Resolutions Revisited for 2013

I really hate New Year`s Resolutions  but as I get older I realize that there is only so much time for me to turn into the smartest, best looking, rich and famous person that I hoped to be. So I will settle for working at being the best painter I can possibly be.
Here is my brave resolution for 2012:
 `I will paint more watercolour on Yupo paper, continue exploring abstract painting, particularly abstract landscapes, investigate the creative possibilities that collage offers, continue my series of "old men", try new acrylic techniques and look into all the options for watercolours without glass and frames.
PS. Visit more art galleries.`

I did manage to one more "old man" to the series and intend to get back to more, as these seem to have an emotional resonance for me. I did paint about four new paintings on Yupo, so enough for awhile. I continue to be excited by abstract painting and one of my most favorite this year was an abstract.(more later) I would like to do more in abstractions of landscapes, but I think this will be a learning curve. I have not done collage, and don't feel a pressing need to try it until a subject speaks "collage". I am still not sold on watercolour without glass and frame, but I think it may have to do with my choice of subject and so this is an ongoing goal.
This has been a busy year, with group exhibitions, including the Toronto Watercolour Society's juried exhibition. " Tea Buds" has also provided the opportunity for a one-man show. The Yonge -Lawrence Art Walk is always a success. In the new year, the first challenge is to prepare again for my own Studio Tour in May.

Somewhere on the Web, I came across someone showing their most favorite painting of the year, for whatever reason - not necessarily because it was the best. In that spirit I am including my favorite.

Why did I choose this? It is called "Reed Flute Cave #1" and reminds me of a recent and fascinating trip to China. It is a very abstracted  view of these fabulous caves near Guilin. I also love the brilliant yellow which brightens up whatever room it is in. It actually is one of three done one after the other and with increasing divergence from the cave concept:

Happy New Year to my blog pals!

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Photo Exhibition

I visited the opening exhibition of the exciting  new Ryerson Image Centre in downtown Toronto, a renovated and remodelled former warehouse building at Gould and Bond Streets. The space is shared with the School of Image Arts.
 .  The centre combines:

• three public gallery spaces
• New Media Colonnade at the entrance
• a fully staffed professional research centre with museum-quality environmental controls
• a climate controlled vault built to contain a million photographic images, including The Black Star Collection
• Ryerson University Fine Art Photography Collection
• Great Hall reception, conference and screening area

It was  created in part to display some of the 292,000 photos which it had received as an anonymous bequest from Black Star , a photographic agency.  The current exhibition features students and alumni of the school. Future exhibits begin after the holiday season.

If you get tired of viewing photographic art , you can skate on the very attractive small rink just at the side of the building.

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The Brushoff

This is the second attempt and probably the last for now, of dry brush technique using acrylic paint on canvas. 

                                                                    Vase of Flowers

This is the all time fourth and probably the last ever floral painting!

Don't forget, your comments are welcome and  keep me honest

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