Second Paragraph

It seems to me that painting is making corrections and not having errors. Perfection lies in the fashioning of movement. Painting is moving paint, as a sort of criticism, in this sense, I hope that my paintings can be said to be Canadian.

First Paragraph

Artist Statement.

I paint pictures from life which is as much to say that I paint things I have experienced and things which I am innocent of without bothering too much with putting a burr on the razor's edge between reality and what I may have dreamt. I am interested in how paintings make you feel.

New Work

Details from "Peach Trees" south bank of Lake Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Oil pastel and oil on canvas
51cm x 15cm

More of the Rural Cast

Details from "Poem #2"
Acrylic on canvas

The poem begins

A Stroke of Brilliance
Another one, you ask too much
Adherence, adherence
Will deaden your touch

The Rural Cast and other paintings

"Daisies" the corner of Scott St. and McNab Rd. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Acrylic on Styrofoam
50 cm x 120 cm

"Tiger Lilies" by the roadside, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Acrylic on Styrofoam
50cm x 120 cm

"Hoes" McNab Rd. vineyard, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Acrylic on canvas
60 cm x 42 cm

"Status" Lake Erie at Long Beach, Wainfleet, Ontario
Acrylic on canvas
60cm x 42cm

"Approaching Dusk" Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, Ontario
Acrylic on canvas
77cm x 51cm

This is a painting of a footpath behind Rodman Hall, in St. Catharines, Ontario, that is probably as old as the gallery itself established midtwentieth century. My mum says that I met one of the Group of 7 at Rodman Hall, A. J. Casson, though I can't quite remember him. What I remember is wanting to get outside to those gravel trails that loop on the bank of the creek behind the gallery and a lot of running around.

I painted this nearly everyday, from November 25, 2009, the day I went there to make the first sketch, beginning that evening when I returned home, to some time in 2010, in the Spring, I think. I did not paint for several weeks in March and April.

"Poem 1"
Acrylic on canvas

The sketch for this painting was made in November, 2009. A friend helped plan the composition of this, the second painting from that sketch that I decided to make -- both titled "Poem" -- and her signature accompanies mine in the bottom right corner.

The poem written on the back is, in part--

Who would watch the windfall rot

And carry rot through Spring

This stump has once a summer's sway

Tender your ripe bust

"Late Harvest"
Acrylic on canvas

The sketch for this was made on November 11, 2009. I painted it shortly thereafter.

Exercises

"Concession" somewhere in Ontario, exercise #4
Oil on canvas
30cm x 23cm [I'm afraid this one needs the touch of a conservationist]

(not pictured)
"Cozy Village" somewhere in Ontario, exercise #3
Oil on canvas
30cm x 23cm [A present for my Mum]

"Lake Effect Weather" somewhere in Ontario, exercise #2
Oil on canvas board
23cm x 30cm [Lost in a wager]

(not pictured)
somewhere in Ontario, exercise #1
Oil on canvas
23cm x 30cm [I told my father to leave this painting with Ruth and Laura and Drew]

Current Work

"Dawn on Bisco Lake" cabin near Biscotasing, Ontario [discarded]
Oil on canvas
41cm x 30cm

"Weathered Bench" on the bank of Lake Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Oil on canvas
30cm x 23cm
(My present to Refik Saskin at Winter Solstice. In the collection of Refik and Marnie Saskin.)

"Taurus" an astrological sign
Oil on canvas
30cm x 23cm

Work in Progress

Detail from "One Dozen Roses"




















Detail from "The Bird-Bangers" McNab Rd. vineyard, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Movies

The Making of "Early October, Late Afternoon"
Flooded valley near Biscotasing, Ontario


















The Making of "The Dreamers"
A Study

Silent Art Auction

Current Work at Auction

"PartNERS FOR CHANGE

"The Department of Visual Arts, Marylin I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and the Ontario Public Interest Group (OPIRG), Brock University, are joining together to host a unique art sale."

Bee Keep (Apiary Ode to Lauren Harris), and Fantasia (Bisco shoreline near Biscotasing, the home of Grey Owl) both framed in heavy black will be up for grabs on December 10, 2010 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. See November: "Current Work" for pictures of the paintings.

"will be held simultaneously at two locations in downtown St. Catharines -- Pan Cafe and the OPIRG Brock Infoshop.

"Reception and cash bar: Pan cafe, 120 St. Paul St., St. Catharines... www.pancafe.ca/
OPIRG Brock Infoshop, 10 Summer St., St. Catharines... www.opirgbrock.org/infoshop

"Email: visualarts@brocku.ca
"Web: www.brocku.ca/humanities/departments-and-centres/visual-arts"

SOLD!

Purchased by Katharine von Stockelberg
for John C. Stockelberg, Rockham (Oxford) U. K.

New Work

"Southern Ontario Copse" a conversion painting?
Oil on canvas
60cm x 46cm

Current Work

"Bee Keep" Apiary on Carlton St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Ode to Lauren Harris...
Oil on canvas (first photograph taken at dawn, second photograph taken at dusk)
40cm x 30cm

Current Work

"Fantasia" Bisco shoreline near Biscotasing, Ontario [unfinished].
Oil on canvas
20cm x 127cm

New Work

Details from "Early October, Late Afternoon" Flooded valley near Biscotasing, Ontario.
Oil on canvas
90cm x 70cm

Queen's Bush Bistro

142 Main N, Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L0

Delightful fare--Laura and Drew are great. Contact www.bushbistro.ca for more information. The paintings are up!

New Work

"Logged" Logging Road near Biscotasing, Ontario
Oil on canvas
90cm x 70cm

Queen's Bush Bistro

142 Main N, Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L0

There will be a sale of my paintings at Queen's Bush Bistro, in Mt. Forest, after Thanksgiving. Mt. Forest, Ontario, is a featured location on the renown Saugeen Autumn Leaves Studio Tour that takes place annually throughout Grey County -- visit www.bushbistro.ca for more information.

New Work

Detail from "The Dreamers"
Oil on canvas

An Answer to a Student concerning The George Grant

For some time now I have been writing what began as a letter to a student about the Canadian philosopher, George P. Grant, "The Preponderance of George Grant, or How I Learnt that Faith-Based Schools are Unconstitutional." Though the student himself is nearly forgotten my attempt at rendering some sort of a response fit for speech has continued on with the vain hope that he might someday find himself among the addressed, or attending. The most recent fragment that has been published is done so by Ian Robinson at Edgeways Books and is currently to be found on the Edgeways Books homepage or in .pdf format under "Columns." Visit www.edgewaysbooks.com to read more.

Gift Idea

My present to Dr. Sandra McNally

Hamlet said, "I know a hawk from a handsaw"...
This gift series is signed "Handsaw" by J. A. Lepp.

Oils on canvases
25cm x 20cm

New work

Details from "God's Love" A Hailstorm, Stewart Rd. Farm, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Oil on canvas

Art by the Lighthouse

"Art by the Lighthouse" ran Saturday, July 31st and Sunday, August 1st at The Pumphouse Visual Arts Centre in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario.
Photo by Kasia Zygmunt