Poor man’s Picasso

This is my attempt (above) to reproduce Picasso’s 1902 "Blue Nude” (original is at left). It’s made up of five or six (more?) layers starting with a black background and built up with acrylics. The last few layers were oils applied with a palette knife. Not sure how the original was made, but that’s how I did it. Keeping the colours subtle was a bigger challenge than I expected. Lots of scratching and scraping. There are plenty of things I could keep picking at but I’m calling it.

Poor Man’s Picasso
Acrylic and oil on canvas
16” x 20"

Fog spill

I was at The Rooms today to check out the David Blackwood exhibit. It was a very extensive show: everything from one of his earliest paintings in 1958 up to his most recent aquatints. I brought my camera along -- not to shoot the show but to grab some shots of the harbour. The Rooms has a great view. While we were there the fog was just starting to spill into the harbour.

Favourite Scissors

Is it wrong to have a favourite pair of scissors?

We must own at least ten pairs. They are scattered  throughout the house, hidden deeply in junk drawers and boxes, never to be found when they are most needed.

My former favourite pair of scissors were a pair of surgical scissors. They were hung in the same spot all the time in my workshop in the basement. When we moved house, they disappeared. None of the other scissors in the house were a suitable replacement.

Fast forward to last summer’s garage sale. A friend of ours brought a few boxes of items. Among the items was the pair of scissors you see above. Solid metal with large handles which were painted red and well worn. They were sharp and functioned perfectly. Came from a good home, I like to think; from someone who cared for their tools.

As soon as I saw them I snatched them up, nearly giddy. I think she gave them to me.

So now my new favourite scissors hang in my workshop. You can see them in the background of the photo, hanging on the pegboard.

I can’t believe I have that much to say about scissors. Maybe my subconscious was churning up memories while I was painting.

Regarding the painting, I needed a short-term painting to work on. I’m still working on a big landscape but it’s weeks from completion. I needed a quick fix. This was a fun piece to do. I slathered on a generous amount of paint so it has some nice texture. I still see a few spots I’d like to touch-up, but it’s essentially done at this point.

Favourite Scissors
6" x 12"
Oil on panel

Gros Morne landscape -- in progress

Though I haven’t posted any paintings in a while, I have been busy. Aside from cleaning up my workspace, I’ve been gradually painting another Gros Morne landscape based on one of Chris Hammond’s photos. This is an in-progress shot. It’s a big canvas for me: 24” x 36”. I’m trying to take my time with it: lots of layers. It’s still rough but coming along.

E.I. reform

My latest cartoon for the Northeast Avalon Times. If you’re in the neighbourhood, pick one up!

Threadless submission: Skinny party

I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring at Threadless again. Came across this submission to Illustration Friday from three years ago. Why not try and give it some new life? If you like it, feel free to drop by the link at Threadless and give it a like, a tweet, a vote, a wink, a kick in the shins... whatever your urge.

Brightly coloured cocktails, grand stories being told, gin splashing with wild gesticulation. Good times.

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UPDATE: Well that was a quick rejection... declined by the Threadless editors in less than 12 hours.

Rusty the rooster

I was out hunting for records this morning and came across this fellah in junk shop. Had to have him. Might make a good painting subject too!