The pure energy of black and white

The pure energy of black and white

 What is the purest way to express the energy of a moment in a painting?  Time and again, I return to pure black and white line paintings for this purpose. A white surface and black paint – either straight from the tube or mixed. Just one tool. No distraction of...
Seeing through the fog

Seeing through the fog

Fog. A form of water that, like snow and rain, can transform our world in a matter of minutes. Whatever the landscape – coast, mountain, dessert – fog can roll in and cover everything that we could see clearly only minutes before. Where are we? Where are...
Discovering the delightfully unexpected

Discovering the delightfully unexpected

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And color has become a special object of affection the last few weeks due to its scarcity. Toronto had its grayest, foggiest December this winter. And so far January is continuing the trend, with the promise that this is likely the...
Instructions for living

Instructions for living

“Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. “ — Mary Oliver. These are Mary Oliver’s instructions for living a life. Simple. Yet profound. Wise advice that I try to enact in my own life. And advice that I like to share with clients. A recent walk around the...
Wishes and hopes for 2024

Wishes and hopes for 2024

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu As we head into 2024, there is much we cannot know about what lies ahead. Uncertainty is an integral part of human life. We can be sure, though, that the new year will...