Prisoner of Love

If you are sailing south to escape winter on a tropical beach, beware the shores of Kalypso’s island, or you may become a prisoner of love! I like the loose, calligraphic brushwork and the sense of light and shadow in this painting. To rosy-fingered dawn… Barry

Painter and Model

This week we are presenting two oil sketches on the same theme, the painter and his model. I applaud the way this artists lines echo the curves of his model. Mostly done in black,orange and browns, this one is full of textures, as it was painted over an autumnal landscape, which you can still see … More Painter and Model

Venus and Mars II

I made hundreds of charcoal drawings in the 1980’s. This is a favourite theme, allowing me to explore contrasts of various kinds. I am proud to have drawn expressive form from such minimal means. ‘Til next week, Barry

Actors

My actors are artists, facing uncertainty in an indifferent world with a stoic gaze. They make me think of Penelope and Odysseus. They were painted in acrylic over a photolithographic landscape which shows through faintly in parts of the image. I feel that the muted colours here allow the swift lines to play off one … More Actors

The Blues

There once was a drinking establishment at Dundas and Clarence that featured a lot of blues music on their stage. I painted two large canvases for their windows to advertise the fact. Here are three sketches I made in preparation. There’s a rockin’ little trio under the spotlight tonight. Here we’re onstage with the band, … More The Blues

Autumn

The hazy heat of summer is behind us, giving way to shorter days and cooler nights. One of the consolations of the arrival of fall is the change in the colour of the leaves , which adds new tones of red, yellow and orange to the fresh greens of the landscape. Here are two autumnal … More Autumn