The Art and Science of Phil the Forecaster

Friday, January 17, 2014

Carbon 14 at the ROM

Carbon 14: Climate is Culture

"Four months of cultural engagement visioning the challenge and the possible future, a unique and powerful narrative engagement with what is one of the most pressing issues of our time, climate change."

Carbon 14: Climate is Culture is the inaugural programming coming out of the North American office of Cape Farewell – the Cape Farewell Foundation, based in Toronto. It is a two-year project that began with an intensive workshop on the shores of Lake Ontario in the fall of 2011 and continues with a wide range of programming activities, culminating in a major exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum's (ROM) Centre for Contemporary Culture, a performing arts festival with The Theatre Centre (Toronto), and a rich series of public programs and events.

My entire 14 minute Carbon 14 interview was recorded on the first and only take. It was not scripted. There was no make-up and no tele-prompter I could have really benefited from both. It was an honest and off the top answer to an honest question. Climate change is a reality. To deny the science or doubt the observations is to be totally blind to reality. Ironically it was a really cold and windy day in Downsview. That is weather. It was still milder than what climate would have suggested.

I plan to go to the Carbon 14 exhibit when I get a chance. This video is only a snippet of the interview and I

chopped it and degraded the video to make it fit. This is an experiment for me.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

January Grays

This painting was inspired by the "plein air" westward view across Singleton Lake yesterday (Wednesday Jan 15th). The wind and the snow made it quite impossible to complete it outside - so I finished it in front of the wood stove in the studio. Life is good...
Supportive friends have generously compared my art to a couple of very famous artists. I greatly admire these long diseased talents and thank those for their very kind comparisons. The reality though is that every artist has to find their own way and the path to their destination cannot be known until they get there. Even then they might not be quite sure just where they were going. I still don't know my destination but the ride is fun. I don't need much so I am free to follow my path wherever it will lead.
For myself, the finished art seems to be more a function of the subject matter, the weather and the painting surface. Recently I have been having fun on several small slippery surfaces. These "SSSS" paintings are a joy for me to create. They also link me to my Dad who made the supporting frames from the cedar post of the back stairs of the home on East Avenue, Brockville. Parts of the post were rotten and after making the repair, Dad cut down the rest of the 6x6 timber to make stretcher frames. Waste not - want not. Many of these have been stretched with heavy canvas while some have been finished with plywood. The heavy canvas has a lot of tooth but the panels have almost nothing to grab the oil paint.
Anyway, the "SSS" paintings benefit from the strengths of oil paint - lots of texture and colour. Yes, artists have completed paintings like this before. Just because our paths overlap doesn't mean that I am copying their work. I paint for myself and my own sense of creation - but "thank you" for the very kind and complementary comparisons.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Passing of John Ross Matheson

I wrote this entry on December 27th but waited until now to post it.
"I will be brief... It brings me great sorrow to report the passing of our friend and co-worker John Ross Matheson on the morning of Friday December 27th, 2013. The loss is the most endearing and emotion felt at this time and we offer our prayers and thoughts for every member of the Matheson family.

Canada has lost a true Canadian icon with John’s passing. The 50 Years of Our Flag Committee can only hope that what we have accomplished in the past few years combined with what we will accomplish in the next year, will bring the Canadian people closer to understand the magnitude of what John Ross Matheson gave to his country.

Beyond any doubt, he is and always should be remembered as a patriotic hero, a loving husband, Dad and Grandfather. To the members of the 50 Years of Our Flag Committee it will always be a true honour to let everyone in the world know, he was our friend.

The accompanying picture is one I took in late November. Bob and I were with John discussing some of the coming projects of the 50 Years of Our Flag Committee. The twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his face tells the entire story - John loved life and helping others. The picture in his hand is of the Muir Maple tree but that is another story. This is how I wish to remember our friend..."

Monday, January 13, 2014

Lawrence Nickle - A Painter of Canada!

A very good friend and great artist, Lawrence Nickle passed away on January 3rd, 2014. Not enough Canadians knew his art. That is a shame. Those who knew his art, know their value and how they enriched our society.
Lawrence's art was spirited and honest. He had a style reserved for his plein air painting and one reserved for his studio work. Deep layers of paint were piled on top on each other in the studio. I asked him why? He said he didn't get the colour right the first time and he kept laying paint on until he did. I have and treasure one of those layered paintings.
I spent more than just a few nights on his flop down bed and enjoyed his generous hospitality and back yard salads. After a day of plein air art our conversations touched on virtually everything and we (mainly Lawrence) solved most of the world's problems if only someone would listen. He had a deep philosophical understanding of the world. I had hoped to paint again with Lawrence in the spring before the bugs emerged but those days are gone.
Lawrence liked my analyses of the weather and lamented that the Group of Seven painted clouds "like they were boulders in the sky". Lawrence depicted brilliant skies and listened patiently while I applied "Creative Scene Investigation" (CSI) to uncover the weather he painted them under.
I have many more "Lawrence stories" but you get the idea. Lawrence will be missed...

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Paradise - Follow-up to Ontario Storm Prediction Interview

I had some requests for a better view of "Paradise" that was hanging over Dave Phillips left shoulder in this interview. The full interview "One on One with Peter Mansbridge" plays today. That painting has evolved into my signature piece. I still try to produce a painting that I like better but that is very tough to do. I have been offered crazy money for it but "Paradise" is one of only a very few that we have held on to.
It was a special Sunday afternoon (February 21st, 2001) and the paint just flowed. It was a time before my Dad passed away, before 911, before the recent wars - a simpler time when all that mattered was getting to the end of the portage from Bass to Shoal Lake in Restoule. I painted this from photographs but more importantly, from the memories etched in my brain. Maybe that is where the best art has to come from?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Singleton Loon

This loon was just off the granite point at Singleton Lake. We started the loon nesting platform program around 2007 and it has been used and successful most years since. They are actually quite large birds. When a loon enters the bay, all of the ducks get "out of Dodge". The painting is actually not as "tight" in the brush work as it might appear. There are some pretty loose strokes and I hope that gives some life and energy to the loon.

Friday, January 10, 2014

CBC Interview at the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre

My buddy Dave Phillips once again educated and entertained without stepping over the Climate Change line. For those who missed it the One on One interview with Peter Mansbridge will be broadcast on Sunday. My main goal for this post is to highlight my painting "Paradise" hanging over the desk of the Shift Supervisor - clearly visible over Dave's left shoulder. That is probably the most exposure my art has ever had. Peter looks amused.

Sorry that I have not Blogged for a couple of weeks - life gets busy. I plan to head out to the studio right after this :>))

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

LinkedIn password change confirmation

Hi Catherine,

You've successfully changed your password.

Thank you,

The LinkedIn Team

Sunday, December 29, 2013

"Loon Lunch"

I roughed out this painting based on a photo by Dave Hotchkiss. It took me a week to complete. The loon has a pretty firm grasp on the small perch. I think we know how this story ended. There are a lot of pan-fish in Singleton Lake. I am still working on this painting trying to make it better. It is a tough call when to stop.