As the calendar turns over to a new year, so does the hope and possibility of adventure in the studio practice of painting.
Being open to new ideas and exploring what unfolds in the painting process is always on the agenda. But there is something special about a new year! That sense of being able to reinvent
yourself, to correct misdirections not only in life but also in creative endeavours, ignites excitement in me.
A fresh canvas and a clean palette are like inhaling possibilities with the first sip of morning coffee.
It all starts New Year’s Eve which has, for over 20 years, been a uniquely reflective evening for me. I decline invitations to gather with friends, protecting my boundaries for this night. My
tradition is a personal year-in-review coupled with setting projections and goals for the year ahead.
I ask myself questions that are both personal and creative. After all, they are deeply interconnected—metaphors of life often echo in creative practices. To provide structure and gauge progress, I set quarterly goals for the year. While I may not always adhere to them, having a starting point makes me feel organized and intentional.
In recent years, I’ve explored various genres that reflect my concerns for the planet and the personal. My paintings have delved into stylized yet recognizable imagery to convey such
concepts. However, my current itch is to return to more abstract forms that allow ongoing and evolving interpretations. Abstraction, I believe, enables interpretations to shift over time as we grow and experience life anew.
And in all honesty, abstraction is my favourite.
Lately, I’ve been working more on paper using acrylics, a practice that helps me develop ideas for larger oil-on-canvas works. These smaller explorations have become invaluable, keeping me focused and informed when I move to larger canvases.
Lately, I’ve been working more on paper using acrylics, a practice that helps me develop ideas for larger oil-on-canvas works. These smaller explorations have become invaluable, keeping me focused and informed when I move to larger canvases.
Even after 30+ years of living in this house, each morning I still rush to the studio, eager to play and see what unfolds. Painting, for me, remains as joyful as being a six-year-old squishing mud between their toes.
I welcome 2025 with abundant optimism and an absolute willingness to play like a kid again!
Preliminary work on paper for Winds of Change |
Completed Winds of Change, oils on canvas |
Basket of One
Acrylics on paper
24×30 inches
2024
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Me in the studio working on paper
and then moving to a very large canvas