https://federationgallery.com/show/2020_success/0


Earlier this year I submitted a portfolio of ten of my works to the national artists' group, the Federation of Canadian Artists in the hope of receiving "signature" status. Due to Covid the whole jurying process was delayed by a few months time but on July 21 the jury of 20+ senior members finally convened and my work was accepted for signature status and so I am now an associate member! This means a lot to me as it is validation that my work is considered to be an excellent quality as judged by my fellow artists.  There are 2800 active members in the Federation, 193 associate and 90 senior members, with most chapters active in Western Canada.  The FCA offers support to member artists in the way of workshops and exhibtion opportunities and provides access to great art for the public with it's gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver as well as many local shows at the chapter towns and cities.  

I have recently returned from a  kayak trip to Haida Gwaii where we paddled from Ramsey Island northwards to Skedans on Louise Island.  Along the way we visited 4 different watchman sites, Hotspring Island, Windy Bay, Tanu and Skedans.  I was amazed at the generosity of spirit of the watchmen as they welcomed us with a warm bed when we were soaked to feeding us delicious meals.  I didn't get a chance to do much sketching or photography on the journey as the conditions were too wet but I hold many fond memories of the land and sea there.

One of my recent watercolours of the Tonquin Morraines has been accepted into the Federation of Canadian Artist's show at the Granville Island Gallery for June.  

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This show will feature two large oils that have been recently completed.  They are:
Carmanah River which is a large oil that depicts the Carmanah River when I visited it this summer.  Carmanah Provincial Park on the west coast of the island is known for its ancient forests.  The trees are massive and very old.  A very magical place!
First Snow in the Kootenay.  This image was derived from a visit to the Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National Park.
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I will also have a painting entitled, Trapper Creek, a 15 x 20" watercolor, in a Federation of Canadian Artist Exhibition entitled, "wORKS ON PAPER", that will be going up next week in the Federation Gallery at Granville Island in Vancouver.
I am now painting for a show in Victoria for the Federation Chapter of Victoria in March which will be displayed in the Art Gallery of Victoria.

I have been very busy working with the Cowichan Valley Arts Council this past year.  It is a great organization with a core of dedicated volunteers and two paid part time employees, an executive director and an office manager.  I am elected to the board and serve as the secretary.  I also work on the programming committee and have taken the lead role in arranging workshops for the people of the Cowichan Valley.  This is a time consuming but interesting role as I get to interact with the instructors and get to listen to what local artists would like to see in their instruction.
I have recently submitted three works to be juried into the Sidney Fine Art Show.  I am waiting to find out which works have been selected by the jurors, knowing only that at least one has made it through.  The Sidney Fine Art Show is one of the bigger and better known shows on the island and many artists enter it.  This summer one of my pieces was selected to be in the Sooke Fine Art Show and the piece was sold.  I will definitely enter more pieces into that show as well.  Two of the pieces are from nearby rivers, the Koksilan and the Cowichan, which I have painted plein aire and then taken images back to the studio.  The last image is of the sea stack on San Josef Bay.  I visited there this summer when I went to hike up to Cape Scott.

The Federation of Canadian Artists Nanaimo Chapter is holding their Fine Art Show on Nov. 2-4, in the Dodd Narrows Room of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.  79 paintings from 44 different artists will be on display and a silent auction will take place from 9 am Nov.2- 7:30 pm Nov. 3.  I will have two pieces (below) in the show.  The first piece is of the Finlayson Arm estuary which is located at Goldstream Park north of Victoria, famously known for its salmon run in October/November.  The last piece, Carmanah, was completed after a visit to the Walbran-Carmanah Provincial Park on the west coast of the island.  Carmanah is known for its ancient old growth forests and it is a truly magical place.

I was pleased to hear that my painting, First Snow-Kootenays was recently awarded an honourable mention in the Federation of Canadian Artists juried show, Scenes from Western Canada!

 In October of 2016 my wife, Ann, and I have moved from Alberta to Duncan BC in order to be closer to family.  It has been an interesting move with lots of challenges and opportunities.  We have purchased an older home (1940) right in Duncan, which has required some renovations and these have kept me busy for the intervening months.  I am slowly getting to know the Island but haven't ventured too far from Duncan yet but hoping to expand my horizons once the weather improves!  I have joined the Cowichan Valley Arts Council and am volunteering at the Portals Gallery and meeting many wonderful folk. I am still coming to know the west coast and how to paint it.  I haven't seen so much green in my life!  

Thanks to all of you who attended the Edson Creative Arts Society's Palette and Pottery Show on Nov. 13- 15th.  Your continuing support is very much appreciated and the society could not continue without you!

The Marjorie Lake Trail is a very short trail accessible right from the town of Jasper.  In the autumn the trail winds its way through pine and aspen forests with brilliantly colored underbrush highlighting the ground.  It's not unusual to encounter a bear or wolf on the trail.

This image appealed to me because of the vertical elements of the aspen trees and the contrast between the darks of the forest and the underbrush.  The trail beckons to me to keep going!