| This series was painted over the past five years on location in very important sites to me. I think the aspect of Toronto life I like the most is the fact that one always has exposure to a green belt, regardless of where one lives. Therefore people of every income level and lifestyle can escape to green finery. Nor does one have to venture very far to find farms and parks. Erindale Park in Mississauga is one of these in-city spaces. I also love the Kincardine and Muskoka areas and have painted many scenes from there, including scenes along the way traveling to and from these areas. My recent trip to Italy yielded a love for that country as well. My colour palette changed once I was exposed to the vanilla, peach, lime and pearl in the countryside. A trip to a vineyard where I tasted the wine on the premises made an unforgettable memory. I have included two portraits which mean something to me on a social level. Capturing a likeness is critical, of course, but the essence of the person or how she/he represents his/her place in society is much more important. |