was amusing to look out the window and see they had both Christmas and Valentine's day decorations above the entry way.