A beacon in the fog
Hand-drawn memories
I have recently been creating some pencil drawings of travel photos. I find pencil to be a wonderful medium for capturing a sense of memory, a softness around the edges and a richness of atmosphere. I used it here to accentuate the light and atmosphere that is sometimes hard to capture in a photograph. I worked to remain true to the subject while removing any unnecessary elements.
Three houses for three sisters
Personalized portraits of a family home
This project was a series of three watercolour house portraits, lovingly individualized for each sister. Their father had this house built 62 years ago in north Toronto and, over the years, it became a loving homestead for frequent family gatherings. It recently came time to sell the house, and the family wanted something to capture the years of memories and laughter.
Laying down ink
Exploring the printmaking process
Printmaking is something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time. My first and only real experience with it was in an overview class of several processes in high school. I loved it at the time, but was focussed on photographic printing in the darkroom.
Afternoons in the vegetable garden
Crafting paintings from memories
This was a very special illustration to create. My client, and now friend, Marie-Ève, shared a story that resonated with me personally. It was about a memory she has of her mother who died of cancer several years ago.
Where we met
Heartfelt wedding gifts
I recently had the pleasure of completing this portrait of the Royal Montreal Curling Club. It was a custom wedding gift for a happy couple. My client reached out to me because her uncle was soon to be married and she and her family wanted to gift them something truly meaningful.
Colourful houses
Custom illustrated house portraits
I have been spending time in the studio coming up with a new style of hand-drawn illustrated house portraits. Working from a photo or photos, I draw (or paint) the house directly face-on, flattening the space and playing up its unique architectural details.
More than just the keys
Truly unique closing gifts
A custom watercolour house portrait makes a wonderful closing gift for a real estate agent searching for that unique one-of-a-kind gift. It virtually guarantees that you will always be remembered fondly and visitors will inevitably ask where the painting came from for years to come!
My creative room
Illustrated portraits of creative spaces
I just love seeing how artists and crafters set up their spaces. There are so many types of studio spaces and I love them all! For me, they are inspiring, happy places.
Play me that album
Commemorating a loss from the past
I recently watched a documentary about legendary singer Mavis Staples. She toured with her father as part of The Staple Singers for nearly 50 years and they were very close. Before he died, they had been working on an album featuring Roebuck ‘Pops’ Staples singing lead (instead of Mavis). Sadly, he died before it was completed and the recordings were tucked away for nearly 15 years.
Corner table with a view
Personal spaces
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of settling into a favourite seat in a favourite place for a little carved out bit of time to think. You hear the familiar background sounds – mixed with ones that are unique to this moment – and feel a shift in your mood.
From the Painted Stories Instagram feed
