In 2006 I made a promise to a very special group of girls in India that I would be back.

After a very long absence, much longer than I anticipated it being, I returned back in October 2012.

Max and I organize all the donations prior to leaving for India.

October 2012 – the girls in one of our daily art projects.

More fun projects!

Some of our bead projects outside in the warm sun.

 

A photo of Sheetal and I from 2006, when she was a teeny – tiny thing, to now when she is 5 inches taller then me!

Max doing some drawings with the girls

The girls making some very creative picture frames for themselves, as well as gifts for their friends.

Sheela giving me a lift!

Rekindling old friendships with my sweet Pinki!

We also travelled to Varanasi and did a bit of volunteer work there with a local organization.

These 3 Buddhas are but another take on the large bronze Buddha I met and conversed with in the Japanese gardens in San Francisco in 2007. I have used the inspiration I received from the encounter with this bronze Buddha in several other paintings as well, but they have really evolved along the years as I experiment (and grow more confident) in different mediums.

Due to my ongoing battle with arthitus and chronic tendonitus in my left hand, I decided (errr… was forced) to change my tactics in painting technique and medium.  This go round I attempted to paint with more volume and texture, adding a choppiness to the paintings by using extra heavy gloss gel to the acrylic paint to give the paintings a heavier and edgier feel, which increased (I think) the intensity of the paintings while at the same time decreasing the pain and stress to my hand in the creative process.

The swirls and designs in and around each Buddha head symbolize luminous wisdom. The Buddha is often depicted with an elongated topknot of hair to represent his enlightenment. Here I have depicted supreme enlightenment as colours flowing and dissolving from the Buddha’s head into the suspended air of thought, emitting radiance and compassion in every direction.

It was also another year of painting through a lot of transition and challenges, and it was so refreshing after a long day to grab a brush and retreat into the Buddha Viaduct to escape the stresses of daily life. This excuse for escapism, accompanied by some inspiring new discoveries on the music front (thanks in part to A1 Quiet Radio – France) that (not so coincidentally) appeared at the perfect time, helped to guide the Buddhas and I to a beautiful place of reconciliation, understanding and acceptance.

The song list on my iPod for my 2012 creations:

Solace – Amethystium
Faraway – Amethystium
The Point of Darkness – Tim Booth
Dream of a Disco – Marsheaux
Seven Stars – Air
Evening Silhouettes – Epic 45
Great Escape– Kwoon
Frozen Bird – Kwoon
The Rip Tide – Beirut
Wait – M83
Safe and Sound – Raphelson
Tony Orlando and the Fantastic Five – PacoVolume
Replicate –  Fanfarlo
Shiny Things – Fanfarlo
Bones – Fanfarlo
Dirty Paws – Of Monsters and Men
King and Lionheart – Of Monsters and Men
Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
Love Love Love – Of Monsters and Men
Varuo – Sigur Ros
The Motion Makes Me Last – Eluvium
All the Stars In The Sky Are Mine – The Candlepark Stars
Missionary – King Creosote & Jon Hopkins
Horns in my Heart – Raphelson
In a Better World (Long) – Johan Soderqvist
Home – Will Hanson
You’ve Come To These Woods To Hunt Me – Oddfellows Casino
Death Won’t Have Me – Oddfellow’s Casino
Fall Apart Again – Brandi Carlile
Montana – Youth Lagoon
Bobby – Youth Lagoon
Blackbird Song – Declan de Barra
Curfew – Declan de Barra
Primer – Ghostlight
The Days I Recall Being Wonderful – Last Days of April
Zombie Nation – Cosmos70
Twenty Four Hours – Athlete
Be Still – The Killers
Last Night Thoughts – Aaron
Laura – Bat For Lashes
Release Me – Royal Wood
Lay Your Cheek on Down – Moonface

3 Buddhas 24″ x 36″
September 2012 / Calgary AB

In the world of symbolism, the Turtle is one of the strongest and most revered creatures on the planet. It has transcended all cultures, religions, and corners of the earth. It is a being whose magic united heaven and earth, and the sea turtle in particular is a prevailing mythic figure and archetype. The Turtle encapsulates protection, patience, wisdom, courage, compassion, perseverance, skill, longevity, loyalty, peace, confidence, love, adaptability, healing, and knowledge. Impervious to attack, the turtle is seen as a very model of settled, universal order. It is steady, strong, protective, and unshakeable. A self-contained creative source the Turtle is also called “the keeper of secrets” considered long-lived, wise, and secretive. The turtle is courageous because it makes progress only when it sticks its neck out, and moves forward with a patient, steady flow in order to achieve the desired destination.

The turtle has carried Wisdom on its back for many cultures throughout history. Wise with age, some psychological theories see in the turtle a connection with the self; the unity of the personality as a whole. Though life around us may be chaotic, the turtle can slow down and heighten its awareness, which continually allows it to see the connection to all things. Proverbially steady, in Eastern religions the turtle is thought to be the balance of opposing principles.

The turtle also signifies immortality and is considered a provisional dwelling places for souls making their way through a series of lives on the path to Nirvana. In many cultures, if you need grounding, focus, endurance or deep power, calling on the turtle for help is a time-honoured way of wisdom.

The song list on my iPod for my 2011 creations:

Winter Dies – Midlake
The Courage of Others – Midlake
Rulers, Ruling All Things – Midlake
Best Unsaid – Michael Brook
Oh My Heart – R.E.M.
Sinking Friendships – Jonsi
Saint Naive (Live) – Jonsi
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Ready to Start – Arcade Fire
Modern Man – Arcade Fire
UBerline – R.E.M.
Every Day Is Yours To Win – R.E.M.
Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I – R.E.M. (seriously, one of he best songs since Night Swimming)
Blue – R.E.M.
Photosynthesis – Carbon Based Lifeforms
Exile Vilify – The National
The Devil’s Tears – Angus & Julia Stone
Be the One – Moby
The Day – Moby
Stella Maris – Moby
The Violent Bear It Away – Moby
Lacrimae – Moby
Canis Lupus – Alexandre Desplat
Open Your Eyes (feat Peter Gabriel) – Salman Ahmad of Junoon
Perth – Bon Iver
Michicant – Bon Iver
Hinnom, TX – Bon Iver
Calgary – Bon Iver
Another Day in 1977 – Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
Forever Lost – God Is An Astronaut
How Does It Make You Feel – Air
Praan – Garry Schyman
A Dedication – Washed Out
Allies – Blue States
25 Years – The Go Find
We Bought a Zoo – Jonsi
Wapusk – Kathleen Edwards
Get It Wrong, Get It Right – Feist

Then this past summer I had a request from a charity group to donate some paintings for a silent auction. I decided to revisit this old friend and finish it off as one of the offerings for the silent auction (I often like to have the charities decide which paintings they think would be the best fit for their auctions).  Unfortunately, one of the risks in leaving a painting unfinished for several years is that the paint colours you started with can sometimes become discontinued, which was the case with this one. Luckily I had a bit of paint left over, but decided since one of the nice things about ethnic art, is to make sure there are imperfections in it, otherwise, it doesn’t look authentic to me.

So, you might not be able to pick up the subtle undertones of slightly different colours throughout, but they are there somewhat on purpose, due to my neglecting this poor fellow for enough time as to make his original paint tones extinct.

There is no rhyme or reason or any imbedded symbolism behind this one. I didn’t even plan it out in detail on paper as I do with the majority of my paintings. I just grabbed a pencil and sketched out some of the basics, but for the most part, I just added each design as I went along.

From time to time I like to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone and try something completely new.

This year, I tackled Albert Einstein.

There were some very personal reasons for why I wanted to do this painting. I needed something large to “chew” on (so to speak) while I made peace with some demons from my past. I don’t want to make this out to sound more dramatic than it is. The simple explanation is I was “officially” diagnosed with two fairly significant learning disabilities which explained a string of consistently bad report cards from Kindergarten right through to Grade 12. Truth be known, I’m not sure how I managed to pass each year (they certainly didn’t pass me because I was too tall, which I’ve heard has occurred from other students back in the day).

Anyway, to make peace with some of these fairly horrific teachers I had, especially in elementary school (where you could become a teacher pretty much out of high school – taking courses in the summers), I decided to go to the energy and wisdom of Albert Einstien, making a mock  cover of a magazine which doesn’t exist (until now).

The Einstein quote on the magazine has long been a favourite of mine, as is the following:

Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

This pretty much encapsulates most of my formal eduction. In fact, were it not for my marks in band and art, I would have most likely failed every year.

Painting Einstein I was able to channel the pain from my past that I’ve always carried towards some of those tyrannical teachers (and as a dear friend wrote: “…they probably weren’t actually educated enough to come up with a better professional solution that might require something more of them than the universal panacea: you work harder; we’ll sit back, keep our imaginations in park, and judge.”)

Regardless, it is something that made me who I am, and at the end of the day, I have to meet it half way and shake hands with. As the same dear friend wrote: “Hard for me to envy the testing but easy to see how it builds character, personality, unusual neural networks that others don’t/can’t have unless they bang into a big constraint.”

The song list on my iPod for my 2011 creations:

Winter Dies – Midlake
The Courage of Others – Midlake
Rulers, Ruling All Things – Midlake
Best Unsaid – Michael Brook
Oh My Heart – R.E.M.
Sinking Friendships – Jonsi
Saint Naive (Live) – Jonsi
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Ready to Start – Arcade Fire
Modern Man – Arcade Fire
UBerline – R.E.M.
Every Day Is Yours To Win – R.E.M.
Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I – R.E.M. (seriously, one of he best songs since Night Swimming)
Blue – R.E.M.
Photosynthesis – Carbon Based Lifeforms
Exile Vilify – The National
The Devil’s Tears – Angus & Julia Stone
Be the One – Moby
The Day – Moby
Stella Maris – Moby
The Violent Bear It Away – Moby
Lacrimae – Moby
Canis Lupus – Alexandre Desplat
Open Your Eyes (feat Peter Gabriel) – Salman Ahmad of Junoon
Perth – Bon Iver
Michicant – Bon Iver
Hinnom, TX – Bon Iver
Calgary – Bon Iver
Another Day in 1977 – Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
Forever Lost – God Is An Astronaut
How Does It Make You Feel – Air
Praan – Garry Schyman
A Dedication – Washed Out
Allies – Blue States
25 Years – The Go Find
We Bought a Zoo – Jonsi
Wapusk – Kathleen Edwards
Get It Wrong, Get It Right – Feist

Sara – Loon

The Loon symbolizes Peace, Tranquility, Generosity, Communication and Serenity. It was about 10 months between the time I agreed to paint these and the time I actually got them done. It didn’t take too long to come up with Sara’s symbol. I narrowed it down to about 3 options, and the Loon was the one that Sara immediately connected with. Sara confirmed she always had an affinity to the Loon, so the fact that it was one of the options I gave her made it the perfect choice.

There are 2 Loons in the painting for Sara, in a Yin and Yang motif. The colours I chose represent her electric personality, and the energy and mystery of the Loon. Vibrant red with a dark gun-metal / earthy toned grey for contrast, and a smidgen of grey/taupe to meet the opposing forces in the middle.

Jason – Whale

The whale is the historical record keeper and the master of navigation. It symbolizes regeneration, death, rebirth, guardian, power of water, traveler,creativity and intuition.  Is is thought of as being all knowledge associated with voice, psychic and telepathic abilities.  It is attached to all aspects of the sea, connected to the emotional depths of the ocean, beauty of movement, creation, power of song, awakening inner depths. It symbolizes well-being, nurturing as well as emotional depth.

It is said that people who have a strong affiliation with whale energy may also be very deep and sensitive souls. People with Whale Energy (or who carry the Whale Totem) are perceptive and nurturing and must be careful to not take on the pain of others.

People who are attracted to the whale often feel devoted to a greater cause, and although they may struggle with their own personal emotions, they tend to naturally conjure healing powers towards others in emotional trauma.

In the native culture, the whale symbolizes new beginnings and the creation of all life on earth as we know it.

The inspiration for this set of 4 paintings came from photos I took back in 2007 of the large bronze Buddha (cast in Tajima, Japan in 1790), that now resides in the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. I have also used this same image of the Buddha for other paintings as well.

Once again, these are done on one of my new favourite mediums, 16″x20″ birch boards.

At first glance, they all look very similar, but each is slightly different in its own unique way (as we all are – not just to one another, but within our own psyche and the different sides of our personalities).

The swirls and designs in and around each Buddha head symbolize luminous wisdom. The Buddha is often depicted with an elongated topknot of hair to represent his enlightenment. Here I have depicted supreme enlightenment as colours flowing and dissolving from the Buddha’s head into the suspended air of thought, emitting radiance and compassion in every direction.

Remember not to settle for the meaning of life, rather opt for the intense experience of it.  Be trail blazers on the road of original experience.  Savour the eternal memories that appear out of the fleeting moments. Travel undaunted amid the wonders and sorrows that will appear in the labyrinth of your journey together. And most importantly, experience the radiance of the world and your pairing with awakened hearts.

Seek what you already are my friends – enjoy the journey.

My iPod song list for all my 2010 paintings

(and what a GREAT year for being musically inspired to have 3 of my favourite artist release albums within 4 months of each other – Peter Gabriel, The National and Jonsi):

Heroes – Peter Gabriel
Flume – Peter Gabriel
Listening Wind – Peter Gabriel
The Power of the Heart – Peter Gabriel
Duckie – Solvent
Pandora (For Cindy) – Cocteau Twins
Cico Buff – Cocteau Twins
Rise – Liquid
Moon to Earth – Jonson
Bowing Down in Grace – Parijat
The Winter – Balmorhea
Gold Star Mothers – Hammock

You Don’t Have a Clue – Royksopp
Silver Cruiser – Royksopp
Don’t Leave – Ane Brun
Swimming – Abel Korzeniowski

Tornado – Jonsi
Kolnidur – Jonsi
Hengilas – Jonsi
Grow Till Tall – Jonsi
Jackie Says – MONO
Say Hello – David Wingo
Wavin’ Flag – Young Artists for Haiti
Cold Summer – Seabear
Unbounded – Amethystium
Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National
Runaway – The National
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks – The National
The Thrilling of Claire – The National
November – Paul Cardall
Isolate (Mixhell Remix) – Moby
Bongo Bong – Manu Chao
Good For You – Dousk
Deep Inside – Sine
Forever After Days (demo) – The National
Progress – Jeff Woodall
Paper Scissors Stone – Portico Quartet
Isla – Portico Quartet
Alwasy Returning – Brian Eno

When I was in Toronto back in December 2009 I noticed that Ralph had transcended his original painting, and knew I wanted to break it down into individual pieces to now incorporate Daniella into his life in images.

There will also be a fourth painting to this trio, representing Daniella – which will be forthcoming in the next few months.

Bird / Courage

One of the reasons for the change in paintings was Ralph’s comment that he wants to change the colour scheme in his house, but wasn’t sure of where he was goign to go with it. So I decided to make each painting its own colour.  From Ralph/s original, entry: I have drawn this symbol of a bird in general, but it is in reference specifically to the Eagle, Hawk, Rooster and Raven. I have also incorporated the imagery of the Feather. Ralph (like me) is born in the year of the Earth Bird (Tibet) or Earth Rooster (China). Birds are used to represent prophetic knowledge, and for warriors they represent prowess. They are chief of all the creatures in the air, and the primary servant of the Sun. The Eagle symbolizes courage, the spirit connection to higher realms, air, power in battle, clear vision, success, prosperity, wealth, intelligence and renewal. The Eagle is a protector from evil, and its medicine attributes include clear vision and soaring spirit. The Eagle is associated with success, prosperity and wealth. In the Zuni Tradition, the Eagle symbolizes the direction Up (also a great Peter Gabriel album!). I have used the Hawk for strength, foresight and truth. The Rooster is the warmth and life of the Universe, and symbolizes courage, vigilance, incomparability, passion, and pride. Lastly, the Raven (much like Ralph) is the bringer of magic and light, and represents creation and knowledge.

I have also incorporated the use of the Feather in the wings. The Feather is a sacred universal symbol of flight within the spirit world and serves as messenger to the Great Spirit. Feathers are symbols of prayers, sources of ideas, marks of honor, and represent creative force. This square is for Ralph’s soaring spirit.

Sea Turtle / Life Path

For this new image for Ralph, I have incorporated the Life Path (Man in the Maze) into the body of the turtle.  The image of the Turtle has transcended all cultures, religions, and corners of the earth. Ralph embodies many of impenetrable characteristics of the turtle. The turtle is a being whose magic united heaven and earth, and the sea turtle in particular is a prevailing mythic figure and archetype. The turtle encapsulates protection, patience, wisdom, courage, compassion, perseverance, skill, longevity, loyalty, peace, confidence, love, adaptability, healing, and knowledge. Impervious to attack, the turtle is seen as a very model of settled, universal order. It is a self contained creative source and is also called “the keeper of secrets” considered long-lived, wise, and secretive. The turtle is courageous because it makes progress only when it sticks its neck out, and moves forward with a patient, steady flow in order to achieve the desired destination. The turtle has carried Wisdom on its back for many cultures throughout history. Wise with age, some psychological theories see in the turtle a connection with the self; the unity of the personality as a whole. Eastern religions the turtle is thought to be the balance of opposing principles. In many cultures, if you need grounding, focus, endurance or deep power, calling on the turtle for help is a time-honoured way of wisdom.

The maze is the story of every human being, traveling through life as though through a maze, taking many turns (some veering us away from where we directly want to go, acknowledging that sometimes the world takes you on a different path from what you’d planned, so it can teach you something). Every turn is an opportunity to find acceptance or an understanding you need to acquire before you reach your destination (I mean how do you know who you are supposed to be unless you occasionally see yourself in contrast to what it is you think you are… follow me on that???), but all the while growing stronger and wiser as the centre of the maze comes closer. It is a variation of the Tohono O’odham’s symbol of life cycles and choice, and eternal motion with the goal of achieving harmony. The design is actually a unicursal figure that represents the choices one makes throughout life. This represents the journey from darkness to light.

Dragonfly / Truth

I tried for 8 months to put a colour into this Dragonfly (as stated above, to give Ralph a new pallet of different colours to choose from, so that these new paintings would fit into whichever pallet he decided to go with). However, it just would not take a colour. Sometimes, you just have to let the painting tell you where it wants to go.  So, just 2 weeks before I was due to fly to Toronto to give these to Ralph, I tried it with no major colour, just deep dark brown, tan and white, and it worked. This square incorporates 3 images into one. The image is of the Dragonfly, yet just beneath the surface holds the magic of the Dragon and the Butterfly. The Dragonfly symbolizes truth, whirlwinds, skill, refinement, swiftness and activity. In the Zuni legend, Dragonflies are shamanistic creatures with supernatural powers. The Dragon is used for wisdom due to long lives and hypnotic magic (and hypnotic magic is how I describe a lot of Ralph’s music), as well as eternity, courage and strength. And lastly the Butterfly is for metamorphosis (which ties into the border), self-transformation, balance and grace, all of which Ralph exemplifies. This square is Ralph’s wings. He told me he always wanted to fly. I of course told him he’s always flown.

Follow Your Bliss Update / 18″ x 18″
Toronto ON / August 30, 2010

I have to admit, these paintings took more time from idea to completion than almost any other set of paintings I’ve ever done, particularly in the design stage. I spent more than 3 months getting the image just right.

These are also painted on birch boards (16×20), not canvas as all my others are.

The charity event was a resounding success and at the end of the night, Linda McCue who commissioned a painting by me back in 2006, won the highest bid on the set of 4 paintings. Congratulations Linda!

“I found your web site today by searching for man in maze symbols. I was very absorbed by the turtle with man in maze. In this time, I am going through a hard time in my life and I am searching for what I wanna really do – job, be happy with that and doing good things to other people. As a reflection for this I would like to get a tattoo with man in maze – symbol for my life path, for good and bad times, and searching for higher spirit. So my question is if you will give me please the allowance to use the painting of turtle with man in maze as a base for my tattoo.”

I thought that showed great integrity and class that he emailed me for my permission to use it. As an artist, all my work is copywritten, however that does not necessarily stop anyone from using it without my permission. I was grateful that Jan took the time to send me an email, explaining his desire and understanding of the symbol, and the reason it was so important to him.

I replied stating that he could indeed use the symbol, but he must allow me to change it slightly for him. As I’ve stated before, all of my work is one of a kind, and the original symbol he saw was for Simon, and Simon alone. So, I suggested I could alter the image for him slightly to better fit his personality. Jan replied,”I would be very happy about the changed painting, it would be a honor to wear for the rest of my life symbol from person like you.”

Jan and I had an immediate connection and I very much enjoyed our email conversations over the next few weeks as I designed him a new tattoo. His knowledge of symbolism and mythology rivaled my own.

Jan sent me all his information, his affinities to certain symbols and numbers and the reasons why. He was so fantastic to work with. I’ve said it before, it is one thing to paint something for someone that they put on their wall, and perhaps “out grow” over the years. It is another thing to design something that a person embeds upon himself permanently.

Some of the things I added to this tattoo, from our conversations, included 7 rays of fire in the turtle’s head (for Jan’s affinity to the number 7 and the fire symbol). I used a bear claw print in the fin of the turtle (a symbol and totem of good luck in the native culture) since Jan told me his totem animal is the Grizzly Bear. I also added an Owl at the top of his life path since Jan also explained to me how his guardian symbol is the Owl.

Lastly, I threw in a few Koru symbols (swirling ferns) as one of the photos Jan sent me of himself was from an trip he had taken to New Zealand. I too had an amazing / life altering trip to NZ, so I added the Koru which symbolizes spirituality and new beginnings.

I think Jan also holds the record for the fastest turn around time from the time he received my final image, and when he had the tattoo done (just a couple of weeks). In December, Jan emailed me a photo of the finished product.

“so its done. Thanks to you I have a new beautiful turtle tattoo. I hope you will like it. Thank you very much again for all what you have done for me. I wish you peaceful Christmas time, enjoy it in peace, health and love with your family and I hope only the positive energy and good things will follow you in the year 2010.”