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  • “Winter Blues”, 12” x 7”, oil on linen, Caledon, Ontario. “This has been a wonderful winter of snow in Caledon. While many complaints have been heard about it, they haven’t been coming from me! The snow has a magical way of transforming the landscape, creating a whole new palette compared to the “green” seasons. This winter also gave me an excuse to use my snowshoes. On this occasion, I set up my easel to begin this painting as the fading light caught the stand of poplars. As one last streak of light shot through the trees, the shaded snow took on some of the rich blues from the clear skies above.”
  • “Firelight”, 12” x 9”, oil on panel, Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario. “The cedar strip canoe holds a great amount of appeal to me. Its classic lines, warmth of its wood, and closeness to the water when paddled create an intimacy with creation when travelling in one. Perhaps that’s why one night while on a trip to Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario, I was drawn to don my headlight and begin this ode to the canoe.”
  • “Over The Bay- Study”, 16” x 7”, oil on panel, Georgian Bay, Ontario. “Fall on Georgian Bay is awesome. No bugs, few people and great skies. But this time of year also means a good chance of rough water. Janet and I were camping at the mouth of Twelve Mile Bay in October as I uncomfortably paddled over to the next island for an evening jaunt. The strong winds off the big water pushed me way past my mark until I finally reached the lee side of my destination. Roaming around I came to this sheltered bay. The combination of dramatic clouds, gentle waters and incredibly texture rock lured me in completely.”
  • “Grown Over”, 12” x 7.25”, oil on linen, Caledon, Ontario. “A couple of springs ago, my daughter Andie and I headed out for a little mini adventure: a paddle down the Humber River from Bolton to Kleinburg. To make it more of an outing, we brought our camping gear and pitched our tent at one of the many bends along the waterway. It was great father-daughter bonding, and her first chance to take the bow of the canoe in moving water, which she quickly adapted to. It was also a trip of discovery, one being this abandoned bridge that we could barely make out as we floated under it. This summer, with the help of Google Earth, I retraced our route and found that I could access it on foot from a nearby road. As I approached the old structure, which is part of the Humber Valley Trail, I began to preconceive a view from down along the river bank looking up. But I quickly realized just how grown over the site was, hiding most of the bridge when viewed from below. Instead, I found this perspective, enjoying the angles and textures of the bridge in a more intimate composition.”
  • “Repose”, 30” x 18”, oil on linen, Lake Superior, Ontario. “Superior’s rocks break through lucid waters at many places along its varied, rugged shoreline. Every time I see their intricate textures and diverse colours, I’m drawn to look closer. Surrounded by jade-like liquid, the clarity allows for a view into a mysterious and cold underwater world. Perched atop a rock point, these observations led to my midday attempt at capturing these alluring qualities of the great lake. As I was setting up to begin work on this piece a little bit of serendipity took place right before my eyes. For this stretch of the coast friends who had two young daughters the same age as ours joined us. While they played together, and the ladies were about their business, James was roaming the waters with his lovingly rebuilt canvas covered canoe. I had eyed this work of art since he first put it in the water. I have always had a fondness for canoes and the way they can silently transport to magical places. Hearing a deep, yet gentle, thump caused me to look up. Oblivious to what I was working on, James had brought the canoe to shore for a break. And, no word-of-a-lie, it was right where you see it in the painting! Although I love canoes, I had no intention of pursuing it in one of my canvases on this trip. However, looking at my composition, which I was already pleased with, and then looking back again at the freshly altered scene, I just couldn’t resist the newly added focal point. As it was by canoe that I learned to truly appreciate these waters in the first place, it seemed proper to have it be part of the landscape in which it belonged..”
  • “In The Valley”, 9” x 6.5”, oil on linen, Caledon, Ontario. “A morning hike through a Caledon valley nearby led me to this really interesting old tree. I know many would have walked past it and considered to just be dead wood, but the shapes formed by the hanging branches draping outward from the trunk set the lushness of the scene behind it off. I aslo love the textures found in the bark as it clings here and there. Topping off this morning were two does that came by to investigate. They came in through the mist as I painted, and silently stood by.”
  • “Pine Point”, 30” x 20”, oil on linen, Georgian Bay, Ontario. “A multi-day trip on my brother-in-laws 40 foot boat led us one evening to anchor near Killbear Provincial Park in Georgian Bay. Travel in a boat of such size meant that we could pretty much go anywhere we wanted to any time. The only down side is that once parked, I would be very limited in my choice of views. I really need to explore the possibilities around me before I start painting. Besides, looking is half the fun! Fortunately, Roy was game to help me find a way to strap my canoe over the bow, giving me the freedom I needed. On this early morning, while everyone else was sleeping, I quiet slipped away to greet the sunrise. Rounding a nearby point, I found this scene waiting for me. Unmistakably Georgian Bay with its sweeping pines and beautiful rock. I painted from my floating studio until the sun burned off the morning mist, and heard the rest of the family stir from the boat in the distance. I headed back knowing the coffee would be on.”
  • “Days’ End”, 12” x 15.25”, oil on panel, Lake Superior, Ontario. “It’s an all encompassing feeling to sit on Lake Superior’s rock and soak up the setting sun. The breeze hits your face as the waves lapping up against the shoreline fill your ears. And the sun slowly drops below the endless horizon. Makes me want to go back again.”
  • “Caledon Dusk”, 7” x 4”, oil on panel, Caledon, Ontario. “I consider myself very fortunate to live in a beautiful part of our country. The Caledon Hills that surround my studio are full of scenes rich in subject, colour and textures. When one takes the time to get out on the land in this region, you can often be faced with peaceful scenes like this one at dusk. I believe that is why many move away from Canada’s largest city to the south of us and settle here. Now only can you find a great atmosphere to live in, but it should remain so for a long time, hopefully, with the environmental policies that have been set out here, leading Caledon to be named the greenest town in 2004.
  • “Nighfall”, 40” x 24”, oil on canvas, Georgian Bay, Ontario. “A tapestry of tiny lights filling the night sky, air that renews your lungs and a silence broken only by the sounds of nocturnal creatures and lapping waves against the shore… There is no experience that melts one into the landscape like walking under the heavens in the wee hours of the morning on a remote island. Shrouded in darkness, the land takes on a mysteriousness that heightens your senses and permeates your being. While doing some midday scouting by canoe around Head Island on Georgian Bay, I found a view that caught my attention and made plans to come back early the next morning. While checking on my canoe before turning in for the night, I looked up at the stars. An awe settled in and for a few moments I lost myself in it. Maybe I didn’t need to wait until morning after all? Why not try to capture this nighttime experience on canvas? Dim illumination provided by the moonlight revealed the ground before me as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I picked my way along the water’s edge and reached the clearing where the northern sky was in full view. To my surprise and pleasure, the scene that I had scouted earlier in the day had taken on some unexpected changes. Northern lights in the form of a greenish celestial arch had appeared along with the Big Dipper. Both had settled in just above the horizon where they completed my composition perfectly. I soaked up as much as I could and headed in. On the hike back I couldn’t help but realize how fortunate we are to have places like these to enjoy.”
  • “Grand Coast”, 9.5 feet x 3.5 feet, oil on canvas, Georgian Bay, Ontario. “The inspiration for this painting happened while paddling a stretch of Georgian Bay a couple of years back. After picking our way through the many ridges of slightly submerged rock, I looked up to see this island, whose face would later see the setting sun. I returned to climb upon a nearby island that allowed me just enough elevation to get above the nearby grasses. With the sun dircetly to my back, I enjoyed the lenghthening shadows, as they stetched out over the foreground. The subtle magnificence of the scene, and the sheer breadth of it causes this to be one of of my largest paintings, and hopefully conveys the feeling of being there and the peace that I enjoyed.”
  • “Maples & Rails”, 9” x 5”, oil on linen, Caledon, Ontario. “Maples & Rails” depicts a fall afternoon in the hardwood forest, where I was hiking with my paints. Settling in along an old cedar rail fence afforded me a great view of the rich old maples, while the whitetail deer peered in over my shoulder to see what I was doing.”
  • “Signal Fire”, 16” x 11”, oil on panel, Lake Superior, Ontario. “I should have packed up and gone back earlier. I’ve painted into the dark many times before, but this was Lake Superior, a beautiful but unpredictable place. I had come out to this island to see the sun casting a glow over the landscape just north of Old Woman Bay. When that didn’t happen, I turned my attention to exploring the island itself. Camp was out of sight by this time, and as I raced against the oncoming darkness, a few magenta hues appeared above the horizon and the sun briefly poked out. It’s moments like these that make working out in the field so worthwhile. Had I only taken a few photos and left, I would have missed the closing ceremony to the day. Sometimes there’s a price to pay for that perfect light though. While feverishly trying to capture the fleeting scene, I hadn’t noticed the fog rolling in behind me. When at last I lifted my eyes from the easel, it struck me that I had better get moving. The canoe bobbed and surged as I plunged the paddle into the dark, rolling water. I would soon be leaving the comfort of this island shoreline to head into the foggy night, with no chance of seeing our camp on the distant shoreline. The sound of waves pounding rock resonated through my bones with each stroke, causing a heightened level of concern. Just as I began to question the wisdom of my predicament, I spotted a small orange light in the distance. Sure enough, Janet and the girls were thinking about me, and they had made a signal fire to guide me back. What a relief. It reminded me of stories I had read about the wives of sailors leaving a lantern in the window at night to guide their men home. Pulling the canoe safely ashore, I joined my family around the little fire. By the they turned in for the night, the moon had risen and its light danced on the water through the lifting fog. As the fires embers glowed, I started this painting that will bring back memories for years to come.”
  • “Manitoulin Morning”, 12” x 16”, oil on panel, Georgian Bay, Ontario. “A quiet summer morning, with only the sound of the gently lapping water slapping the rocks, found me sitting at the water’s edge on Manitoulin Island. I rarely paint clear skies, as I usually find greater interest in the endless formations that clouds can make. But this clarity of the sky on that morning seemed to complement the clearness of the water, and offset the texture of the rocks. Mostly though, I think the sky matched the feeling of calm that I had while I painted there.”
  • “At The Slates”, 16” x 8”, oil on panel,.Lake Superior, Ontario. “A unique group of islands with a history possibly related to a meteorite crashing into Lake Superior long ago. The Slates Islands. Although I can’t verify the prior, I can say from experience that it is an incredible place. Stepping off the helicopter, which was the only way to cross the 14km of open water in the winter, we found ourselves alone with the caribou. The ensuing days saw a rapport develop between the ice-walking creatures and ourselves, with the former coming closer and closer to the cabin we were staying in. This painting exemplifies the peacefulness of the Slates in the winter. The islands being caught by the first rays of the day were in front of the cabin so we got to see them at many times of the day. The late winter sun melted the ice enough to create interesting multi-toned reflections and even created some open water. For those whose idea of roughing it is a motel down the road, let them have it. I’ll take the cabin at the slates.”
  • “Tuckamore”, 16” x 10”, oil on canvas, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland/ Labrador. “This Tuckamore tree, found on the west side of Gros Morne National Park (in Newfoundland, Canada) is a prime example of the effects that nature can have on itself. Tuckamores are the spruce and firs that have been stunted by the continued onslaught of wind and saltwater, hence their prominence on the west coast of the island with its prevalent onshore winds. This particular tree caught my attention, as its twisted limbs seemed to tell of the lifetime it had endured.”
  • “Creekside”, 14” x 18”, oil on linen, Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario. “Fresh snow. Nothing quite defines winter like twelve inches of the fluffy white stuff. This location, found by snowshoeing through it all, highlighted that for me. We had planned our winter trip for March in the hopes of longer days and more enjoyable weather. It was actually milder than I had expected this day, and the benefit was that the Chikinashing Creek in Killarney Provincial Park was wide open and flowing. I even had the chance to canoe down the river for a ways. The clarity of the water and the blanket of pristine snow made for a memorable experience. I set up my easel alongside these waters as the late afternoon sun filtered onto the scene. At times, the quiet stillness in the forest amplified, by contrast, the soothing sounds coming from the stream. Adding to this winter symphony were tinkling notes created by water rushing past the ice along the banks. To this musical accompaniment, I painted.”
  • “Superior Morning”, 40” x 24”, oil on canvas, Lake Superior, Ontario. “An amazing morning at Tea Harbour, in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. I love dramatic lighting whenever I can get it, and the landscape in this region had all the elements combined to offer up a beautiful view first thing in the morning. The trees behind me blocked the sun’s low rays, casting a looming shadow across the water and the base of the “Giant”, while the cloudy sky and cliff received the full strength of the warm light. It’s sometimes difficult to paint when confronted with this kind of view, as you just want to sit there and soak it in. After breaking out of my trance, I finally got to work before it the ephemeral scene changed too much.”
  • “Dawn On The Notty”, 30” x 18”, oil on canvas, the Nottawasaga River, Northeast of Caledon, Ontario. “Every once in a while I like to grab a coffee, toss my painting gear into the truck, and head out for an early morning cruise along the country roads that surround my home and studio in Caledon. Sometimes I will have checked the maps to see where rivers cross roads, other times I just wander, hoping that inspiration will strike as the morning light cast it’s glow over the landscape. It was on one such occasion that I stumbled upon a bridge that I had never seen before, and took advantage of the access it provided to the banks of the Nottawasaga River. Pushing my way through dense spring foliage and clouds of mosquitos, the bridge faded from view as this pastoral composition opened up before me.”
  • “Sliver Of Light”, 16” x 10”, oil on panel, Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia. “I began this painting on location in the mountains of British Columbia. The vistas at that height are spectacular, but what really caught my eye in this scene was not those well known views. Instead, it was the subtle interaction of fog settling in on the snowy trees combining with a glowing warm light from above and in the distant sky.”
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