doreyme

mutant orchid, 8x8", watercolour, toscana paper, 2008

lest we forget

Geoffrey James, National Gallery of Canada

Went to our nation's capital for some R+R + art appreciating, starting with Montreal's Geoffrey James' vernissage + fabulous retrospective show of mostly b+w panoramic landscapes.

blue shoes, Ottawa, May 30, 2008

Looks like art: Underground Parking Lot, Ottawa, May 2008

I spy...birds

portrait of g, a year ago, 22x30, watercolour arches paper, 2007

looks like art: Branches, May 2008

Cartier + photographer, Mount Royal, May 27/08

I spy...new Keds

mama's got a new pair 'o' shoes, watercolour, 8x10" toscana paper

feel out of practise, haven't done a new watercolour in weeks.  Must try this again because the watercolour isn't up to par with the lovely John Fluevog shoes.

Sydney Pollack, RIP

I spy...paths

Mt. Royal Tourists, May 26, 2008

some of e, watercolour on Canal paper

I spy...yellow

Looks like art: Red Rectangle, April 2008

I spy...white

Mt. Royal Tree III, 8x8", oil on luan

I spy, with my little eye, something that is...red

Looks like art: Double Tree Trunk, May 2008

Snow Angels, 16x16", oil on luan (carved) 2008

I spy, with my little eye, something that is...orange

The rules to my "I Spy" are simple. I pick a colour or theme while I'm walking my dog + I can't cheat + add things later, once I pick a subject during that hour or so.   Today it was "orange", which was very difficult.  Very little orange along the river.  There would have been lots downtown but I wouldn't walk my dog there.

Looks like art: Copper Pipe, Pink Thingie, May 2008

artful pieces

How do artists compete with "artful pieces" for 29.99 or 34.99+tax?  

I spy, with my little eye, something that is...green

Mt. Royal, October, 8x8, oil on luan, carved, 2008

Looks like art: Arch Tree

I spy, with my little eye, something that is...blue

Gull Lake, 12x16, oil on luan

Not a recent one, one of the few older paintings actually, on exhibit at the Thomson House.

Elvis or Paul?

A woman in Indigo asked me. Which one was better looking? Which one did I like best? Well, Elvis, I said. Even if he didn't write his own songs, who cares, his voice was amazing. Earlier that day, walking towards me, a man told me thank god Sonny got shot in the Godfather because now he didn't have to waste a bullet on him. And then later that day, I bought a bag of dog cookies for Handsome Fellow + it came to 4.63 + the saleslady said, you don't want the change do you. And I said, why wouldn't I? And she said well most people when they pay by bills don't want the change. And I said, well I do. Money is money + thinking very fast + that's 37 cents + why wouldn't I want it? Sheesh. + she looked at me like I was crazy.

Looks like art: Tree Mound

Mt. Royal Forest, 24x24", oil on luan, carved, 2008

Currently exhibited at Thomson House, McGill campus.

fighting PVD

that would be Post Vernissage Depression, as all artists vividly know. The best thing (in the keeping yourself grounded category) I ever read about art making some years ago...can't remember where. Some artist was complaining that they spent so much time working on their art + no one was buying it (I am not complaining, people are buying) and some wag replied, well, no one asked you to make the art. Well, too true. But I can complain about our current gov'ts disrespect towards the arts. This year the ceremony in Ottawa, honouring the artists who received the Order of Canada for their contribution towards the arts wasn't even televised by our national tv station, the CBC. Tsk, tsk. By all reports, it was a dazzling evening with some of the brightest, shiniest stars performing + did Canadians get to see this? Nyet.
And there is a trickle down effect. A country that doesn't honour its artists is No Country for Old or Young (wo)Men.

Looks like art: Square Dealies by Side of Canal

No idea of their purpose, perhaps to prop up or secure sloping land? In any case, quite curious + pleasing to the eye.

Verdun Cotoneasters, 36x46, oil on luan, 2008

This a recent one, a tiny bit exaggerated, but quite life like in terms of the new fresh reds + greens of early spring. On exhibit at the Thomson House, Montreal.

go habs go, 16x16, oil on luan, 2008

the exhibition continues...

Current Exhibition: Edith Dora Rey May 15 to May 29,2008
David Astrof Fine Arts, located at McGill University’s Thomson House (3650 McTavish Street in Montreal, Quebec), has on exhibit at any one time, more than 150 pieces of artwork created by contemporary Canadian artists. With a restaurant on the first floor, sitting rooms and a bar on the second, a ballroom on the third and meeting and billiard rooms on the fourth, Thomson House provides a unique living environment for exhibiting artwork. Appointments to tour Thomson House can be made by calling 514-286-2476 or e-mailing [email protected] or [email protected]

David, 32x32", oil on luan, (carved) 2008

I will not endlessly post winter paintings...
just a few more until next year...This one of "the best looking kid in the world" + currently on exhibit at Thomson House.

Looks like art: Whoever Robbed

thanks to everyone

vernissage lovely success, lots of wonderful people showed up, wonderful location, wonderful curator, David Astrof, wonderful evening...

Vernissage starts at five...

thomson house, overlooking downtown Montreal

Mt. Royal Forest II, 24x24", oil on luan, 2008

Rauschenberg RIP

so tomorrow, tomorrow

is my show at Thomson House. The paintings, named, priced, hung. The wines, snacks, etc, ordered + bought, the wardrobe selected, the hair cut, the invites out, the directions outlined. Nothing much left to do but ice the cupcakes (de rigueur for any decent vernissage, n'est-ce pas?) + get a good night's sleep...

Yikes! Vernissage tomorrow!

Starting at 5pm, 3650 McTavish above Dr. Penfield. Indoor parking is available in the Education Building, 3700 McTavish (a few steps up from Thomson House) at a $7 flat rate parking fee after 5pm, although often there is parking available on the street. McTavish is a short street between Dr. Penfield + Pine. Go up or down Peel, turn east (it's one way) on Dr. Penfield + Peel, then almost immediately left on McTavish, at the light.