NEWSLETTER
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"THE NEW TENANTS" |
ACRYLIC ON PANEL |
18 x 24 |
After taking a break when my solo exhibition closed at the Arts and Letters Club in December of 2007, I started off 2008 with a new painting The New Tenants on January 2.
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"USS FORRESTAL" |
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS |
30 x 40 |
When visiting Newport RI in 2000, through the kindness of Bill Rommel of Arnold Fine Art in Newport, I was able to gain access to the Newport Naval Base and see the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal close up. The ship had been stripped of all of its weaponry and the mast truncated to fit under the Claiborne Pell (Newport) Bridge but it was still a magnificent sight. We sailed under her bow and the view looking down the hull and up to the flight deck was breathtaking. I envisioned what the view would be like when the ship was at sea and decided to paint it. When I returned home I did some preliminary studies but other projects materialised and the picture of the Forrestal was relegated to the ‘To Do’ pile in the studio. I had never really forgotten it and kept gathering reference material. When cleaning the studio at the beginning of 2008 I came across my reference folder on the ship and decided that I would make it a project to complete the painting this year. In early February I started work on many studies and drawings and was able to start work on the painting at the end of the month. I have included a more detailed description this project in the Tips and Techniques section of this website.
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Opening of the Arts & Letters Club Exhibition - The Varley Gallery |
I am a member of the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto and 2008 was the club’s 100th anniversary. In March the club held an exhibition of works by club artists at the Varley Gallery in Unionville. My painting Before the World Changed, which is in the permanent collection of the Arts and Letters Club, was included along with works by current and past members of the club.
During the winter and spring of 2008,I conducted many painting workshops for art associations in Toronto and Southern Ontario and was privileged to be the juror for two exhibitions. The severe winter weather kept me from painting on location so I worked in the studio and completed many new paintings to replace the ones sold at my solo exhibition and to increase my inventory of works.
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Student Painting at Loyalist College |
Summer 2008 |
My summer’s teaching started at the Southampton School of Art in June followed by two courses at Loyalist College in Belleville in July. This year I will not be returning to Southampton but will instead be offering an oil painting workshop at Bridgewater Retreat located at Tweed, Ontario.
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"ALLEGHENY RIVER" |
OIL ON CANVAS |
12 x 16 |
In early August I travelled to southern New York State. It is a very scenic area and the Allegheny River provides some magnificent vistas. This painting is of the view up the river from the campus of St. Bonaventure University at Olean, NY.
For some time I had realised that my trusty friend and companion, HAL my five year old computer was becoming very crotchety and unreliable and had to be replaced. As I am sure most of you know this is not a decision to be taken lightly. I decided at the same time to upgrade my printer and scanner so that everything would be of the same vintage and work well together and also upgraded my software. It took about a week out of my painting schedule. However due to the speed and reliability of the new machine, I quickly recovered the time lost. I think something that many artists fail to realise is that besides the creative side of art, there is also a business one. This business side will usually take almost as much time as your painting.
In October, I taught Part II of my course “In the Studio of Masters” at the School of Continuing Studies – University of Toronto, which has been very successful, covers the history of artists, their materials, and their studio practices. Both Parts I and II each stand alone, and it isn’t a prerequisite to take them in chronological order. Both will be offered this year, Part I in May and Part II in the fall of this year. I will also be offering an exciting new course in the fall.
In October, I also participated in the annual Art Exhibition held by the Volunteer Committee at the McMichael Gallery. Many people visited the show sales were brisk. In late October I was notified that I had been elected a member of the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA). The OSA was founded in 1872, and is Canada's longest continuing art society. I am looking forward membership and to participating in their events.
In November, I taught a two-day workshop in the historic studio of the Arts and Letters Club. It was a great success and I will be teaching a workshop again at the club this spring.
In December, I exhibited my work in a joint exhibition at the newly-established gallery at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. It is a lovely space, and the exhibition was a great success and I will be having another exhibition there in the future.
The revision of my website was the last project of 2008 and has carried me into 2009. By the time you are reading this I will be working in the studio on new paintings and upcoming courses. Please visit my teaching page to see the courses I will be offering this year. Perhaps we will meet at one of them.
Best wishes to you all
Doug