Windless

I was just on the West coast of Canada last week, there was not a breath of wind and the ocean was smooth as glass.

It reminded me of a sketch I did when I was out kayaking a few years ago, not a breath of wind and all the sailboats were drifting aimlessly.

Surfs Up

One summer I was kayaking outside of Tofino near Hotsprings Cove. The barometer fell sharply, the skies darkened and a huge storm hit the area. I was forced to stay huddled on the beach with my 17 foot kayak as huge waves crashed against the shore.

It was a good thing I stayed put, as 3 fishing trawlers, each over 60 feet long, sank during that storm.

This sketch is called "Surfs Up"

I have spent a fair amount of time on the water on the West coast in sea kayaks. In a way you are like a turtle, everything you have is with you, your shelter, food, transportation. There are so many things to see when you are at ocean level in a kayak, but none more spectacular than catching a glimpse of the Orca whale.

You catch your breath, still your paddle and stare in awe as these graceful creatures pass by.

This sketch, "Orca", was created in Johnstone Strait near Telegraph Cove.

I've lived on the West coast for part of my life and find there are always things to catch the eye. From sailboats to ships, orcas and seals, every moment spent on the water is a magical time.

This pen and ink sketch is called "Wind at your Back". The sails are full, the boat is keeled over, and the air is damp with sea spray.

I've never been a fan of doing portraits of people.......I guess because the finished product is supposed to look like something that people can relate to/recognize. This is a self portrait in my early years as an artist, looking into a mirror. I was on the road as a ski rep, in some motel in some small town. Not a fan of TV, drawing was a great way to have some time for self.

At some point in life we learn that less is more, and to keep things simple. When I first started working in a ski shop the owner was married to a woman from Switzerland. One day I was visiting at their home and saw a picture of her Grandfather.....it caught my eye right away.

This sketch is called "The Swiss Grandfather"

I love to doodle (draw images on paper), I always have. Most of my books from school have drawings along the margins....I'm sure the book owners after me were wondering "What was this person thinking?"

This image is called "On my Mind", and started from an eyeball in the middle and morphed out into many things. It's fun to let the energy just flow and see what happens.

Its been a few weeks since we came back from the Islands of Hawaii. When I was there I realized how simple life can be, and how I do not need much in my life to be happy. Since I've been home I've been struggling to pick up a brush and paint. I realize that in my art I also need to simplify, and not get caught up so much in the process but enjoy the journey. The past few days I have been looking thru old sketch books at pencil and pencil/ink sketches of mine. In those days I could not afford watercolours, brushes and paper, so used what was at hand......pencil and paper. In the next while I will be featuring these sketches from my past while I stir the creativity inside me and pick up the brush again.

Africani Man

We always had copies of National Geographic in the house. This image was created from an article on African culture.

Pencil and Paper

I just spent two weeks in Maui with my family. Warm days, tradewinds and swaying palms....it was a magical, relaxing time. I did not take any of my paints with me, but my 8 year old son brought his watercolour travel kit with one brush that is quite small and a 4 x 6 watercolour pad. He and I did a few paintings/cards, and one afternoon while sitting on the lanai watching the surf roll in I painted Maui Palms. The palms represent my wife, my son and I, and how lucky we are to share this time together. Creating this painting reminded my how little we need in life to be happy and creative. In the next while I will be creating paintings/memories of this magical place.

Mahalo

Maui Palms 4x6 Not for sale