Category: New Work
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When I was young I briefly toyed with the idea of as a career as an architect. Then I laughed when someone told me about the level of math I would need. I never knew if that was true or not, especially when I look at the scribbling of somebody like the late Frank Gehry.…
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And now for something completely different, well, almost. I wanted to challenge myself with a painting that would be as much from my imagination as it was from reference sources (eg. photos). I also, as usual, wanted to keep it loose and painterly. Digging through my parents collection of snapshots, I found one of Wasaga…
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We passed these sandstone terrace houses a lot while in Troon, Scotland. When the sun came out, it produced a dynamic diagonal across the honey-coloured facade. I knew I wanted to paint it, but wasn’t sure how to frame the image, eventually choosing to crop tight to the building with just a hint of sky…
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Every time I see a fair or carnival I think about painting some aspect of it. I don’t know if it is about nostalgia (likely) or the colour experience (also likely) that pushes me towards such subject matter. Up until now it was only a thought. Working on a series of “smalls” — 12″ x…
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Before I leave for the UK on Wednesday, I’m hoping to provide an interim report on the BLOG after a little less than two months. Sneak preview: Your favorite posts so far have to do with portraiture — mostly my portrait. As I have previously stated, I’m in the midst of a development project towards…
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When looking at a painting, do you see what’s beyond the canvas? I’ve always liked using references beyond what’s in the frame, from a shadows of nearby trees to, as was in the last post, a light source that suggests another person is nearby. Of course artists frequently crop buildings, objects or sometimes even people…
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Some artists do not like themed group shows. Some insist that they do what they do and that’s it. They don’t feel that a gallery, nor anybody else, should dictate the content of their art. I have the opposite view — these themed shows are often an opportunity to leave your comfort zone and try…
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When I was studying at the University of Ottawa I used to regularly cross the Rideau canal to the National Gallery of Canada, which was then located in a former office tower on Elgin Street. Among the works I spent a particular amount of time with were those of the 18th Century Venetian painter Canaletto…
Rick Janson Art Studio 