Tuesday, April 24, 2012

New Oil Paintings, Spring 2012 - Full Moon

'Borer's Falls, Dundas'

... the moon has been SO BRIGHT ...

'Over Lake Ontario, Burlington'

If interested in purchase, please contact the artist.

Kehinde Wiley - Yes/No?

'Sleep' by Kehinde Wiley

You either like it or you don't. 
 Processes are 'secondary'. 

Did he actually paint it? 
Who cares.

Yes - or - No
?

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Earth Day Every Day

Earth Day Every Day - Get Involved 

Incomplete Manifesto for Growth 
by fellow Canadian, Bruce Mau
 HERE 

Where it all began, 
the 1969 Santa Barbara Oilspill

Have a good 'un!


Friday, April 20, 2012

New Oil Painting - 'Spring Creek'

 'Spring Creek' 
- oil on primed oak plywood -
SOLD
Contact zee artist for trim size & price.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Photo Sketching: Yes or No?

As an artist who has used a pencil for as long as I can remember, it is a tad unnerving to use a 'photo sketch' software program to 'render' my photos into 'sketches'. Overall, yes, kinda cool, but without question something is lost in the translation. I think mostly it is the capriciousness of the human hand. These compositions are pleasing enough in their own right, but again, something is missing ... like the ACT of putting pencil to paper and integrating with THAT eye-hand synergy. The above 'illustrations' have been calculated by the push of buttons - and, again, yes, kinda interestin', but also, no, not really. Photography 'documents' moments in time in a way that is very different then a REAL pencil sketch. This effect -  like so many other 'special effects' now available with and for digital photography - are just gimmicky. There, said it.

The issue of our age seems to be the whole concept of TIME: past, present & future, finite, infinite, nano-seconds, clock watching TIME. It's taken me a few hours to get these 'photo sketches' to a state that I am willing to publish them on the net as 'digital renderings' that can now be 'reproduced' ad infinitum globally. Enough TIME, in fact, to have done at least 4 finite paper sketches from start to finish that would stand as tangible material culture from this spot on the planet.

.... hmmmm. Not convinced. ... Are you?

Postscript:  For fun, I linked this item through to the Fine Art Photographers Group on LinkedIn. The response was very interesting. If you are a LinkedIn member, you can access the dialogue/debate here.
(I'm not sure what happens if you try to access the thread if you're not signed up.)

Conversely, Paul Cadden is pencil drawing images of photographs. Samples here 


Thursday, April 5, 2012

'The New Aesthetics': Waving at Machines

 Paparazzi Meet Prince Charles & Camilla, Canada, 2009 - Oil by mlh

Earlier this year I mentioned that I would be posting links/profiles of activities in the art world of interest. Yesterday I found this provocative VIDEO of James Bridle giving a lecture in Australia last December. The video is embedded in his website. More then anything, I appreciate that James is attempting to 'curate' the ever-increasing digital world that surround-sounds us. As much as machines watch us, we watch them. Some detest this increasingly intrusive 24/7 surveillance, but others have taken a more pro-active approach that is determined to 'teach' machines to be better, more socially receptive and less alienating.

To my mind, there is no going back. The technology is here to stay (as long as power that drives them exists) and has, in fact, become a mainstay of our existence. Ergo, we MUST adapt, and make the BEST of it.

Sit back and ponder what James is offering. Consider too his age: yup, he sure is a young buck. Now consider his emotional honesty, his desire to IMPROVE where we're headed, how we're getting there, and what to do en route ... His voice addresses our collective Future.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

DVSA's 42nd Spring Auction, April 14th 7pm

 'Mind's Eye' Photo Collage donated by m.l.holton / Popular Choice at 'Memory's Shadow' Solo Exhibit

Starts at 7 pm

Over 1200 original works of art from established & new artists
Oils, Pastels, Watercolours, Sculpture, Pottery, Jewellery etc.
Wonderful Works!

Free Previews: 
Thursday April 12 & Friday April 13, 9am – 9pm
Saturday, April 14, 9 am – 4 pm
Silent Auction bids accepted during these hours

Admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door

21 Ogilvie Street, Dundas, Ontario
905•628•6357

More about the DVSA, here

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Exhibit 8: Spring Collection - Art in the Workplace @ McMaster Innovation Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

'Northern Lake Light'  (2011) - FOR SALE  

Please join serious artists & zany collectors 
(and/or zany artists & serious collectors)
at 
Exhibit 8: Art in the Workplace
 'Spring Collection' - Reception  
    When?  Wednesday eve
March 28th, 7-9pm
Where?  The Atrium @ MIP
175 Longwood Rd S., Hamilton

Wine & Cheese. Great Crowd. Wonderful Art.
Exhibit runs from March 28 to July 12th, 2012 

80 talented & diverse artists - over 100 pieces of art for purchase!
Also, upstairs from the Atrium, beguiling
PORTRAITURE from the BENSEN FAMILY COLLECTION   
  
    Directions/more info: here
(NB: Free Parking in lot to the EAST of MIP.)

---- 
A few photos from the Opening Reception of March 28th, 
including some riveting early Canadian portraits 
from the fabulous BENSEN Collection ... 


My favorite two paintings:: Timothy Eaton, Grandson of retail titan Timothy Eaton,
painted by by Maurice Codner in 1930 - 
(Timothy Eaton was founder of Eatons Department Store, an icon of Canadian retail) -
and a charming Mrs. Woodhouse, painted by Nathanial Dame, circa 1750.
In both instances the depiction of 'character' and use of colour are exquisite.

The Crowd at McMaster Innovation Place.

 

Third fav portrait of the evening:  my pal 'Petey'
in front of my landscape on the ground floor of the Atrium at MIP.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Black & White Digital Photography Samples

Note: the above montage was done as a single item. 
Click on the image once & it SHOULD fill your screen for better viewing.
Clicking on individual images will NOT enlarge them separately. 
If interested in purchasing a single shot from this montage, please contact the artist
Thanks.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Two New Oil Paintings - Winter Magic & Snow Stars

It's been a rotten WINTER all round:  little snow, no ice, no blistering winds, or sustained frozen temperatures. There has been little back-breaking digging: no frozen breath, dribbling noses, frosted fingers or cold toes. There's been no crunchy steps on crispy mornings, no delightful snowflake swirls or crystal clear starry skies.  In short, no blissful white magic. I have missed it. Still, the mood, the feeling, the underlying sense of it all lingers deep within this 'canajun' psyche. Thus, these two new oils revere what hasn't been: WINTER'S MAGIC. - Enjoy.

 'Winter Magic'

 'Snow Stars'

Both items are FOR SALE. 
Contact the artist.