The Naked Silo

"Send More Men" 16" x 12", oil on wood panel, 2014 During the exhibition of my  WWI painting project  at Macaulay Church , these two were hung in the middle of the same panel as the Wounded mini series, the subversion of a propaganda poster in the painting above serving as a macabre punchline of sorts. When I was doing The Devil's Harvest section (as a 24-hour painting marathon of PEC soldier portraits), I found myself painting way ahead of schedule (I'd planned to complete one portrait per hour, on average), so to keep occupied and still have something to show viewers (the event was streamed live online ) I started and completed the painting above. Buried 16" x 20", oil on wood panel, 2014 “…Each man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” – John Donne

Welcome! This week I worked on prepping a few canvases for my big World War One project in the church at Macaulay Heritage Park in Picton, Prince Edward County. I had planned to take the last of my nine Dance Partners (currently half finished), but I brought that with me on my second session there. Backside. Since my painting/drawing sessions at Macaulay (and the exhibition of all 100 paintings in November) were at the church, this post focuses on that building and the immediate grounds, rather than the rest of the heritage park (click the link below the pic below!). Macaulay House . Graves! The homes across the street and modern cars in this shot are a great contrast to what could easily be very old graves* somewhere in Europe. More graves. Tablets! Stained. I find it fascinating to note that so many "charitable donations" are made where credit to the donor is loud and clear. The writing at the bottom of each window (not legible...

approx. 28" x 77", oil on wooden door, 2013, private collection Near the end of January this year Krista and I visited Macaulay House in Picton to meet with Jennifer Lyons and discuss how  Small Pond Arts could get involved with the local museums of PEC. We were given a tour and became excited about the potential ways we could involve our art there. Krista devised a lantern-making project with a few local artists which turned out very well, indeed. These lanterns were to be unveiled during Doors Open PEC  in April. Additionally, the museums were having local artists decorate actual doors for the event which they would then auction off, the proceeds going to the museums. That's all I needed to hear, so I asked if I could get a door to decorate, and, on February 25 I brought home this lovely (and extremely heavy) door:  Heavy! Sanded! Obviously, the door would need to be prepared, so Krista and I each had a go at sanding it down so it could be pri...