Vernissage

Vernissage

You are all cordially invited to my first Vernissage happening Tuesday, the 3rd of February at Casa Del Popolo.

It will feature some of the work you've seen here as well as some brand new pieces that will only be visible on site. Aslo, I will be raffling off one or two pieces that are not posted here so this is your chance to not only come support a local artist, but to maybe bring home a little (or big) something...

There will also be a sure to be memorable performance by Toronto Slam Poet Spencer Butt (who's been features in 2 pieces on this blog) as well as a few Montreal artists who will not be any less memorable...

I look forward to seeing all of you who can make it out and send love to those who can't!!

Click here for the facebook event page with all info.

Please note that this flyer was created by Mark Gravel.

Mom has a Chest Piece

"Mom has a Chest Piece"
December 2008
14" X 18"
Glass

This is a painting of Rachel Tremblay and her daughter. Rachel is a very talented Montreal painter who is also one half of the band August Elliot (the other half being her husband Mitch). I was first introduced to her work via a painting of hers that one of my past room mates had hanging in his room. She has a very distinct style and more of her awesome work can be seen here. Info on her band can be found at here.

Hilary

"Hilary"
December 2008
10" X 8"
Glass
NOT FOR SALE

This is Hilary Keithlin, a Montreal girl who divides her time between school and being an Improvist. This is a Kirk Lee Foon shot of her and the glass piece it inpired me to create. All colors are underneath the glass and the black is on top creating a mat/glossy contrast and some depth effect as well. Find out more about Kirk Lee Foon here.

So 1920

"So 1920"
December 2008
10" X 20"
Canvas

This is another piece I've made using a picture of Spencer Butt. He's just so off the wall with the way he delivers his poetry that he inspired this. The original photo is by someone unknown to me but who can be found here.

Glass Bob

"Glass Bob"
December 2008
16" X 12"
Glass

Last summer, I found 2 old window frames in the dungeon that is the space under my ground level apartment. I sanded down the wooden frames and cleaned the glass with the intention of painting something on them, but I could never find something worthwhile. I finally decided to use one of these to re-create this classic Bob Marley image. The picture doesn't show this as well as the real thing, but similar to the the previous glass paintings of Mark and Isabelle, the black portion is on top of the glass and everything else is underneath providing a gap effect between layers.

Mark and Isabelle

"Mark and Isabelle"
December 2008
10" X 8"
Glass
NOT FOR SALE

These are two portraits of my friends Mark and Isabelle on glass frames. Not easy to spot on the picture is that the paint is on both sides of the glass and thus provides a gap in between the black top and gold/white background.

Isabelle Menard is a radio host as well as stand up comedian and can be found at: http://www.isabellemenard.com
Mark Laporte is still definitely not a gangster and can still be found at: http://www.donnetamusique.com

Various Sin City Panels

"Various Sin City Panels"
December 2008

I'm not going to pretend to be an old school purist who's been down with Frank Miller since forever. Truth be told, I had never heard of him before I went to see the first Sin City movie. Blown away, I proceeded to read all 7 Sin City graphic novels within a week and have loved the style since.
Recently, I was bored and felt like making larger canvases of some panels I particularly liked. These are not pieces I consider "mine" since I took the images from Miller in their entirety, but I do consider them "mine" in the sense that I've given them life on canvas and hang them on my wall to provide inspiration and decoration.
The sizes are as follows:
Cliff Toss: 16" X 20"
Gas Can Toss: 8" X 16"
Hang Man: 16" X 8"

"Marv"
September 2008

This is the first Sin City piece I made for the same reason as the ones above: boredom and love of the style.

49

"49"
November 2008
22" X 28"

So Barack Obama won the election. But way... way... way... before Obama-mania and eveything that came with it, back in his underground days, one of my closest friends was already rooting for him... so I felt it fitting to make this painting of him and give it to him for his birthday a week after the election.
Take note that the symbol in the right hand corner is #49 from the I Ching (Book of Change) and represents "Revolution."
Also take note that I can't take all the credit for this one since it was a combined effort from myself and good friend Mark Gravel. Rather than give a link to Obama or the I Ching, I'd much rather shoot you off to Mark's website at: http://www.markgravel.com. A pleasure to work with, learn from, as well as snowboard with!