LIGHT OF MY LIFE: MY MOMENT ON THE BIG SCREEN

The survival drama stars Casey Affleck and Anna Pniowsky as a father and daughter who find themselves trapped in the woods after a deadly pandemic has ravaged the rest of the world. Their bonds are put to the test as the father tries to shield his daughter from dangers.

Early Spring of this year, I received a call from a film company, Light of My Life Productions, asking if I would be interested in having my paintings featured in a movie written, directed and starring Casey Affleck. They had been filming in the BC interior and Vancouver, and were now heading to the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island to shoot scenes at Elkington House. Long story short, Sara White, Production Designer, and Zoe Jirik, Set Decorator, visited my studio and chose 12 pieces for the film. As unfamiliar as I am with how the film industry works, I do realize that some if not all of my paintings may end up "on the cutting room floor" or worse, the film may never be released. If it does make it though, I have been promised photographs of my paintings on set. Needless to say, my fingers are getting cramped from the months of keeping them crossed.

Teddy Schwarzman is producing Light Of My Life via his Black Bear Pictures banner, which is also financing the project.

Black Bear Pictures? Check out my black bear painting on my home page....could this be a good omen? (it was not one of the paintings chosen for the film).

Will keep you posted!

The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti: HOW TO RALLY WOMEN'S MARCH SPIRIT INTO ACTION

As I was driving to Victoria today, I happened to turn on CBC Radio's The Current (click on title above). I thought it was a very powerful piece with an important and timely message. It is a call to battle. The march was a baby step, which must be followed with a full on fight to the finish, giving no quarter.

Come on, women, it's time to run with the wolves and howl for all you're worth.

STARVING ARTIST DONATES THOUSANDS TO SAVE BEAR

2016 UPDATE: The painting has been gifted to an angel patron back east who donated $25,000.00 to Raincoast Conservation Foundation. WHOOT!!!

How's that for an attention grabber or media headline?

I have always said that I would never part with my Jimmy Wright painting, Ursa Major...well, never say never, especially when it will help a worthy cause as close to my heart as it once was to Jimmy's: saving bears, or any wildlife for that matter.

Some of you already know (via Facebook) how I feel about trophy hunting. I find the lack of movement by our provincial government to stop this senseless and inhumane killing of bears in BC appalling, especially when the majority population is clearly against this type of hunting. That is why I have decided to gift my bear to save the bears.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, BC, and I are "on the hunt" for a Patron of the Arts and lover of wildlife; someone willing to make a substantial donation (as follows) to help halt the trophy hunting once and for all in our province. Ursa Major has been appraised by The Estate of Jimmy Wright at $25,000 to $30,000 and is "still highly sought after by collectors" (see below). And I will gift this one-of-a-kind earlier work to the first person to donate $20,000 CAN or more to Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

(Keep in mind that the painting is much more textured and detailed than the low res image file pictured here.) Along with Ursa Major, the donor will receive the written appraisal by The Estate of Jimmy Wright, a charitable donation tax receipt issued by Raincoast  for the value of the donation and a big bear hug from wildlife everywhere.

URSA MAJOR
by James Dee “Jimmy” Wright (1937 - 2008)
acrylic on canvas
57” x 49”

Which brings me to the reason for this post and the part I am hoping you will play. We would very much appreciate any help you can give in getting the word out there: by sharing this information with anyone you know who might be interested, or who might know someone who might be interested, and so on, and so on, and so on. I will also be posting this on Facebook and asking that you help by "Like"-ing and sharing.

Anyone wanting more information, or interested in making a bona fide donation, may contact me via email at patonplace@shaw.ca or Fred Gregory, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, at fredgregory@raincoast.org.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping with such a worthy cause

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

It is almost time once again for this amazing juried exhibit in Sidney. It may seem like a long way to go for some of you, but this show is definitely worth the trip.

For more information, please visit Sidney Fine Arts Show 2014 online.

And, honestly folks, I did not know that this was going to be their poster when I decided to paint "OLD BANJO" and submit it for jurying. It's all very exciting.

Old Banjo, 18" x 54", acrylic on wrap canvas

VISA TURNS 10 FUNDRAISER

YOU'RE INVITED

VANCOUVER ISLAND SCHOOL OF ART

2549 QUADRA STREET, VICTORIA, BC

250 380-3500

show continues until November 17th

My piece is titled

"TAG LINES: Realism as Abstract"

acrylic on panel

Some of you may recognize this as taken from the top railing of the

yellow gate at The Quarry in Shawnigan Lake

Almost Time to Query

As you can see, it's been well over a year since my last post. I forget that, while I have sent out several newsletters, I really need to keep things current on my website.

My excuse? I have been busy writing a book, titled The Eating Club. The image to the right is my working cover for this hefty tome, which comes in at 147,000 words, give or take a the, and 474 pages. After completing the "shitty first draft" as Anne Lamott would call it, I then began the arduous process of editing...and editing...and further editing.

Still editing.

However (I'm told one should never began a sentence with however), I am almost done and will soon begin the crippling process of querying. Several optimists have asked if I will self-publish once I have received my 100th rejection letter.

Ask me after 101.

Unfortunately, this has left little time for anything else, not even painting, although I did manage a piece, Don't Forget To Write,* for this year's Sooke Fine Arts show, and am working on another for the Sidney show, which juries in September.

* view in Abstract section of my website. And thank God it sold; all this time spent writing does not a bank account fill.

My Draft Pitch

Move over Ya-Yas and young girls in traveling pants. 

Make way for the women of Canada's West Coast. 

They laugh louder than a loco Ono,

shoot tequila faster than a speeding BMW, and

can clear a room in a single belch. 

Meet Kate, Abby, Hadley,

Giordana, and Clare

Kate, the closet Christian, whose favorite word is [four letters]

and favorite men are gay. 

Abby, who believes her breadbox is the Oracle of Weight Loss and

Cheez Whiz is the answer to everything. 

Hadley, armed and ready for any occasion,

she’s packing shots of tequila and a shaker of salt. 

Giordana "Gee" for guileless, the object of a wrong man's affection. 

And Clare, who gets away with murder. 

They're funny, they’re fabulous...and oddly familiar. 

These are the members of 

The Eating Club

A debut novel by Kristine Paton

Once Upon a Day in Cowichan

I'm sure by now many of you have already viewed the five minute trailer for this spectacular video (produced by DV Cuisine), which premiered last week to a standing ovation. For those of you who haven't seen it, please take the time to watch it now; you will not be disappointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHC9D11xA4c&list=UUyV2ZrP4bTCOgtNBnZcHKVg&index=2

This video explains why I have never had the desire to travel much, or felt the pull to move to Toronto or New York to become a not-so-famous artist. Everything I want is right here, right where I live. As I watched the video over and over, its depiction a far cry from the "drunken" Duncan of my youth (maybe that was just me!), I felt my heart swell along with the "Ode to Joy" soundtrack. The full-length video, about 45 minutes, is available through the CVRD. I have a feeling it will sell out quickly...if it hasn't already.

A Festive Piece for Sopa's Christmas Show

    Candycakes, acrylic on panel, 29 1/2" x 29 1/2"

Burning of the Vines Event at Vinoteca

All I can say is that it was awesome. Fatima outdid herself (if that is even possible) and the weather held until it was over. Coco Jones may have photos posted on Facebook if you want to check it out (in case you didn't know, I don't do Facebook).

Below is one of the pieces I finished for the show. Most of the work will be hanging for the month of July, so why not kill two birds with one stone and make a reservation for lunch. Sitting on the deck, overlooking the vineyard, sipping excellent wine and eating one of Fatima's creations is nothing short of heaven (I had the caesar salad with proscuitto, and the pasta with chicken and peas in gorganzola cream sauce...OMG!)

NEW YORK MINUTE, 36" X 36", acrylic on wrap canvas

A Stellar Event at Sopa

U8 was, yet again, a huge success. Click here to view photos from the opening night.

My triptych study titled 3SUM sold, as did a grouping of "smalls" I had sent for their Christmas show. I am now working on several new pieces for Wallace Galleries and should have photos for my website soon.

The Sooke Fine Art show is still accepting submissions until May 25, and this year they are accepting digital images online for jurying. I am undecided whether I will submit this year or not...the "juries still out" on that one.

Anthony White Artwork, "The Money Series"

I don't know quite how I came across Anthony White Artwork, but I have recently discovered this Australian artist with an attitude very similar to that of my friend Jimmy Wright (who passed away in 2008). I don't agree with all of Mr. White's opinions (as I often didn't with Jimmy's) regarding the world of conceptual art, but I did find it all a very entertaining and thought provoking read. Since you might enjoy it, too, check out Anthony White's Guide to Conceptual Art. I also like the idea behind his in-your-face "Money Series" (again very Jimmy) and, as I wrote in my recent newsletter, if I had an extra $176 kicking around for fun, I would probably purchase this next painting in the series.

Nobody Special by nobody special

Have you heard of Blurb.com? It's this great place where you can create your own books: coffee table books, portfolios, children's picture books, and more. Well, I wrote this slightly humorous, tongue-in-cheek fable, Nobody Special, which is now available in 7" x 7" hard or softcover format if you want to actually own one in print (and are not put off by the exorbitant shipping cost); however, I have made the story available so that it can be read entirely online for free. Why? Because in today's world, we all need something to help us sleep better at night, and I don't believe in pharmaceuticals.

PREVIEW BOOK!

It's Almost That Time Again

I have just put the last coat of varnish on "3SUM," a small three panel piece for U8. You can see it in the Abstract Portfolia of my website. Each panel is 10" x 10" but because it turned out so well (and I do love it!), I decided it will be a study for a much larger triptych.

A Complete Redesign

I am currently working on a new website using FolioLink. It is a lot of work but should be well worth it in the end since I will then be able to update and change the look of my site whenever I want. Please be patient; it won't be too much longer before I have all my latest works online for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure depending on your taste in art)!

Until then, here are a few new paintings:

Blue Notes, 30" x 30", acrylic on wrap canvas

Shadowlands, 8" x 8", acrylic on panel

Sideways, 30" x 30", acrylic on wrap canvas (edge view below)

A Return to Realism

PONY TALES (above), 24 x 24, SOLD

This is the painting that I planned to show in the 2011 Sooke Fine Art exhibit this past August, but it sold before I could submit it for jurying.

Now in Calgary

Black Poppies, 16" x 16"

I have just wrapped up the last painting for a shipment of five works to Calgary. That's right folks, I am now represented by Wallace Galleries in Calgary so check out their website @ www.wallacegalleries.com. It may be a while before any images of my work appear online but I do see my name listed for a show opening March 23, 2011! I have two more works in progess which I have yet to send.

I will also be sending several new smaller works to Sopa Fine Arts in Kelowna in time for their annual U8 exhibit. All works must be under $800.00 in order to take part.

Unfurled, acrylic on canvas, 38" x 55"

So, this is how it turned out! Not quite the same as in Photoshop, but I actually like it better! There was a lot of interest in this piece, which actually sold off the easel before it was finished. I'm not sure what I will be working on next...

3rd Annual Under the Red Umbrella

Is it really almost that time again? I thought I was done with shows for awhile; however, this does give me the opportunity to rework one of the pieces from The Fates—now I know why the real Fates didn't leave me time to varnish it. Below is the painting as it looks now, followed by what I am hoping it will look like when it is finished...for real this time.

Dontcha just love Adobe Photoshop....

I know some of you really liked the softness of the original, but I'm going for drama. If you want to see whether or not it turns out (please don't bring this picture to compare, I can't handle the pressure), then come experience the third annual Under the Red Umbrella on Thursday evening, October 21. It all takes place on lower Craig and Kenneth Streets in Duncan. Eat, drink and be shopping, surrounded by incredible works of art. Just like old times, Coco and I will happily be ensconced with our paintings at Fatima's Bistro 161.

Cardino's on Craig has joined the stroll and will be featuring a new collage artist; Embellish once again plays host to Pipi, Chantey, Crystal and Jill; and Fabrications will feature new works by Kris Kearns.

The fun begins at 5:30. It is up to you where you start your stroll, but I would definitely finish at (or come back to) the bistro where Fatima will have laid out—as only she can—a tapas buffet, available at 8:00 pm for just $15.00 per person...yummmm!

Repeat after me: I don't need to deserve it—I deserve to need it!

The Fates: Artists' Reception

A big thanks to all who attended the "real" opening night reception and made it such a success— and so much fun—at times it was hard to see the work or even move. For any of you who didn't make it to the exhibit, two videos have been posted on YouTube:

Video by exhibit-v, which includes interviews (turn up the volume for these) can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgxDus6UsNo

Video set to music by Superseer Productions (Isa's main squeeze) can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYp5H_1ZNPk

Ciao!

Upcoming Exhibits of New Work

The first show, The Three Fates, opens at Collective Works Gallery in Victoria on Friday, September 24, but please note that the Artists' Reception is on the Saturday night, September 25.


The second exhibit, Flotsam, opens at Sopa Fine Arts in Kelowna on October 7. For all you realists, this is purely an abstract show (with a little expressionism thrown in for fun).

The following images are of the paintings for Flotsam; the theme for this series is denim or jeans. Note: I'm still working on the paintings for The Three Fates (in which I am death) and will post those next week. Eventually, I will get around to updating my website.

Faded Favourites

Wearing Thin

Slick: Not As Smooth As He Thinks SOLD

Goth Girl SOLD