Art Works

I don't know much about art therapy, but do I know I was a Folk Artist long before I was an Author. PTSD eroded my art skills and took away some of the joy and satisfaction I once got from visual arts. It has been returning slowly, since I started therapy and my journey on the road to healing. It's still not easy and some projects have to start over, but that is it's own metaphor for this whole non-linear process!

Tamaru

It took a few tries to get this painting right, with the first canvas sent to the trash. It became the cover of my book. 12x12" acrylic on canvas, the original hangs in my workshop today.

Believe in Heroes

This piece was a comeback for me. It became the cover of the London Police Association newsletter, The Observer, in December 2020. Emergency workers had been battered by the pandemic, and we were all feeling this. The original was auctioned to support Beyond the Blue.

Banjo Bear

One of the first pieces of art I did just for fun, in a very long time. This 12x12' mixed media piece sold at the Westland Gallery Square Foot show in London, ON, in November 2022. https://www.westlandgallery.ca

Intermission

Another piece done just for fun, this one was also sold at the 2022 Square Foot Show at Westland Gallery. 12x12 acrylic on canvas. (Yes, I play the banjo)

https://www.westlandgallery.ca

Barn Board

In an effort to get back to creative art, I worked on some barn board signs. These were small and simple designs that seemed to fit my headspace at the time. I built and painted over a dozen items, sold them all and donated the proceeds to V-EH Veterans and Everyday Heroes. https://www.v-eh.ca/

Propeller

Just seemed like a good idea at the time and I wondered if I could. I was off work and committed to therapy, and needed a "patience project". The hours of careful shaping and sanding were a perfect fit, and left me with a cool wall-hanger for my den.