Three New Paintings!

POSTED MAY 1, 2008 AT 1:00PM

I have just completed three new paintings capturing winter and summer at Mono Cliffs and summer in the rolling hills near Salmon Lake. You can view them on the PAINTINGS AVAILABLE page. I have two large winter landscapes in the works and several promising study paintings waiting to be captured at a larger scale.

My most recent and largest painting - 'Winter Birches, Mono Cliffs No.2'.

New Paintings Soon!

POSTED MARCH 24, 2008 AT 9:00AM

As another winter of painting comes to an end (I think...10cm of snow forecasted for tomorrow), I will soon be posting new work on the PAINTINGS AVAILABLE page. Recently, I've been sketching more than ever, working out composition and visually studying the landscape. I have numerous paintings planned and will continue to add them to the website as they are completed. Visit often so you don't miss out on purchasing your favourite painting.

Recent sketch 'Winter Foliage, Mount Nemo'. click to enlarge

New Direction

POSTED MARCH 6, 2008 AT 9:00AM

Capturing the diversity of woodlands and forests is a long-term exploration that has been the focus of my work. The many atmospheres, colours, textures and contrasts are infinite in number and always a challenge to depict on canvas. Recently, I have become interested in exploring the human element in the landscape. Specifically, I am intriqued by the stories associated with human-made structures. What is life like under the roof of the large house on that treed lot? What has happened in the boathouse on the northern shoreline? What role has the surrounding landscape played in these stories? I plan to continue exploring this new direction with sketching and small study paintings and eventually, I may produce larger scale works.

'Summer Afternoon, Guelph - Study' and 'Salmon Lake Boathouse - Study'.

Commission Just Completed

POSTED FEBRUARY 11, 2008 AT 9:00AM

Commissions are completed and delivered to the patron often without being seen by many people in person or on the website. To remedy this trend, here is a commission that I recently completed titled Afternoon Light, Mount Nemo No.2 measuring 24x30 inches, oil on canvas. I like the strong shadows stretching across the snow and the red outline of the trees against the blues and whites of winter. I'm intrigued by the many subtle undulations of the snow revealing the hidden complexity of the forest floor that won't be discovered until Spring - deadwood, rocks, vegetation, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. The biodiversity is fascinating.

'Afternoon Light, Mount Nemo No.2' Commission, 24x30 inches, oil on canvas. click to enlarge

Guitars, Paintings and Memory

POSTED JANUARY 28, 2008 AT 10:00AM

In The New Yorker magazine's May 14, 2007 issue, in his article 'Struts and Frets: building a better guitar', Burkhard Bilger writes that:

"[A vintage guitar's] sound comes to us as a mixture of memory and acoustics, muscianship and wish-fulfillment. Without [Hendrix's] 'Purple Haze' or 'Voodoo Chile', the squeal and moan of a [Fender] Stratocastor might seem less appealing."

So memory and muscianship play an important role in creating the appeal of a great guitar. Memory and artistic ability have the same role in creating a great painting. With artistic ability a landscape is captured in oil paint that awakens a memory and a response and connection is created. It could also be stated that without Tom Thomson's 'West Wind' or Lawren Harris' 'Above Lake Superior', the Canadian landscape painting might not resonant so strongly. Then again, this could be a reaching attempt on my behalf to unite two of my passions - the guitar and landscape painting.

My Beard resonator guitar (left) and 'Autumn Color, Salmon Lake No.2' painting (right).

Winter = Studio Time

POSTED JANUARY 9, 2008 AT 10:00AM

It's winter and that means long hours in the studio creating new paintings from the many photos and painting sketches collected from the summer and fall excursions. The music will be loud, the coffee will be flowing and the creative energy will be exhilarating. Stay tuned to the web site - I post new paintings on the PAINTINGS AVAILABLE page even before the paint has completely dried.

Recent sketch soon to be a large-scale oil painting. click to enlarge

This blog, or web journal, contains anything and everything that inspires and influences Jamie's painting. When you know more about the artist and what makes him tick, the painting on your wall has more meaning.

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