Over the last 40 or so years I have made my way through the world as a visual artist, a museum worker and a folk musician - often all at once, with the percentages of each vocation shifting up and down to suit the times. I treasure the moments I get to witness as a singer and instrumentalist - playing at dances, concerts, festivals, schools, and jam sessions. These images are all drawn from that part of my life. The characters who inhabit these paintings are mostly friends from the Ontario folk music scene.
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 X 24”, 2022
Acrylic on panel - 12 X 16”
Acrylic on panel - 12 X 12”
Three-colour Reduction Linocut - 5 X 7”
Acrylic on Canvas, 16 X 20”, 2019
Coloured pencil on paper 8 X 8” 2010
I have spent much of my life living and working in the small towns and villages of southwestern Ontario in Norfolk, Brant and Oxford Counties. These paintings include my impressions of Port Dover boat parades, shipyards, and net shanties as well as the Norfolk County Fair, and local farming country.
Acrylic on Panel - 12 X 16”, 2022
Acrylic on panel - 11 X 14”, 2021
Acrylic on Panel 24 X 24”, 2022
Acrylic on canvas - 16 X 20”, 2021
Acrylic on panel - 11 X 14”, 2022
Acrylic on Canvas 18 X 24”, 2022
Acrylic on Canvas - 18 X 24”, 2021
Acrylic on Canvas, 20 X 24” - 2020
Acrylic on panel 12 X 16” - 2020
Acrylic on panel - 12 X 12”, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 20 X 24” - 2020
Acrylic on Canvas 16 X 20”, 2020
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 X 24”, 2020
Acrylic on Canvas 16 X 20” - 2020 (At the aviary)
Acrylic on Canvas 16 X 20”, 2020
Acrylic on Canvas, 16 X 20” - 2020
Acrylic on Panel 12 X 12” - 2020
Acrylic on Panel, 12 X 12” - 2020
Acrilyic on Canvas 20 X 20”, 2020
Acrylic on Canvas 12 X 16”, 2020
Acrylic on panel, 12 X 16”, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 16 X 20”, 2020
The H.A. Smith in Harry Gamble Shipyard.
Acrylic on canvas 18 X 24” - 2020
Acrylic on Canvas, 18 X 24” - 2020
Acrylic on Canvas 20 X 20”, 2019
Acrylic on Canvas 16 X 20”. 2018
Songs and stories have always manifested themselves visually in my imagination. These painting are inspired by (mostly) traditional lyrics or in some cases by favourite local folktales. Some are part of an ongoing series of "Song Birds" suggested by some of the legions of real and symbolic birds that turn up in traditional folksong lyrics. "Buddy" and "Jack The Russian" were created from Port Dover, Ontario rumrunning tales. (There is actually a 3rd "Jack The Russian" panel which doesn't appear here)
Acrylic on Canvas, 16 X 20, 2020
Acrylic on Panel, 12 X 16”, 2020
I did my first album cover design in 1975 and did about 100 others back in the era of vinyl records and Letraset typography. Eventually graphic design technology got away from me and I laid low in this area for a couple of decades. In the past few years I have clawed my way back into the fray with Photoshop, InDesign and other digital helpers. I don't miss the rubber cement. Here are some of my recent projects and a few examples of "ancient history". Some of the latter are small images taken off the internet, because even I don't have a copy!
Letterpress and Linocut over Digital Print
Original linocuts, and wood engravings about 5 X 7" to 10 X 16” These are printed on a 1950s Nolan showcard press, A 1906 “Pearl” treadle platen press and an even older “Excelsior” tabletop platen press . Many include letterpress elements including antique wooden and metal type and repurposed antique engravings. Available framed $50 - $200. or unframed $25.-$100. (plus postage if neccessary)
This press came out of the office of the “Haldimand Advocate” newspaper in Cayuga.
Wood Engraving - 4 X 5”
Wood engraving - 5 X 7”
Wood Engraving with letterpress 3.5” X 6” (image)
Wood Engraving 3 X 5”
Linocut and Letterpress 10 X 16”
Two-colour linocut over gel-printed background 9 X 12”
Linocut and Letterpress - 8.5 X 11”
Two-colour Linocut with Letterpress
Wood Engraving - 3 X 5”
Three-colour reduction linotype. - 5 X 7”
Two-colour linocut over gel-printed background 9 X 12”
Linocut and Letterpress 8.5 X 11”
Linocut with Letterpress 5 X 7”
Original Linocuts with Letterpress and Vintage engravings 4 X 5.5
Two-colour linocut/letterpress 9 X 12” with “Henku” poetry by Amber Homeniuk.
Two-colour linocut/letterpress 9 X 12” with “Henku” poetry by Amber Homeniuk.
Linocut
Linocut with watercolour tint. Image 6 X 6”
Linocut - Commission for CD cover
Wood Engraving and Letterpress
Linocut 6 X 8”
Linocut with letterpress 8.5 X 11”
Linocut with Letterpress - 9 X 12”
Linocut & Letterpress - 8 X 10”
Hand-printed linocut
Linocut and Letterpress - 8 X 10”
Letterpress 9 X 12”
Hand-printed linocut
Hand-printed linocut
Hand-printed linocut
Recent prints inspired by broadside song sheets and other street literature of the early 1800s. Wood engravings and linocuts with hand-set type. The lyrics of the broadsides and chapbooks are from original songs and poems by me and a few of my friends. There are also imaginary sheet music covers based on popular songs from more recent history. The antique wooden type was mostly acquired from weekly newspapers in Southern Ontario. The 12 pt. body type was cast for me by Kevin Martin of “The Papertrail” in New Dundee. Broadsides were printed on a 1950s hand-inked Nolan proof press. Chapbooks were printed on a 1906 Golding “Pearl” platen press.
Email me if you’re interested in purchasing one. Thanks!
Free MP3 downloads of the songs on some of the broadsides and chapbooks are available elsewhere on this site.