Okanagan BC

In the Okanagan, I had a new studio and new subjects but as an artist always similar subjects nestle in my mind. Although plants and machinery may appear poles apart they present me with similar puzzles: fitting shapes together to present an interwoven image. Plants inspire colours which liven otherwise “dull” mechanics. Agricultural machines often

BC Machinery

After a year at the Steveston Cannery, I moved to the Okanagan where two subjects intrigued me: indigenous plants … and my continued interest in machinery.

Beyond Vancouver BC

Historic Canneries Whilst working at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, I went up to see Port Edwards outside Prince Rupert, pictured above, a more extensive cannery site though less frequented year round. (I would have enjoyed more time there; easier to do more work in Steveston, a short bus ride from my studio.) At the

Beyond Vancouver BC

Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Steveston BC I was delighted to accept an opportunity to research in the Gulf of Cannery, a National Historic site, in Steveston BC . My original plan was to base my work on the structure but it was the machinery that fascinated me. The site is bitterly cold all year round:

Beyond Vancouver

Steveston BC – a great spot for fresh fish Both my father and brother were mechanical engineers and I have always been fascinated by machinery. Plus, having never lived in one place for more than four years, the qualities that make a place unique continue to intrigue me. In 2003, I spent time in Steveston

Vancouver’s Heritage Colours

True Colours program More on colour: Black and white archive photos don’t help owners researching historic colours when restoring heritage homes. Writing color notes, I rarely paint on site in my sketchbook – adding pigment later. (When dawing a quick series, damp pages can easily damage ). Vancouver owners can choose from Dunbar Buff, Strathcona

Colour

Heritage buildings Walking along Jackson St on a breezy sunny day, I was first attracted to this white building by thedappled shadows, then to its icing sugar colours In the 1980s, when I began painting old grocery stores and their adjascent sites, colours appeared consistently across a variety of neighbourhoods. How had they looked originally?

VANCOUVER BC

all art works on this site are copyright protected and cannot be used without express permission HERITAGE ADVOCACY In community advocacy, start an idea and watch it morph. In art, drop a strongly pigmented ink onto a wet surface and watch it infuse every wet area if it’s a dye – or creep into fascinating

Vancouver BC

Seasonal Colour Many trees shed their foliage in winter, revealing many features hidden from the road, an ideal time to draw houses. Then, a walk in the park also shows us the graceful spread of wooden limbs in places like Jericho Park (sketch) On COVID neighbourhood walks, I took seasonal pictures for friends abroad. Their

Industrial Heritage

Waterfront Vancouver sits on a wide delta where many fingers of the Fraser river spill into the Straight of Georgia. Like all waterfront cities, marine traffic plays a key role for commerce, fishing, tourism etc. Vancouver waterfront aws originally heavily industrial. I often drew warehouses that ceded their spots to development pressures. Granville Island had